Rant/advice on how to keep energy up

So after having 3 doses of remicade, I am back in a flare. I feel like I am to blame for this flare. UC is such a balancing act for me; two days of forgetting to take my half a pill (25 mg) of 6mp at night and deciding to drink with friends at a football game is probably to blame. The stress of classes and starting a part time job probably isn't helping either. Now I am having blood, D, mucus, cramps, gas, basically all of the fun stuff. It's extremely frustrating since I would have considered myself in the best condition I've been in since diagnosed before this flare. The remicade had really helped me. And just a few week ago I went through 5 iron infusions to give me some help with anemia...So I was feeling pretty good then! I'm kicking myself for taking this "remission" for granted.

I have my next dose of remicade at the end of October and my GI hopes that that will help pull me out of this. He also sent me in for blood work and stool samples last week to make sure this isn't something else as well. However, I have lost soo much blood and nutrients in the past week that I'm exhausted. I have an extremely busy week coming up between studying, exams, classes, and work. Not to mention my birthday is this week. But I'm exhausted. All I want to do is sleep all day. I slept for 12 hours last night and still look like a zombie. I had forgotten how much a flare really takes out of me.

What are some ways that you guys find helpful in battling fatigue when in a flare? My mom suggested B12 vitamins but I don't know how fast those help or if they will do more harm than good. Thanks for any suggestions!

I took vitamin B12 and I found it helps. Also iron.

I'm always weak. When I started walking I noticed I have more energy.

I even feel weak when I come out of a flare. It always takes me months to get back on track.

Thanks all for your input! I guess your right notsosicklygirl. I didn't cause the flare, I just felt like since I was feeling so good I kinda forgot to adhere to what I usually do to keep my UC from acting up. But you could be right that I wasn't in total remission or my UC wasn't managed as well as it possibly could be.
I'm not intolerant to mesalmines, my Dr just told me I could stop taking the liallda and such since remicade and 6mp was helping and should "cover it", so he said. I did ask him if I should start taking Canasa supps or my liallda again to possibly help. I'm waiting for his reply to me.
I also feel like I need more sleep than most of my friends my age, and if I have one busy day then that takes me out for a whole day afterwards because I need extra rest for my body to feel better and catch up. It's exhausting always being exhausted/ Theres nothing more I want to do than rest and watch tv/read, I missed a lot of classes last week so I can't afford to this week. I take a daily vitamin that has iron in it but maybe I should just start taking iron alone. I'm also gonna start taking B12 and see what happens as well.
I really thought the remicade was helping me so I'd be very disappointed if it stops working. I have a Gi appointment in 2 weeks and am gonna as the test to check my antibodies to the remicade.

This probably isn't really what you're looking for in a suggestion, but in all honesty, I really think you should quit the job. It's just one more thing for you to worry about and deal with--that can really take it out of you. The most important thing right now is your health, and if your job is affecting that negatively I say let it go. Sorry you're going through this....it sucks having to go to class during a flare.

Hillhunter,
I took the job once I thought I was getting better from the Remicade. I like being a little more financially independent and thought I finally had the opportunity to after being in a flare for close to a year. But I agree, your advice may not be what I want to hear but you're probably right. If I can't get my health on track I'll probably have to let it go. Also, nice to know someone understands the pain of going to class in a flare! I also see that in your signature you take double doses of Remicade? Why and how so? Does this help you? What's been your experience with Remicade? I've had three infusions so far and another in a few weeks. Thanks!

I totally understand what you're saying about independence. As a matter of fact, I was in basically the same situation as you...Rem worked for a few months so I went back to school and got a job, but it stopped working and I think the stress/physical nature of that job really contributed to the flare I'm fighting my way out of right now. I wish I would have quit at the first sign of symptoms reappearing, but oh well. And the class thing--yeah, well, you get it.

When I got into this new flare, I got tested for antibodies as well, but didn't have them, so why wasn't it working like it used to? This is when my doc decided to up my dose. Normal dose is 5mg/kg (body weight) every 8 weeks. I now get 10mg/kg every 6 weeks. I'm just one of those people who needs that...some others on this forum, too. It does help a bit--ask your GI about it if your antibody test comes back negative. Basically what I'm saying....don't give up on Remicade. My first three infusions were awesome and now they aren't as awesome, but still help. What I really think got me out of my worst symptoms was combo of Rem and fecal transplant. I know it seems gross at first, but maybe look into that a bit too? Okay, sorry for rambling--I hope this helps.

Hillhunter: I appreciate your post. I am going to keep giving Remi a chance. It seems to have been the only thing in the past 3 years that has made a large improvement, even if it hasn't lasted. I think the stress of being back at school has contributed to my current flare as well. Over the summer when I was relaxed and just starting Remi I felt great. I'm going to speak to my GI at my appointment next week about upping my dosage as well, or at least the frequency to every 6 weeks.
As far as fecal transplants, I've only done a little research on that treatment (it does sound gross). But I am going to discuss it with my GI as well for possible future usage. Thanks for your advice.

I am definitely in a full blown flare now and the exhaustion is awful. I'm just gonna have to use all of my free time to rest and save my energy for when I really need it.
And thanks for the Birthday wishes! My symptoms actually subsided enough for me to go out with friends and had a better day than expected :) your support and input is always appreciated.

bloodwork * where did my phone get woodwork from? lol sorry!