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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/27/2010 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all:

I have been flaring since dec 12 with some days of relief, but today, it has been straight bloody stools all day, lots of abdominal cramping.  I've been on prednisone the whole time about to start to taper to 25 mg on friday...i'm doing rowasa enemas every night and asacol 3 3x a day.  I have a script for Cortifoam waiting at the pharmacy for me,i'm going to get it when the babysitter comes at 3, has anyone had any luck with cortifoam?  I'm hoping it will help some, I had to call in to work and tell them i'm not coming in. What a drag.... when is this going to end???

Posted 1/27/2010 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having a flare that started December 26th. Before the flare I was using Rowasa at night and sometimes Canasa in the morning to squish minor flare ups. At the moment I'm using Asacol x3 three times a day and a Hydrocortisone Enema at night. I feel like the enemas are helping but this is my first experience with a flare this bad so I am unsure if I am healing or if the cort enemas are just keeping me a step above OMG kill me now. Anyhoo, I think the foam might help, it seems to be helping me. Good luck! :o)
Posted 1/27/2010 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
     Last month my doctor's associate called in a script for the foam, but none of the pharmacies around here carried it!!!  He wound up giving me the cort suppositories.  It isn't like I live in the sticks or anything.  I live in south Jersey!!
Posted 1/27/2010 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Cortifoam enemas did not help me when I was flaring badly. I have seen others post about positive results from them though. I would not start to taper the pred until your symptoms are under control. What dose did you start on?
Posted 1/27/2010 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
I understand what you are talking about when you say "when will this end!?" i have been flaring since the middle of October, with bloody stools and abdominal cramping all day long! i just got out of the hospital and in the hospital they administer steroids through your I.V., which seems to be alot more effective than taking prednisone. that could be an option for you. also, i am on 40 mg of prednisone so maybe your doctor could UP your dose, instead of tappering. if i start tappering and the flare-up is still going on, it doesn't get better for me. as far as the foam...never worked for me. right now i am using Colocort hydrocortisone enemas and they work much better. also, try the supplement L-glutamine. it might help a little. hang in there.
Posted 1/28/2010 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor is very against stopping the taper of prednisone and I have a second opinion from another doctor who specializes in IBD in about a month, but until then, i'm nervous!!! I am so tired of living like this!!!
Posted 1/28/2010 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Why taper the prednisone when you are bleeding like that? I would think that would make things worse. You needs other things to get your flare under control prior to tapering in my opinion. Try the rectal meds, don't taper then try other things if the rectal meds don't help. Then taper.
Posted 1/28/2010 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
I hear you... the blood seems to have stopped and wasn't happening before yesterday, but I have definetly been going in waves. One day of tons of stomach cramping and diarrhea and then two good days where I seem to be healing, then a really bad day and so on and so on. My MD is adamant I start the taper. I am concerned.
Posted 1/28/2010 2:55 PM (GMT 0)

I get that as well when coming out of a flare or going in. I sometimes can link it to stressful days or days following a lot of physical exertion. I feel good one day then work out then bleed the following day. It sounds as though your symptoms are better than I first thought if you have 2 good days and 1 bad (not that you feel good). How much do you plan to taper? Small amounts I would hope. Get a lot of rest and sleep and keep the stress low.

Posted 1/28/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you burli, you have given me some hope. I am tapering 5 mg every two weeks.
Posted 1/28/2010 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and Burli, funny you said working out, because the day before I was bleeding, I went to the gym... :) Today, i'm better, stomach cramping and urgency, but i'm not bleeding and able to function semi-normally. Hopefully it will continue!
Posted 1/28/2010 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
5 mg every two weeks sounds reasonable. I am doing 5 mg every 1-2 weeks but I am also taking some high potent meds (Imuran and Remicade). I've had this a long time though and my flares get worse with each flare...But this time I will try to keep it in remission with VSL#3 (and the Imuran of course). You may want to add VSL#3DS (double strength). It's a prescription probiotic that carries the highest potency I can find and costs the least per unit bacteria. There is a lot of data backing up its usefulness. Take care and go easy on the exercise until you get things healed more.

Posted 1/28/2010 9:48 PM (GMT 0)

Wonder why my post was all messed up - I deleted it and wrote this - sorry!  I am not that bad a typist LOL!

ElaineNY


Posted 1/29/2010 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to order the VSL#3 tonight over the internet...hope it helps. I'm going to start slow? One packet per day and work up?
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