Never felt "sick" this long before

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so sick! I didn't realize just how little energy I had until I started on the pred and got to feeling much, much better. But, I went from being pregnant and not sleeping well, to being a sleep-deprived new mommy, to being a sick sleep-deprived new mommy! So, I'd been so tired and run down for so long, I forgot what normal was like for me!

Have you had a blood test lately? Maybe you're a little bit anemic.

My sympathies to you. I was hospitalized last year around this time (this time of year is not good for me for some reason-but I haven't been able to connect the dots as to why that is, if there is a connection, but I digress), was given two units of blood (anemia was the reason for the hospitalization in the first place) and was put on pred. Before going to the hospital, I couldn't do much of anything. I expected, after two units of blood and being put on pred and then starting a trial for Humira, which immediately stopped all bleeding, that I would feel great and full of energy. But that was far from the case.

My hemoglobin levels were still extremely low after the transfusions. I was given an iron tranfusion as well, and was on iron for months at home and was on an iron rich diet as well. I wasn't given the green light to go off the iron until my levels were normal again, and that took probably 3 months. I got worn out VERY easily, and it wasn't until a couple of months later that I really started getting my energy back. The pred did help give me some false energy (at least it kept me from sleeping, not that I was bouncing off the walls or anything), but really, it took a long time. I was hospitalized in late March, and when I threw my older daughter's 3rd birthday party in late June, I was finally getting to a point that I didn't have to sit down after doing one chore.

I completely understand your frustration! You want to get back to your life, but your body just won't let you do that. But try to listen to your body and take it easy. As difficult as it is to see the chores backing up and the house a mess, the last thing you need is to push yourself too far and end up back in the hospital.

I'm sorry you have had so many problems recently, and I hope you get your energy back soon!

Shelliesv;
I read your post and can relate. I've been in a moderate flair for about 8 weeks - and am very weak.
My GI said my recent blood tests show a hemoglobin count of 9. I've been lower (7) , as I know many who have UC get very anemic, but 9 makes a grown, normally healthy guy, very tired.

My thought for you was, my GI doc has me on FERREX 150 FORTE, seems to be helping. It's a combo of Iron & B-12.
Also, a health food guru we know, suggested fresh beet juice mixed with spinach, which I get from the local health food store.

Supa-
with all due respect, your hemo must have been dangerously low to get a transfusion. As scarey as some of the potential side effects are from my drugs, so much recent research has been done on blood transfusions, and no-blood fluids and meds are steadily being approved. There are volume expanders and drugs that increase red blood cell production. Blood transfusions hold serious potential complications to patients.
An MD friend, underwent serious surgery a few years back. She told her husband, if things went bad, she was not to receive blood, unless her RBC dropped to like 3. Being an MD, she was well aware of the risks.