regressing - maybe slow to learn

I have dealt with proctitis since late 80s and never had a bad flare of UC til august of this year.  This flare put me in the hospital and introduced me to new meds.  I was out of work for 2 months and during that time I was careful on what I ate, drank, gave up my excessive habit of drinking diet coke and how much sleep I was getting.  I recently returned to work 3 weeks ago and have finally stopped my prednisone.  Since I have returned back to work I have started working the long 12 - 13 hour days, getting stressed, drinking about 3 diet cokes a day and only getting about 5 hours of sleep a night.  I have noticed that my BMs are starting to get a little more loose with a little urgency, cramping on my left side has returned, and a little mucus once in a while.  My GI also had me stop my monosalamine enemas so all I am taking is my Lialda, 6MP and remicade.  It is almost like I forgot what I went through this past summer, the cramps, the bleeding, the urgency and multiple times having to run to the bathroom in addition to not being able to go anywhere for fear I would get caught and have resorted to going back to all my old ways.  Am I being stupid and am I on the verge of having a worsening flare.  Should I look at this as a warning sign and turn things around before I go too far or can I just go back to the life I was living.  I don't want to have to give up things - I think I am a workaholic and it is very hard for me to change my ways.  If anyone has words of wisdom or experiences that they can share that can show me I'm doing the wrong thing I would appreciate it.

Thanks for the insight - I do have extra enemas so I will take your advice and you are right bad flares are quickly forgotten. Sometimes it is just hard to learn from the lessons you have been presented!

No one can tell you what to do except you, but your body will tell you what it can't do. I found out that denial doesn't work (I was also Type A hard-worker) you have to listen to what your body is telling you.
You may have to change your life to accommodate UC.

This past 10 months have been the best in the last 10 years with UC for me but it took a lot of paying attention to achieve it. You had a wake-up call with your hospitalization. Yes re-start enemas. Yes pay attention to food/drink.
Take care of yourself, you're the only one you've got.

Thanks for the information - Habits are soooooo hard to kick in addition to routines!  I used to get up in the morning to get ready for work and pop a can of diet coke and drank it while getting ready and then was on my second one by 0700 (our morning meeting).  I'm not a coffee drinker - maybe I should switch.  It gets depressing because I love my sweets - I eat on the run all the time (probably not the most healthy balanced of diets).  I guess maybe its time to wake up and smell the roses and deal with reality! It is sooo hard and is sometimes easier just to do what you have done for the last 25 years.  Thanks for all the insight and information - I need someone to kick me in the butt!

Sort of like mind over matter.  I think I believe in that alot.  Look at the difference in the recovery rates of type A vs. type B personalities.  I have read that type A personalities tend to recover faster than the type B - especially when it comes to things like heart attacks and such.  I know I'm type A - I get to a point where I feel enough is enough - I'm done being sick and want to move on.  Just get frustrated when the ol body doesn't recover as fast I would like it to!