In hospital due to major fLair

Yes I do think it's a bit drastic to say that. There are plenty of other meds besides steroids and Imuran. 5ASA's for example, or remicade (I'm really surprised they didn't recommend this as the next step up), rectal medications. You can also try natural supplements like slippery elm, l-glutamine, probiotics, etc. Diet modification if you think that might help.

Your doc sounds like she's jumping the gun a bit here. Sounds exactly like my last doctor, who I no longer see.

Just updated my signature to include Vitamins and supplements.

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Male 46 DX'd Mild Lower left UC 4cm section Feb 2 2012
1st month after DX Asacol 800 HD 2 pills 2 times a day.

Currently taking Asacol 800 HD 1 pill 2 times a day.
Natren brand probiotics
Psyllium seed powder ( started 3/8/12)
Natures Made Muiltivitamin and additional vitamin D3 2000iu supplement total Vit D intake daily 3000iu just started 3/13/12 Vitamin D info
link - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17962355
Prayer

One months worth of saccharomyces bouldarii but will start taking it again soon with the psyllium seed powed and Natren probiotics.

No blood in stools now and have normal bowel movement at most 2 times a day. Most of the time once in the am. Asacol seems to work but for how long.

Diet consists of mostly an organic Paleo with some good organic natural cheese, Milk, eggs and yogurt. Rice and small amounts of pasta also.
Alot of potatoes but never chips or french fries and most importantly never consume unfiltered tap water but instead good bottled electrolyte water.
I cook with filtered tap water and add real sea salt for magnesium.

Alcohol: Nver wine or beer anymore but can handle Vodka and seltzer and or Tonic so far. Limiting myself to no more than 2 drinks at this time.

Thoeries:
I beleive the issue is an inbalance of good/bad bacteria for whatever reason in our guts allowing this to happen.
I also beleive this Fecal transplant thing has has alot of validity to it.

Favorite saying, "Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not here yet but today is a gift and that is why it is called the present."

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sorry to hear about this, linahawk. being in the hospital sucks! when i was there last year, the vultures (aka surgeons) were obsessed with operating on me and i hadn't even tried PREDNISONE yet. it was so ridiculous. they came in my room multiple times a day until one day, i was throwing up and my IV popped (blood everywhere) and i couldn't talk to them. that was the last time i saw them. definitely try all other therapies before surgery! it's your colon, not their's just so they can teach residents how to do surgeries.

If you have c diff they might do a fecal transplant, that is prob why you feel so bad

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. I recall my GI said I had a 'recipe for c.diff' when i was in the hospital--IBD+antibiotics+being in the hospital and even though the test was negative, I was still put on Vancomycin. And as you probably already know, hospitals freak out when you have c.diff, they don yellow gowns and gloves and practically put caution tape on your door. It just might mean less drs bothering you, which is always a good thing, so you can get some rest.

My GI me not long ago there are links between low levels of vitamin D and increased IBD symptoms, I think they can give you a crazy high dose for a bit to get it higher, maybe they can do that while you are in the hospital?

Definitely Remicade or Cimzia are your next step, not a lot of people on here are on Cimzia, but it has been a wonder drug for me after Imuran and Humira failed.

Hope you feel better soon!

Oh and humira and remicade isn't covered through our medical system here
In Australia so it cost alot of money.