What is considered remission?

Hi all,

I have been flaring since late Dec. 08. I was on prednisone for 8 weeks and when I tapered totally off them the flare got pretty major again. I was feeling hopeless and called the doctor after two weeks off prednisone and he gave me a new prescription for prednisone. I did not take it and am feeling much better now. I haven't had a solid bm yet but am only going typically 3 times a day. The urgency is still there a little and I still enjoy the big cramp pains a few times a day. The blood seems to only be coming from my hems. Is this remission? Will I ever feel normal again? Can I ever eat anything I like again?

By the way, I have read posts about exercising making things better. I finally felt good enough to try and exercise and it really does make me feel better. Even if I have to sprint to the John directly after :). I have always exercised and it seems to also help with staying positive so I appreciate the information and encourage everyone to try and exercise even when you are feeling icky.

I probably wouldn't consider that remission, either. I'm down to three mildly urgent, somewhat formed BMs a day with no blood (I've never really had pain), and I consider myself ALMOST there. So, I'm not tapering any of my meds yet. I want to wait until I feel I've been in remission for a week before I do that.

Are you taking anything else besides prednisone?

I don't know but i'll tell you what i consider remission. First of all since prednisone was my UC magic drug and could eliminate symptoms so much it didn't feel I had UC then I would haved to be off that to even consider thinking remission. I mean i can't say i'm in remission if i were taking prednisone b/c you have to still taper and that is a UC battle all over again.
Once off prednisone i would want to feel as normal as possible or as close to my pre-UC days as possible. For me, my pre-UC days were 1-2BMs solid per day without any type of gastroentestinal problems so my remission would have to be similar considering I still had UC and UC has caused some damage that will take a long time to get better or quite possibly never get better.
So for me remission is no visible blood at all, 1-2 BM's a day without ever or hardly ever feeling bloated, have gas, or pain. The bowel movements wouldn't have any associated urgency issues meaning i would have time to choose a place to use the restroom. Also the stools would be as solid as my body can make them which is a lot different than my pre-UC days.
I have experienced this type of remission like 2 times since i've had UC so i know it's possible.

Hi Peety,

That is what I am afraid of. I would love to feel normal again. I hope, for both of our sakes, that time will come :).