Remicade in this situation?

hi all

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2010. Pentasa (and a short course of prednisolone) kept me in full remission for six years. Due to anxiety I stopped taking the Pentasa and within 8 months of stopping I have ended up with a flare. I was getting blood, mucus and around 10 loose stools a day but oddly my general wellbeing when I wasn't needing the toilet etc was pretty good and I kept up a lot of commitments. However it became clear this was not a tenable position to be in and have been pumped full of IV steroids for a week. Symptoms much better but still going more than once a day, still quite loose, still some gas. Flexi sig a few days ago showed moderate inflammation.

Obviously now I need a maintenance drug. I am being suggested Remicade whilst I work on the anxiety around oral medicines. The doctors seem confident this will be good for me but I just want to check if any of you have any advice or thoughts on whether that sounds like the best option?

Thanks juststud

I'd be happy to practise (not very good at administering then yet) but as its pan colitis I think I'd need something else too.

It just sounds a bit scary / heavy duty to me for the level of UC I reckon I have, but gotta trust those doctors, and anyway I can always be on it only as long as I'm sorting the oral med issues.

I can think about diet once I've got the time and space created by prior wellness to do so!

Remicade is an IV infusion. The nurse pricks you slightly to set the IV and you wait for a few hours to receive the medication. After the initial loading dose (initally more frequent), you go every 8 weeks and there's no daily thing, like a pill, for you to remember to take. Provided you have no anxiety involving the needle, then you should be fine. 90 percent of people look away when their blood is drawn or IV set, according to a few nurses I've asked.

There's always options for those who have difficulty swallowing large pills, or have trouble with a pill. I'd mentioned before some crushable pill options, like sulfasalazine (equivalent to asacol, lialda, pentasa). Also pentasa granules are available, a packet you cut and then swallow the grains inside. There's also colazal, which have openable capsules you can pour over yogurt or applesauce. A few options available for you to consider, as being regular with your maintenance medication is essential to the best quality of life for chronic diseases like uc.

Remember to treat 'from both ends'.