Need some advice

You could try upping the primadophilus to 2 a day and see if that helps.

:)

I'm already on 12 Asacol/day. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I will try that, pb4. Thanks.

Sara14
I got the inhaler the doctor said I needed to use if I continued to smoke. It is "combivent" It has ipratropium bromide as the main drug and albuterol sulfate as the other drug. Is it helping? I don't know yet since I have been down with the flu for the last 10 days. I have passed the 5 week mark as far as being in remission since starting smoking again. I guess I can assume that I will now stay that way as long as I smoke. I did not smoke that much over the last 10 days and I did notice my joints beginning to get stiff. I then forced myself to smoke even though I was coughing like crazy. It seems I will have to smoke at least 3/4 a pack a day to keep in remission. I also notice a little mucus while I was cut back, but it left as soon as I started smoking more. I have switched to lights instead of regular and have not notice any problems. Thank goodness I am getting over this bout of flu. I took the flu shot and maybe it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I probably will not be posting much on here, but I pray for all of those on here that each of you will get in remission.

Sorry to read that you're not yet in remission, Sara. It might be that you'd improve on Colazal or Lialda; some UCers get better results with them than while taking Asacol. Also, you could try Cortifoam (10% steroid rectal foam) temporarily if you think rectum is still inflamed; that med does not cause systemic effects like the liquid steroid enemas or Pred over time. When is your next gastro appointment? / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC;currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)

Hi guys. Thanks for the responses.

Old Hat -My next gastro. appt. is March 11. I mentioned the possibility of me taking Cortifoam to my GI at my last appt. in Oct. or Nov. (can't remember when exactly) and he said he didn't think the benefit would outweigh the risks since at that time I only had mild rectal inflammation and few symptoms (3-5 BMs with a little urgency). Maybe since I'm bleeding again he will want to put me on it. I will bring it up to him again. Thanks. I will also bring up the possibility of switching 5-ASAs.

quincy - I don't think I have a fissure...it doesn't really hurt like I have a cut when I have a BM, but I do have some increased urgency and a little discomfort and mild cramping, especially when I'm trying to go to the bathroom. I feel like I'm having smaller deposits, too, and more gas with some mucous. One time today, I just had a little blood come out and nothing else. No, I'm not vegan. I still eat eggs, cheese and other dairy products, but no animal flesh (no chicken, fish, etc.). I was taking fish oil pills for a while though occasionally, but stopped. My next period is about a week and a half away.

For now, I will keep up with the Rowasa every night and up my probiotics.

Sara, if your gastro calls Cortifoam risky, he needs more information about it! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

So, my GI just called and all I have to say is: W.T.F.! He told me to continue with the Rowasa nightly for a month and see if that helps and said if it doesn't the next step is azathioprine. Ummm...I've never even tried pred or steroid enemas or other 5-ASAs. I asked him about the steroid enemas again and he said he didn't want to try those with me because the more times you're on pred (even enemas, according to him), the more dependant you become on it to get over flares. I told him that I've read studies about short-term usage of Cortifoam helping and he still said he wouldn't want me to do that. Do I seriously need to find another GI doc again? This is ridiculous. I seriously knew more about my meds and UC than he did. He also said i could increase my Asacol, but I'm already on the max. dose. He didn't even know what the max. dose was until I told him!!! Sorry, I'm a little ticked off and annoyed. Oh, I also asked him about Canasa (trying them in addition to Rowasa) but he said since I'm already doing Rowasa and it's the same medicine it wouldn't do anything. Um...I know it's the same medicine, but it's more of it each day. I've seen so many people here doing both, or doing 2 Rowasas/day, so I thought it might help. Oh - he also said mild bleeding isn't a big deal, but my previous GI always said it's not good if I"m bleeding at all and always wanted to get me on the right meds to stop my bleeding. He also said "it doesn't seem like the Asacol has helped you," which is so not true...if he looked at my chart he'd see I was severely flaring before getting on Asacol and it helped significantly. Okay, my rant is over. sorry.

I don't know...I feel the urge to send him massive amounts of literature on UC and meds. Thanks for letting me vent.

Hey, I'm a vegetarian too. Well, not completely - I eat fish only - no red meat or poultry. I was diagnosed in Jan 2006 and have been on and off of prednisone and Asacol ever since. I recently went to a holistic doctor who tested me for several things (there's a post a few down all about it), and he discovered that I am allergic to the soy protein. I eat soy daily. I'm sure you do too. Anyways, it might explain why when on the meds I coouldn't get better. I am going to eliminate soy now and see if it helps. You may want your doc to test for the allergy and see if that could be causing you some problems.

Sara, your GI may be a nice guy, but it doesn't sound like he's keeping up with the changes in UC treatment theory. I'd certainly want to at least try Balsalazide and a short course of Cortifoam before going to immunosuppressants. It's one thing to take Imuran when you have tried all of the "softer" drugs, but it's totally another when you haven't. And bleeding from UC is never okay. It means you're not in remission, and you can get rid of the urgency if you can get rid of the inflammation.

I think I'd be asking the GI's office for copies of my records and then looking for another doctor for at least a second opinion. That's what I did. The new GI had a lot more aggressive and well thought-out treatment plan, so I stayed with him. Things are changing so fast in this field right now, it's really important to have a doc who keeps up with it.

Is cortifoam and cotenema the same thing?

Well, I haven't had any blood all weekend and very little other symptoms. Thanks for all the advice everybody.

Judilyn - Yeah, he is already my second GI. The first guy sucked. I think I am going to look for another new one though (at Mayo), someone with an IBD speciality.