Symptoms just not going - stubborn

Hi guys,

Been on and off enemas and suppositories but the symptoms just aren't going. I open bowels 2 - 3 times a day, not every bowel motion has blood (usually on tissue and some in my stool). Very little mucus, mostly brown and formed stools. Urgency isn't bad but mesalazine foam enema and 1g mesalazine suppository used to do the trick. Maybe I need to give it a lot longer? Been on and off enemas for about 4 months. Please advise if this is the case for you guys? I have also tried predfoam enema.

Hi, if you are in the UK I would suggest asking for a 28 day course of clipper steroids.

It took me between 4-5 months for symptoms to disappear using 2 grams of oral mesalazine and a 4 gram mesalamine enema. At one point my new doctor tried to switch me to Uceris, but I never did.
I really wanted to give the mesalamine another chance to work before moving up.

****Long story short, I was worried about some kidney pain and had stopped using it a few weeks to get that sorted out---it was just dehydration. It cleared up when I doubled my water intake.

Now, I have added other things to the mix. I experimented with different probiotics (s. boullardi and a few different brands before settling on those in my sig line) and also added prebiotics like resistant starch and wheat dextrin to improve the odds of bacterial colonization.

Also added ginger (anti-inflammatory on it's own). And the vitamins in my signature.

I read that being low on vitamin D is very bad for the immune system, and I was definitely low on vitamin D as evidenced by my latest blood work.

I also switched the way I eat to a more anti-inflammatory diet. I am not religious about it, but I actually DO notice a difference when I add a bunch of sugar. I have decided I will stick to it from here on in.

The problem in my replying to you is that I can't say how important these extra things were, and because I'd already been using the mesalamine so long......maybe the meds really DO just take a longer time to take effect? people here say that a lot.

In any case, I have had no symptoms since June 21st and I am beginning to taper off the rectals (but my doctor wants me to up the orals as I do this).

My perspective is that I want to save ALL the heavy artillery for any time down the road where it becomes essential. Especially the steroid. My symptoms were not debilitating though. The most I've ever had is 4 BM's and I tend towards constipation......someone with D may not be able to have the patience I've had with this.

Good luck, I know how frustrating this is. I am coming to believe this is a very individual disease that requires a great deal of experimentation.

EDIT: to add extra info

That's exactly where I am, close but no cigar! It's frustrating. Sometimes you can simply wait it out and you will continue to heal, as internal healing is a dreadfully slow process (taking far longer than you or I ever want it to take). Sometimes it means you are undermedicated and just need higher doses or additional medications to cross the finish line into the promised-land of remission. Only time will tell!