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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/1/2012 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. Hoping for your opinion on the choices available to me right now.

I can either be admitted to hospital for IV pred OR I can commence taking 40mg of pred per day at home, tapering after a week (assuming it dampens my flare).

I am also taking Imuran, which will be continued.

My GI wants to admit me, but has also agreed to the home option.

Confronted by these choices only, what would you choose?
Posted 5/1/2012 10:56 AM (GMT 0)
It depends....how severe are your symptoms at the moment? If they are really bad than I would opt for the IV because it will probably be faster but if it's bad but tolerable, I would go for oral. If you were admitted, would be on a liquid diet as well and for how long would you be admitted for?
Posted 5/1/2012 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like it is fairly bad if you doc wants to admit you. I always had much better luck with the IV pred, then the times I had just taken the pills, which makes sense since IV get right into your blood and pills have to go through that digestive track you're having problems with.
Posted 5/2/2012 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you are in such a flare.
It seems most doctors are reticent to admit anyone to the hospital, at least in this area they are. This makes me think your doctor is very concerned.

If you have the coverage and/or can arrange this financially with the hospital financial aid program, why not go into the hospital for this?

Of course, sometimes, the hospital seems like the worst place to rest, doesn't it?
I really think this comes down to the pros and cons for you and how you and your doctor feel about your current status.

I hope you are feeling better soon!
Let us know how you are doing?

With Gratitude,
~Hopeful Heart~
Posted 5/2/2012 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
is the prednisone and imuran making a difference? if you think IV pred would help better, then i'd do that. i have to be on death's door to go to the hospital as i've had horrendous experiences there. if you think you can handle getting better at home, i think you should do that. sleeping is impossible at the hospital and you'll be getting stuck with needles all day long... probably getting tests ordered and being on a no liquids diet/ or all liquids diet. ah just pure torture if you ask me.
Posted 5/2/2012 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
If I recall correctly the hydrocortisone is delivered into the IV twice a day in the hospital, so if that is all you are getting it is a real waste to be there 24 hours a day. Maybe do that as outpatient and go home.
If you are doing bowel rest then it may be worth it.
Posted 5/2/2012 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone.

I'm blessed with a fantastic GI and his nurse and the hospital I'll be admitted to is very good. I was last there for 11 days in 2010 but thankfully I'm not as bad now (yet...) as I was back then.

We just got my bloods back and my inflammatory markers are way up. I have decided to be admitted so the nurse is organizing a bed now.

I hate this disease. Yes, I am allowing myself to wallow very briefly before getting on with it. We've got a holiday to Europe booked at the end of June and I WILL be on that plane!

PS: only on imuran currently. IV Pred will kick in when I'm admitted. Ugh.
Posted 5/2/2012 10:59 AM (GMT 0)
You sound like me a few years ago.  I am in agreement with everyone else for you to admit.  I have gone on and off prednisone for years.  It stopped working for me and played horrible mind games.  Have you ever looked in to remicade?  Just an option.  I have had a good experience with it so far.  I am doing great on it so far.  Best of luck to you!
Posted 5/2/2012 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Well, still flopping around like a fish on a jetty! I wasn't admitted last night because no beds but I'm actually feeling better this morning ( and had a relatively good night) so now I'm thinking I'll give home a try and go to hospital after the weekend if I need to.

In Australia I think Remicade is known as Infliximab? It's a biological treatment. I had the tests (hep and X-ray) to determine whether I could be treated with it last time I was very ill (2010) and I'm good to go. Fortunately I respond very well to Imuran so that's what I'm on. The Infliximab is a back-up, according to my GI.

Over here Infliximab is also quite expensive and, last i knew, approved for treating Crohn's but not UC. That doesn't mean those with UC can't take it but it does mean your GI has to be creative otherwise the patient has to pay the non-subsidized (by the govt) price for the infusions, which is terribly high.
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