About those rectal meds?? Me again!

HI Elaine, sorry you are having this flare going on.  I have used the suppositories in the past, not sure if I had more problems on them, but didn't help the ones I had.  My Dr. didn't think the suppositories quite got the medicine up far enough, so he had always wanted me to use the retention enemas, but none of that worked either, so don't do that now.  I always seem to have the urgency and go little bits, today was bad as it was about 8 times of that but generally not that much.  All seems to be okay on 6MP, but of course, have to wait quite a while to see if that is going to work.  I am tapering on my Prednisone down to 20 mg, maybe the tapering has caused my gut to be bad today.  I do use Probiotic VSL#3 can't say that that works either, Don't know about align, is that over the counter and priced reasonably..Molly

kops2da said...
 Well, I think you know my history and most is in my signature.  I know a couple here believe in medication from both ends - me too - generally.

Anyway, I have tapered from 40 mg. to 20 mg. prednisone and been there now for what is now almost 5 weeks.  Soon after starting on 40 mg. blleeding stopped - not all symptoms gone but much less - mostly low back pain.  No diarrhea, no cramping, urgency or nausea.  NOW - doctor put me on 6MP 24 days ago at 50 mg.  I went to see him and he said I could taper the prednisone to 15 mg. next week. I ask about suppositories as they are the easiest for me and he prescribed Anusol HC 25 each night.  I have MOSTLY proctitis and there is the discomfort, etc.

A week before I went to the doctor I was seeing some mucous streaked with blood occasionally only once in morning.  2 or 3 formed BM's every morning.

OK - been using the suppositories now for 8 days - one to three BM's a day - more dark/mucous on stool every day.  AND this morning a third BM was more red blood and less stool - small amount.  Not seen this since starting prednisone.  I took 1/2 Imodium to go get my hair done.

What is your take on this?  Just any ideas.  I will continue a few more days on what I am doing and then call the NP who works closely with doctor.  Seems like I am going backwards.  I don't want it to go too far in the wrong direction!

ElaineNY

Molly - seems we are about in the same place but I have only up to 3 BMs a day and usually only in the morning.  I tried primal defense and phillips for crohns and colitis and ended up getting most help from the Align probiotics.  You can get them at Walmart, Walgreens - I had to ask for them behind the counter.  They are about $1 for each day.  I think they have worked good for me but we are all different.

q -

"I would suggest to continue with the supps for at least another week to see what happens...if it gets worse, then maybe you'll have to stop them, increase the pred and taper more slowly.

I've suggested an alternating taper a few times..you might want to consider it for the pred."

I will wait until end of week or next Monday as that is the day I am scheduled to taper prednisone to 15 mg.  I will call and get ok from NP/doctor.  I won't do anything on my own but I love to give "suggestions"!  My feeling right now is that I went from 30 to 20 mg. and been on 20 mg. for a month now so maybe just up to 25 mg. for a week or so.  I will ask my NP who is absolutely wonderful and she will consult with doc probably.  I just hate going backwards!!  I love the prednisone for my arthritis/skin/energy, etc.  BUT - as my doctor says "don't get too used to it"!!  I know I have/want to get off it but it sure could be months.  Hope the 6MP will kick in early - been nearly a month now.  He talked about increasing to 75 mg. and I don't look forward to it. 

Thanks!  ElaineNY

Hey Eliane! I am sorry to hear about your troubles. I was there! My 6MP has been increased to 100mgs and I am now on another taper of prednisone. Down to 10mgs. Right around the time you are at (one month into 6MP 50mgs and tapered pred) my bleeding came back. It def. was from the steriod withdrawal and the 6MP has not kicked in yet. It can take up to 3 months. I have now been on it for 2 months and 4 days ;). They did have to increase my dosage. The only side effects I am getting from the 6MP is loss of appetite, thinning of my hair and a bit quezzy.

I am using rowasa every other night too. So far I have not bled now since I went back on the prednisone 3/14.

We seem to have similiar cases. I would def include some sort of fiber in your diet as well to make your BM a little smoother and not as hard. That seems to always cut me up. Also I am now taking Rainbow Light Advanced Digestive Enzymes before every meal.

Good Luck! And dont be nervous if you have to increase the 6MP.

Hey Elaine!  Sorry to hear you're having issues again.  Have you been slowly starting to notice the mucus and blood over the last month since you dropped to 20mg or has it only been since you started the supps?  Maybe the supps are what it is doing you in.  If it's been since you dropped to 20mg - maybe you tapered too fast and need to raise the pred for a bit before you drop back down.  Maybe only by 2.5 or 5.  It took me a long time to taper off the pred cuz every time I jumped down a level I started flaring again.

The nausea in the morning can be from the 6mp (or standard colitis flare stuff).  I still have slight nausea every morning and I've been on Imuran for a few years now.