I'm so confused...frustrated

I had a baby in March and was in a solid remission from Remicade that I started prenatal. I got a UTI and took Macrobid and Diflucan at the beginning of July. I had a few mild symptoms so I started cort enemas. Was on them off and on for 2-3 weeks and just plateaued. Went to get a flex sig and I have 10 cm of very mild inflammation right where my rectum and sigmoid meet. My symptoms are off and on mild cramping and mucus. Only saw blood once the day after the scope.

My GI put me on a short course of low dose prednisone. 20 for a week, 10 for a week and 5 for a week. Along with Rowasa nightly and upped Lialda from 2 to 4 (started that with cort enemas). I'm on day 5 of 20 and I'm not sure how it's going. I still have the on and off pain and mucus. My stools are formed. Usually going 2 times in the morning. Today I had a decent morning bm then smaller solid stools mid morning and then tonight. A little bit of mucus and mild cramping (which I assume is because of the location of the inflammation).

My next Remicade infusion isn't for 3 weeks. My GI said that if I don't feel better after the week of 20 I can request to move up the infusion. I am getting an antibody/level check before I get my next infusion to be safe and in the know.

Am I healing? I have never had mild inflammation like this before only moderate and all over...I'm assuming the Remicade is doing what it's supposed to and the UTi meds messed things up.

We aren't sure why the enemas aren't helping. I'm so frustrated and scared. My other 2 flares have landed me in the hospital.

Good luck, I hope your changes do the trick. I was going to suggest the antibody test, increasing the remicade frequency, but you're already on top of it.

I agree. It sounds like you are improving and on the right track. I get chronic UTI's and the Macrobid messes with me majorly but my remicade normally gets me back on the right track. So I hope it does the same for you!

TotesMagotes - UTIs are the worst! And unfortunately one of the side effects of Remicade. I began a flare in March after taking Macrobid for a UTI and I have never been the same since. I too get chronic UTIs. You need to be careful because some UTIs can be really stubborn so even though you took a course of antibiotics....that UTI could come back again.

Now, when I feel a UTI coming on, I take marshmallow root and Uva Ursi. I swear by the Uva Ursi. Just a couple of days ago, I felt a UTI coming on. Drank tons of water and popped one Uva Ursi and was better in the morning. In some people, it does cause diarrhea but I have never had that happen to me.

Some people take cranberry pills because it prevents the e-coli from sticking to the bladder wall. I find that cranberry pills are great at preventing a UTI but they really irritate me when I have one coming on. I asked my GYN about that once and she said that cranberries create an acidic environment which increases the pain/spasms.

I also find that taking a good probiotic will help prevent UTIs. And then there is the usual stuff - always pee after sex, avoid tight clothing, wipe front to back etc etc.

I hope you feel better soon.

I always take cranberry pills for bladder infections, and they do seem to help. I have also used alka seltzer (not the cold remedy ones) when I feel one coming on. Maybe those might help you?

Kiptyn- unfortunately I'm having to take it while I'm exclusively breastfeeding. My gi was playing conservative. Plus I can't sleep at 40 and my wonderfully adorable fatty infant is in a wicked sleep regression and waking every 2 hours all night. So I'm trying to do whatever everi can to avoid bad anxiety and sleeplessness on top of this. Tear. Sniffle. Whine.

Do you think 20 won't do anything and I'm wasting time? Today the pain started to finally decrease so I was hoping things were healing.

I really feel for you with a new baby and a flare. I understand about the Prednisone causing anxiety and it's possible that 20 mg will do the trick, especially if you're already seeing positive changes. That's good!

I still think you should consider one day at 40, or 30 mg, then go to 20 for the remainder. It may not cause anxiety. But you know your body best and I'm sure you'll do the right thing. You're already on top of this. So many of us wait it out to see if it's a flare or not (I've done it) but you haven't and that's going to help the treatments be effective.

Keep positive. I believe your flare was caused by the antibiotics which hopefully means the inflammation will die down sooner. It might be more challenging if it were inflammation that happened spontaneously or was caused by something that's still being put in your body.

I hope you're enjoying that chubby little baby! And don't worry too much about the hospital. I doubt that it will get out of control and you and your doctor have a solid plan.

Fruitgirl could really revive your spirit, but I think this is her super-busy season at work & she hasn't posted lately. She also flared after birth of her 1st child & then stayed in remission with her 2nd, also had bfing experience; you might want to look up her old posts. Hang in there; I know from personal events that antibiotics can really mess with the gut. Try a bit of natural cranberry juice to keep the UT properly acidic; you can cut it with water if you find the taste disagreeable. It has helped me to overcome AM nausea, too. / Old Hat (34 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Carmella, the only way to contact someon eis if they have their email address in their profile. Sorry. totes does pop in to say hi so it's likely she will see this and reach out to you :)