mastering the flare without prednisone..

I'be been able to taper off of prednisone about 2 weeks ago. I'm now starting to flare... is there any way I can try to squash this without prednisone?

Watch your diet, try some alternative idea's.
Doesn't sound like asacol is doing you any good or could possibly be making you worse instead of helping.

I would try enemas, even steroid enemas, if Rowasa ones don't help. I was on pred for 2 years when I was first diagnosed - guess I'd become dependent, I kept tapering down and re-flaring and having to go back up - but eventually I did get off it in 1988 and haven't been back on since. I began to use steroid enemas and those, along with some meditation and visualization, helped me, I believe.
When I'm flaring and the 5-ASAs don't take care it of, steroid enemas are still my steroid of choice.

for me the steroid enemas have not helped, but I am just now starting Imuran. the asacol (mesalamine in general) does not help. but as far as side effects go, its much better than oral. none that I can recall. oral steroids did me a number. I swelled up, got zits all over my back chest and shoulders, had a hard time staying hydrated. all in the meanwhile it did not help. so basically Imuran is my next step before surgery.

Chef - I WANT SURGERY, TOO!!! Really... I don't see the long-term benefit of constantly facing the possibility of a flare & forever being on medications that strip your body from so many things it needs. What do you know about the surgery?