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How do you know when a flare is starting to subside?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/27/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on week 3 of a bad flare...today I've had urgency and passing of small amounts of fecal material and mucous with small blood amounts (mostly on paper)...what are some signs that a flare is getting better?
Posted 12/27/2011 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Bump - I'm assuming they DO get better??? What beginning signs do you see?
Posted 12/27/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
What were your symptoms before these latest ones?
Did you have diarrhea?

q
Posted 12/27/2011 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Normally, for me, first the bleeding stops; then stool becomes more formed; then number of bms per day decreases; then urgency subsides.

This is over the course of weeks.
Posted 12/27/2011 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
It's definitely hard to gague but the first signs for me and probably less frequency, blood and gas. Of course, healing takes time and we have to be patient. I think the process is different for each individual and even differs between flare ups.
Posted 12/27/2011 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Remember....at this point you're flaring. If there's improvement...there's improvement.

BUT...you have to realise the sympoms at THIS point. What do they mean and realise that they can take a while to subside.

That doesn't mean your flare is finished, it means you may be seeing different symptoms...but still improving.

It took me a good two years to recognise the healing symptoms and the start of new symptoms if I tapered my rectal meds too early or too fast.

As well....not all of us have even the symptoms you're having at this point (much more less) and still are "flaring".

What goes up comes down..recognise them all, for when you're in a no-symptom state of remission and on maintenance meds....those diminishing symptoms from a flare can be the first symptoms of one happening.

Just like we say with the weather...in winter, lower temps are a good thing. The same temps in fall say that winter is coming.

q
Posted 12/27/2011 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
The crazy thing is that I went off asocol yesterday because I think they worsen my symptoms...so far this afternoon I've seen more formed stools and the only blood is on the TP....
Posted 12/27/2011 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
you're playing with fire....are you on rectal meds as well?

How much asacol cold turkey?

You can lower your dosage and see if that helps.

q
Posted 12/27/2011 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
I am on rectal meds - hydro enema nightly... only went on asocol a week ago and immediately saw symptoms worsen....I had read posts from others so I thought I'd go off as my MD is out this week...do you think the improvement I saw today was coincidental?
Posted 12/27/2011 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I was 2400 mg asocol daily
Posted 12/28/2011 8:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well, my symptoms got a bit worse when I first started meds....my husband said "why are you getting worse?" My doc said patience...so I was. worth it.

How long on the enemas?

It takes a while for them to kick in, and to be brutally honest, you're knee-jerking and micro-managing.You don't have the experience to even know if you will improve.

Get BACK on the asacol and do the enemas nightly.

I would suggest you call the doc when he gets back and try the mesalamine enemas rather than the steroid.

You're flaring...this is a flare and how it is...the oral meds haven't kicked in and it takes a while for things to improve.

Get back on the asacol....

q

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