Constipation/large bowel movements with UC?

[Joolsc89]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with distal UC last year and since having a flare up between March - June last year, my bowel movements have never returned to normal.

I am no longer having classic UC symptoms and overall feel quite well and am eating a balanced diet. However I am now only able to go to the loo a couple of times per week. When I do go it is not difficult to go and there is some urgency but (apologies for TMI) the amount is very large. When I was younger I did have some periods of constipation, but never had this problem with amount. The stools are not hard, they are soft and on occasion loose.

I am also having some tenesmus again.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I had two iron infusions in December due to anaemia from my UC flare so I wondered whether this could contribute towards this, but my understanding was that unlike iron tablets, IV iron would not cause this.

[FRreedman]

As you know tenesmus is an indication of, among other things, inflammation in the bowel (IBD), so I would certainly get in touch with my GI team, to check that nothing else was going on. Also any change in your bowel habits should always be reported and, normally, investigated.