Flaring again??? I guess????

Hey all,

Been over a year since I been on the website...was diagnosed in 05' with colitis.  Had the flare until mid 06 and then a light flare last year and I think it is happening again.

So, here's the scoop.  I have been having diarrhea for a couple weeks but don't go a lot over the course of the day.  Some days only three times, others a time or two more or less.  Really, not the same each day and not every day I have blood.  Yes, the little demon that shows up in the bowl.  LOL  I am thinking I am looking at another doctor's visit in the near future.  Can't get in until a couple weeks from now, I have a couple days off then.

Thing is, I would hope this is something I could nip in the bud and try some over the counter meds. first thinking I could help it stop.  This time, it is not as bad as the first time in 05' of course (that was hell) and then last year was light (just a couple months and then I was fine).  Of course, meant taking Imuran, Coloazal and the necessary evil drug Prednisone.

Out of your experience, do you think I am in a flare?  I am still new to this.  Do I just take for granted when there's blood in the stool (not every time) and I do have some urgency sometimes then I am?  Would that be my guidelines to go by for the rest of my life?  My doctor is good but not the best in his bedside manner you go in and your are out QUICK.  I guess I can call the doctor's office and see if I can get in those days I will be off hoping that this will go away by itself but if not, I know what is ahead of me.

What do you think?  I am not lactose intolerant and I do eat the Light and Fit yogurt almost daily (one container..should I eat more?) and don't drink or smoke or drink coffee.  Basically, other than this stupid colon acting up, I am healthy as a horse.  : )

Okay...will go now...getting too wordy.  That's Italian for you!  LOLOL

Thank you very much for your help and support. 

Ditto what Rio says.

I'd probably take a probiotic supplement instead of relying on yogurt as there are more of the little buggers in a good supplement than in a container of yogurt. And check the ingredients on the yogurt...it's name leads me to believe it has an artificial sweetner in it, which can be rough on many UCers guts.

Why aren't you on maintenance meds? If you stay on a 5ASA or something of the sort, you might not have flares (or might have them less often).

Like I said, you're better off to take a probiotic supplement (pill) than the yogurt, as the number of live bacteria in the pills is higher, and therefore more effective. I'd be careful with Activia...I tried it before I was diagnosed, and it made my diarrhea a lot worse. If you look at their website, it says it's more for treating "slow" bowels. However, I know some people on here eat it and are fine. If you really prefer eating yogurt, just get one that doesn't have artificial sweener...just read the label to find out.

I'm in remission right now (feel great!) and I fully intend to keep on taking my pills. I'm on Apriso, which is a newer formulation of mesalamine, and I only take 4 pills (granted, they are huge) in the morning. There are a lot of studies that show that patients who stay on maintenance meds are much more likely to stay in remission for longer stretches of time. Some people have success with diet modification, but the great majority of us depend on meds to keep us in remission.

I'm guessing that you didn't follow your doctor's advice when you stopped taking imuran and colazal -- unless you were having adverse reactions to them. The goal then was probably to take prednisone to get you into remission, and to keep on taking colazal and imuran to stay in long-term remission.

Probiotics should help, but taking the maintenance meds is extremely important.

I already made a call to my doctor and will be getting the return call shortly.  Can't get in until the 24th.  Doc. just called and said to start back on the colazal until I can get in.  Stay tuned.  : )

Good luck with the appointment.

Colazal isn't typically the kind of drug that you take for just a few months and then taper off, and the same goes for imuran. That's why I was wondering whether you were following doctor's instructions, or just decided to stop them on your own (or maybe you just misunderstood how he wanted you to take them).

I'd say get off the yogurt particularly if it has whey, corn syrup, or complex sugars in it.  I would seriously consider changing your diet if possible.