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Flaring...first time using pred...ugh

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/30/2010 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

Well things have unexpectedly turned for the worse. I was doing fine and dandy UC wise until Saturday when the flood gates just opened wide. I have been taking 4.8g of Lialda and doing Rowasa enemas every other day for 8+ months now.

Friday was a typical normal day for me, went 2-3 times only. Saturday and Sunday I went from 12-14 times but saw no blood. Called the dr on call and he called in pred right away. I resisted taking it though. Monday through Thursday was about 6-8 times a day (rarely any blood - more so I think from going so much than the actual flare), but always pure diarrhea. Spoke with my real doctor and she thought it was a bout of food poisoning that set me off and my body flushed itself, but the colitis flared up. On her orders, I started 500 mg of Levaquin on Monday hoping it was food poisoning, but no impact thus far w/ the antibiotic. Also did stool tests Monday (culture, c-diff, giarada, etc.), but the results have not come back yet, I am hoping today or Monday.

I couldn't go on living, working, and functioning anymore and also was dealing with night sweats and a low grade temp at night. Gave in and started 40 mg of prednisone for the first time ever yesterday. The doctor wants me to do 7 days at 40, 7 days at 30, 7 days at 20, 7 days at 10, and done. I am hopeful that will work, especially since I haven't seen blood at all. I guess my question, based on all of this is how long does it take the pred to work? I haven't noticed much of a difference today frequency wise, but did notice that I didn't have a low grade temp or night sweats last night. Also - I have had no blood, what's up with that...seems so odd to me? My first sign of something wrong before UC wise has always been blood! Maybe the Lialda and Rowasa kept things at bay? I didn't know UC flares could be so sudden and unexpected.
Posted 7/30/2010 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Niro.. first off I'm 20 years old and have had three flares and am replying from my phone right now on my 7th day of recovery from SURGERY! finally feeling great. has been a tough recovery as it was an emergency surgery I was already on remicade... horrible flare started, and I was admitted VERY sick.. anyways I've been on Prednisone (60 mg) throughout every flare... hate it. it gave me horrible cases of thush every time and for ME I believe didn't do anything beneficial but everybody's bodies are very different. for your comment about you didn't know the flares could be so sudden... I was out racing motocross 2 Sundays ago... was in the hospital that Tuesday and had surgery that Friday.... so there ya go! hang in there yours may not be a UC flare as you said there is no blood which for most of us is the first sign.. but stay on the preds! it is absolutely a magic drug for a lot it people....
Posted 7/30/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone bashes pred for the side effects (and they DO suck) but it is the most effective drug I've ever taken for UC.
Posted 7/30/2010 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
NiRo...sounds as though you gave it your all, and you had no choice but to try the pred. The taper sounds quick, I hope you'll improve quickly.

Not all of us have good response to medications and need the immunosuppressant meds or surgery.

Keep us posted as to how you're doing.


q
Posted 7/30/2010 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys...DR just called me and she is really starting to think it isn't the colitis. I am starting to think so too...she is suggesting to go to the ER. She is still trying to track down the stool cultures, etc. I swear to god, if Quest has lost them, I am going to kill them!!
Posted 7/30/2010 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
If it's not your UC, then you shouldn't be on pred just yet. Wait for the culture test results.

Keep us posted.
q
Posted 7/30/2010 8:43 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
If it's not your UC, then you shouldn't be on pred just yet. Wait for the culture test results.

Keep us posted.
q


This is what I don't get about the regamine my Dr. is putting on me. Why on earth should I take these meds they are prescribing me when they don't even know that I have infection in my gut! Should I wait to start them until I get a result from that? I'm super scared to start them, but I suppose I'll never get better if I don't.
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