Roni,
I would love to say that if your taking the meds then you won't flare, but that is not the case and the GI should be honest enough with everyone to tell them that. I know when I persistently asked the question, and made him give a straight answer back the answer was NO the drugs will not stop a flare up. it is the nature of the disease to get flare ups. My last colonoscopy (which unfortunately I have to have every year because of polyops) my doc was amazed at the fact that my ulcers were healed, yet I still have inflamation. They are use to seeing the reverse because of the steriods. The plain fact of the matter is that in Cornwall, I am the only patient this doc has given a colonoscopy to that is not on meds, and didn't use the dreaded rip your gut apart clean your gut out meds before the procedure. He is now following my case very closely and has recommened my treatment plan to others! My own GP is in the process of documenting my case in the hopes that others will follow suit. Here in the UK, they are very supportive and very skeptical. It has taken me two years to get the GP to see my side and now that she is, she is campaigning for a review on how this disease is treated.
I don't recommend anyone come off any drugs they are taking. I recommend everyone become more knowledgable about the natural course of the disease. The natural ebbs and flos. Instead of talking about this med and how it effects you, from my point of view, it would be great to talk about how you deal with things without meds, but I am a small fish in a big pond.
I don't want anyone to think I am putting them down for being on meds, critizing them for being on meds. I know that for the huge majority, now that they are on them, getting off them would be a huge step. I know that for a huge majority the meds help with the side effects of this disease and have a more normal life and that is great!
I definatley don't think I am better than anyone for not being on meds. I do know that from several people on this site - and I post very infrequently because of this - I get very defensive feedback. Please don't take me that way - I only want what is best. And most of you would agree that being able to cope with this disease without meds would be better and that the meds themselves come with some pretty nasty side effects.
I also get the assumption that because I am not on meds that my CD must be mild. I can tell you that at diagnonsis it was 70% of my small intestine. My last barium (5 months ago) now shows that it is only in the ileum. That is with no meds from the GI or GP. I suffer some similar things to most people here and would like to be welcomed onto this site regardless of whether I take the meds or not and be able to put across the point of view that meds are not strictly necessary, I am living proof of that. I am more than willing to listen to you say they are and respect your point of view.
Sorry this has gone on so long, my rant is run.