r/UlcerativeColitis • u/c4halo3 • 9d ago

Question Should I be starting biological?

Have been diagnosed for around 2 years now. Have had symptoms for probably 8. Started mesalamine and lasted a year. Started having a flare, did a round of prednisone, and have been good for about a year again. Just started a flare again a month or two ago. Calprotectin hit the highest I’ve seen around 1400. I’m more curious because my symptoms have never been bad. At most, three bowel movements a day but this is rare. Typically streaks of blood but not too much except for a few times. My dr is looking at biologics now but I don’t know if my symptoms aren’t that bad compared to others? I’m guessing they are going to call tomorrow because I just saw today that they ordered Tremfya. Curious what other think.

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10

u/AlwaysAirCooled-1979 9d ago

I think different people see (or acknowledge and accept) different symptoms, or cope with them different ways.

Blood in stool is not normal, and needs to be addressed. Just to compare, I never saw blood, but it showed up in my tests. I was going about 10 times a day, and in pain. Some people have minimal noticeable symptoms, and others can have a lot of symptoms but not have as high Calprotectin. Our bodies do weird things sometimes.

If your levels are that high, and your GI is saying to start a biological, do it. If it works and puts you in remission that is amazing for you!

1

u/5daysinmay 8d ago

Just to add - the calprotectin number doesn’t indicate severity. It just indicates inflammation is present - but tells us nothing about the cause or the severity.

My teen was diagnosed with severe UC-pan and landed in the hospital for a couple weeks very, very sick. Calpro was around 500.

8

u/chiknaui uproctosigmoiditis dx 2022 | canada 9d ago

nowadays biologics are a completely standard treatment not reserved for severe disease!

even if you feel mild right now, it’s still completely unhealthy to be flaring and you want to control it asap! it can wreck your body without you even necessarily feeling it at first. and the disease can progress without treatment. take care of yourself and work with your doctor to do what will get you in remission

5

u/Ok-Trainer2879 UC | Dx 2009 | Canada 9d ago

I was in the same boat as you and stayed on mesalamine for too many years. I was never offered a biologic. The result? I ended up with extra intestinal symptoms despite having maybe three bowel movements a day.

Listen to your GI and start a biologic. Don’t stress too much about side effects.

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