This topic is about people who have had an ostomy and are wondering if others have experienced flare-ups of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis years after their surgery. They are curious about the symptoms that appeared and the medications used to manage the condition.

Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

1. Many people report experiencing proctitis, which is inflammation of the rectal stump, rather than a full relapse of Crohn’s or colitis.
- A common symptom is a reddish discoloration or bleeding in the output.

2. Medications that have been helpful include:
- Mesalamine or mesalazine suppositories or enemas, typically used once nightly. Reducing the frequency often leads to the return of symptoms.
- Some combine a morning mesalazine suppository with an evening dose of oral prednisolone to maintain remission.
- It's noted that mesalamine can be expensive under certain insurance plans.

3. For pain and inflammation:
- People avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen after surgery to prevent gastrointestinal irritation and instead use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief.

4. General advice and perspectives:
- The goal is to achieve remission as quickly as possible, so consulting a gastroenterologist for the latest medication options is recommended.
- Some individuals are attempting slow, carefully monitored reductions in mesalamine dosage to reduce medication use while keeping an eye on symptoms.
- A proctectomy, which is the removal of the rectal stump, is considered a last resort. Maintaining the health of the stump with medication is preferred when possible.