Remission, YEAH!!

FINALLY! I've been in this horrid flare since early Feb, with no end in sight. about 3 weeks ago I started the CortEnemas in conjunction w/ the Canasa & Lialda. It seemed to get worse! My doc signed me up for the Colal-Pred clinical trial and said I have to get off of everything except the Lialda for two weeks before the trial. Whaddyaknow - within about 5 days of being off of everything, I was in remission!! I've heard of people that had bad reactions to the rectal treatments. I have to wonder if I was one of those and just didn't know it? I've been doing Canasa, or Rowasa since March and then the Steroid enemas afterwards. I'm not suggesting that anyone stop taking them!!!! I'm just curious if my remission is related. I feel human again, it's so amazing. I had forgotten what it was like. I am so thankful for this board and everyone who takes the time to read and answer our endless questions. It's such a mysterious disease and we're all kindof groping in the dark for what our individual "answer" will be, whether it's a diet, a medication, an herbal supplement, etc. Thank you all for your support. It makes it easier knowing you're there now for the next flare - which is hopefully years and years away! :)

Renee
In Remission since June 08!
4 Lialda/day

That's awesome--enjoy yourself!

SWEET!!!

Good for you your right you forget what it's like to feel normal enjoy it while you can long may it last.

Also, did you have bleeding as one of your symptoms?

THat so awesome! I was flaring horrible last year and I had to stop and wanted to stop imuran and asacol and slowly reached the best remission i a have ever had after I tapered prednisone. I took my remission for granted so I hope you don't do the same. Eat well and live a healthy lifestyle and im sure you'll do better than ever. How was your flare? Do you think you owe a lot of this to the lialda? I have never tried this, but am curious.

Thanks everyone for your support!

Tressa, I am still taking my Lialda. That was the only thing that I was allowed to continue for the trial. I stopped the Canasa, Rowasa & Steroid Enema.

What was my flare like?
Yikes. I think I have a schizophrenic colon (sounds like a good name for a rock band...) Anyway, my flare changed so many times, it was odd. In Feb, it started with lots of bleeding and mucous and MEGA urgency - you know the kind, the "don't leave the house" kind. Then it turned into straight-up D, then the blood stopped and just the urgency 20 times a day. Then the blood came back and urgency let up a bit, but then came the PAIN! The cramps were awful. Then the pain turned into nausea (or maybe caused it). When I started vomiting and having fevers, that's when I said, forget this, I'm doing the clinical trial.

Towards the end, the steroid enema DID seem to make me stop bleeding, but - this sounds awful - I wasn't real excited b/c the same symptoms were there, it just wasn't "red" anymore.

One thing I did differently was to start taking Immodium. A lot. I was scared to take it b/c of the toxic megacolon, but my doc said to go for it. I took it for about a week, every day, a couple of times a day. It was beautiful. Obviously, that didn't cure me, but I wonder if it let my colon REST enough to heal itself? I haven't taken Immodium in 2 weeks now and all is good!! One thing I'll mention is if you're going to take Immodium (at your docs approval) use the Immodium ADVANCED. The regular one gave me horrible gas pains.