Posted 5/19/2010 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I've been in varying stages of a UC flare (pancolitis) for the last 7-8 months. A few weeks ago, I was *almost* in remission (only going 2-3x per day, no blood, no abdominal pain, no urgency, only occasional diarrhea). I've been taking Remicade since January, and it seemed to have worked well so the Dr had me taper off the Prednisone (had been at 40mg since December). I just got off the Pred completely about 5 days ago. I also have had an on-and-off cdiff infection for several months, which was treated with Vanco (not on it now).
about 2 weeks ago, while I was in the final (5mg) stages of Prednisone, and while I was still taking a Vanco treatment, I suddenly started having to go 10-12x per day again. Except this time, the "going" has been completely different than before. This time, I get a strong urge to go, but when I try to go very little will come out and my body strains to try. So I give up, and then 20 minutes later the same thing happens, and again very little comes out. This is happening many times per day, and only a couple of times will I actually, truly "go." It's almost like I'm constipated. When I do finally "go," the stool is loose rather than diarrhea. As a result of all this, my lower rectum/anus is terribly painful and is even itching a lot -- it's driving me nuts! I've been using a little Preparation-H to try to relieve it but it doesn't seem to be working! Oh, and these non-productive urges are also waking me at night, up to 4 times.
I'm scared to death that this is early stages of another flare-up and don't know what to do as my most recent cdiff tests came back negative.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? Is this the early stages of another flare-up?