I'm back and I don't know what is next...

I'm back. Quick run down. UC diagnosed back in 2002. I went years without flares, qllnflares adter that were treated easily with salofalk enema. Fast forward to last summer, after two small kids and having a terrible diet etc. I flared so bad I was in ER. Was out in prednisone 40 mg and it helped. Tapered down ton20 and it flared again, worse this time. Back up to 60mg of prednisone. Dr doesnt know if I had a flare plus a horrible virus because I had horrible pain this time.

Colonoscopy in August I was in remission and colon looked good. Three month later I flare again. Got in for a last minute sig and totally inflamed as high as his scope would go. . Back in prednisone. Now my hair is falling out.
Dr is pushing me to go in imuran. I've done some research and I don't want to do it. It's totally terrifying the crap out of me and I don't know if I'm considered that severe yet. My dr is so old school and dismissive and I know at our appointment tomorrow he's going to push for the imuran. Sorry for the vent and the rant. I just don't know what to do.

I'm going gluten free and dairy free. I'm seeing a naturopath.

Have you been on a maintenance dose of mesalamines all this time? Or were you not taking any UC meds?

If you weren't on mesalamines, I'd get on them ASAP.

Imuran has so-so data backing its use in UC. Better than placebo, yes, better than mesalamines in some situations, yes. But not nearly as good as the biologics. Imuran does have serious adverse events *for some people*, but most tolerate it ok. Your doctor should monitor you closely with blood tests if you were to start it. You will know whether or not you can tolerate it. If you can't, you stop it and side effects go away.

I was on asacol only for a couple of weeks and I flared bad, and it accelerated quickly. So we don't know if it was just a coincidence or if I reared to it. At least today he actually listened to me and we are trying a Cort steroid enema if I happen to flare again. I'm hopeful that I can get back into remission and stay there but there just is no guarantee. I still respond tonprednisone but I don't want to be on that permanently. I will consider the asacol but I really want to see if turning my lifestyle around will help as well as help from a naturopath as well. My colon looked perfect and all biopsies were negative.

I have two small children. Being put in an immunosuppressant drug and having my blood checked every two weeks would concern anyone. And I am nowhere near needing to be put on biologics.

I know that my chances of replasping after the prednisone are high. However I'm optimistic that with my extreme diet and lifestyle changes I will stay in remission... hopefullly...

The blood checks are reduced in frequency once you've gotten good results back. Initially it's every other week, then monthly, every other month, and then stays at trimonthly.

Biologics don't require blood monitoring.

Keep them in mind as a backup if your preferred treatment doesn't work. I do believe you have some misperceptions on how frequent side effects occur, there monitoring and so forth. These medications have helped a lot of us, and the could help you too. Try not to write anything off. It's always good to have options available rathere than only closed doors..