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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/1/2011 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone.

First, let me say WOW. I really took my 6 years of remission for granted. I was dx in June of 2004. It took about a year for the right combo of 5ASA's and pred to get it there.

I had a very, very MINOR flare about 5 months ago and was able to use Canasa for 3 days to clear it up. 3 weeks ago I strained my lower back and was on NSAIDs for 2 weeks. Yup, you guessed it. Full blown flare started about a week ago. I saw my PCP on Monday who started me on Pred and my GI yesterday and he prescribed Apriso.

I can't say that the NSAID caused the flare and my dr said that I could have been on the brink and that just threw it over the edge but I can't help but try to find something to blame.

So, I'm back to feeling like a newbie. Back to watching my diet for a while, figuring out the right med combo, getting used to all the side effects of those meds, feeling chained to the bathroom. Plus the added benefit of trying to help my new significant other understand the disease.

I guess the first question I have for you all is Apriso the new Asacol? It seems like many newer dx on it.

Thanks for letting me ramble and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

 

Posted 9/1/2011 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and Welcome...
Sorry to hear about your flare.. hope your back is better. My GI doctor said there are like 5 major 5ASA medications and they are each formulated slightly different so depending on a person's needs is what they get prescribed. So maybe your doctor thought the formula pf the Apriso was good for your current situation??? Be sure and check out the Apriso website for a discount card for the pharmacy if you didn't get one from your doctor. It will save you a lot of cash!!!
Posted 9/1/2011 7:03 PM (GMT 0)

Uh oh, is that why he gave me 14 days worth of samples?? LOL.

Thanks for the tip on checking the website. So far, my insurance co-pays have been very reasonable and I got a voucher for the Aciphex. I heard the retail on that was outrageous and no insurances were covering it yet.

Posted 9/1/2011 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
lol, probably so on the samples.. When I went to get my script for the Apriso it was $60.00 and that is with government insurance.. My Lialda is the same, but with the discount card it is $10.00 a month. The 5ASA's don't have generics so if your insurance is like mine, the name brand is expensive...
Posted 9/1/2011 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, sorry to be welcoming you here ; )
Posted 9/2/2011 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
hello to all of you as well. new here myself. can use all the help I can get.
Posted 9/2/2011 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome...sorry you have to join us though.

I'm on Asacol, but different peeps take different orals meds.  The Asacol works fine for me, paired with a mesalamine enema. 

Hope you feel better soon!

Posted 9/2/2011 2:21 PM (GMT 0)

LivingAgain said...
Be sure and check out the Apriso website for a discount card for the pharmacy if you didn't get one from your doctor. It will save you a lot of cash!!!

 I did some research on the discount card. I live in Mass so it's not vaild shakehead  Hopefully it won't be too expensive.

 

Posted 9/2/2011 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for the welcomes.
Posted 9/2/2011 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and... here's another welcome!

Some years back I wrenched my back and took ibuprofen around the clock for about 4 days - and it threw me into one of the worst flares I've had. My primary doc at the time told me that ibuprofen can do that even to folks without UC, so I'd better stay away from it in the future!

So... I have. I ask for a fortified Tylenol if I need pain medication, and that's done fine for me.

As per meds, I am very impressed by what I've heard about Apriso. I hope it does well for you - and doesn't cost too much!
Posted 9/2/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
I am fairly new here too.. I had a 2 year remission and thought I had it beat! HA!
UC is chronic and I realize that. I was taking Celebrex when my flare started back in April.
Posted 9/2/2011 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yes. I think it was the NSAIDs. They are known to cause colitis, and anything that can cause colitis can set off a flare.

I don't take 5ASAs. They don't work for me and are hard on the body over the long-term.

Have you tried any alternative treatments? Probiotics? Maintaining a food journal?

Posted 9/2/2011 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
UC0604,
Sorry to hear that you can't get the script card where you live!!! That's a bummer! Have you called the manufacturing company directly to see if they offer assistance??? This darn disease sucks... :(
Posted 9/2/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had very good results with Asacol when I was first diagnosed. I'm hoping that the Apriso works also.

I'm going to see how I do with the samples my GI gave me. I have a very good friend who's my pharamacist :) so he will be able to give me prices on it before I need to have the script filled.

I missed calling into the drs office today to schedule my follow up next week. Darn it. I wanted to ask him if I could start the Canasa tonight to try to get this bleeding under control.

I'm feeling very lethargic today. I don't know if it's the lack of nutrients or the meds or just plan bored resting and being close to the bathroom. I normally feel ok on Prednisone and never really had any side effects from it.
Posted 9/2/2011 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I can't speak for the pred side effects.. I am fortunate to not have needed that. But, when I was at my worst with this UC mess I was of course anemic from the blood loss and that in itself can leave you dead tired all the time.. then topping that with the lack of nutrients it will leave you flat. And the stress from the frequent trips to the loo will wear ya out as well.
Hang in there, and maybe look into the supplements... alot of folks really rely on the probiotics and I personally feel my almost remission is because of the aloe vera juice and l-glutamine powder. Everyone is different so some things work for some and not for others... I am thankful that I have been on this forum from almost day one and got alot of good tips for supplements and such. The supplements have given me as close to a normal life as I will possibly get again. I have 1, maybe 2 trips to the bathroom a day, very rare blood or mucous, and not much urgency anymore... I feel better than I did for the whole last year..
Good Luck to you!! Keep us posted
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