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Ulcerative Colitis
Would you start taking asacol because your doctor told you even if you have been feeling great without it for years?
Yes - 0.0% - 0 votes
No - 90.9% - 10 votes
Unsure - 9.1% - 1 votes
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Posted 9/30/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all - So I was diagnosed with UC when I was 15 - about 12 years ago - I was extremely sick for about a year but gradually recovered - I did everything right until I went to college [had previously drank only lactose milk, took 9 pills of asacol/day, did not drink etc.] - In college, I stopped taking the asacol, drank, smoked, ate whatever [pretty much normal college behavior] and I was fine, I've been fine - except for one bad flare-up when I tried to quit smoking] ever since - my doctor was fine with me stopping the asacol since I was able to show him how great I was without it.

I now have a new doctor & he is much more serious about the asacol - insists on 8 pills/day - I just don't know whether or not I should take it - I feel fine, my colonoscopy & endoscopy last month were excellent - would you start taking all those pills again if you've been fine without them the last nine years??

Thanks.

Posted 9/30/2011 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
LC, welcome to Healing Well.

That's a very tough question. I know the majority of us here, prefer not to take medications but we also need them to stay in remission. If I were doing well for 12 years, I would definitely have trouble starting a preventitive but at the same time, I believe there are studies that show taking Asacol can help you to remain in remission for longer periods of time. I am so scared of a flare because of what I have experienced in the past that I would be scared to stop taking meds no matter how good I was feeling. However, if I had been doing well for 12 years without medication, it would be hard to convince me I need to take it. If you don't trust your GI, perhaps a 2nd opinion would help you to make a decision.

Let me know what you decide.
Posted 9/30/2011 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
So did your recent colonoscopy show no inflammation at all? If there was none, I don't think I would start the Asacol again. If there was some low-level inflammation, I might do it, just to hopefully get rid of all inflammation and keep the risk of colon cancer at bay. And this is coming from someone who rarely thinks it's wise to not take meds for UC.

I probably would, however, get c-scopes at least every other year.

Posted 9/30/2011 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
The colonoscopy was perfect - they all have been except one, two years ago, which showed a mild-flare up while I was quitting smoking - other than that they have all been perfect - my old doctor used to tell me that if anyone else saw my colonoscopy's they wouldn't know I had UC b/c of how good it looks [sorry not trying to brag to anyone currently sick - I remember going through 2 years of hell when I was first diagnosed] - but it's things like this - 9 years of near-perfect remission w/out meds that makes me thing - really - 8pills/day - really?
Maybe a 2nd opinion is a good idea...
Posted 9/30/2011 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to tell you what I'd do. Many will probably disagree with me.

I would get a box of Canasa suppositories and use them any time I experience any symptoms of a flare. There isn't any good reason to take 5-ASAs every day for the rest of one's life if Canasa will stop a flare in its tracks. And if one's flares start at the rectum, then there is a good chance that Canasa will stop the flare. The important thing is to have a box of Canasa on hand. If you start flaring and don't use Canasa right away, then Canasa won't be enough to stop the flare.

In fact, I too was told to take 5-ASAs every day for the rest of my life. I don't.
Posted 10/1/2011 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
So, are you smoking now? Or done with smoking? If you aren't smoking and are still in remission for several years I don't see why he wants you to take the medication!
Posted 10/1/2011 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
The human body has the ability to recover on its own especially after years of taking these man made pills, so i think you should consult with a second opinion.
Posted 10/1/2011 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
if your last scope was good, i wouldn't start more meds. particularly asacol (always high dosages and some side effects including hair loss). my theory is "don't fix what isn't broken"
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