Pred enema questions

Over the last few weeks I've felt like I'm getting worse again. Going between 4-6 times a day (I know for some of you that's nothing, but it's an increase for me), more pain, and there's been blood a couple of times. It's not really bothering me much, but last time this happened, a full blown flare succeeded it, so I thought I should call my nurse just in case.

She prescribed me liquid steroid enemas, and they look terrifying. I've only tried enemas three times before, they were the foam mesalamine enemas, and they were more painful than I can describe. Will the liquid ones be any better, pain wise? I know they're harder to retain.

Are these like oral steroids, in that I absolutely have to finish the course? (Didn't want to ask my nurse this because she'd obviously just say yes). And is it possible for me to skip a day or two? I'm planning to stay with my friend next weekend and definitely will not want to bother with that at her place.

Is it even necessary for me to take these things? The symptoms are only low level at the moment, and maybe they'll just stay that way and not turn in to a proper flare. Maybe I should wait until things actually get worse. I know I sound like a baby and we all have to deal with horrible treatments, but I really am so scared - suppositories I could handle but not enemas.

Also I have pancolitis so will topical treatments even do any good?

Sigh. Hate this.

The more frequent you use them and the more you put inside, the better you will probably feel.

I had to do enemas years ago and hated it. I prefer the oral steroids. What's the problem with just taking Prednisone? Works wonders very quickly.

I have used them and they work very well and are not at all hard to retain (or painful). If you are using them for a short period of time, you don't need to taper, but I would use them nightly for at least 2 weeks before you skip nights. My dr says to use them daily until there is no bleeding for 2 weeks, them taper to every other day to every third day.