Any luck stopping a flare without oral pred?

Hi, I am just starting to flare again.  I noticed a few signs last week but was hoping it would not turn into an actual flare.  I am sure now though that is it the beginning of one.  I had two really bad and long flares in the last two years.  With the second one I tired every drug you can think of and nothing even slowed it down...I am actually sure that my first flare never completely went away and just lead right into the second one...  It ended up that I finally had to be on oral pred for three months.  It worked for me and I was so happy for the relief but I really would like to avoid it this time if possible.  Now I have learned to recognize the symptoms and have learned to be more pro-active.  I have caught this flare early.  I am hoping that this time Canasa, cort enemas and increasing my regular Lialida and probiotics will kick me back into remission.  Has anyone had any luck with getting out of a flare without oral pred?  Has anyone noticed a difference when you catch the flare earlier? Thanks!

Thanks Old Hat - it makes me feel much better to know that it is possible!

JM21204, Looks like you and I were diagnosed at around the same time, I am 33 also. I gave birth to my precious daughter in August 2006 and starting having symptoms almost right away. However, I thought it was pregnancy related and did not go to the doctor for it until the end of November.

How many flares have you had since you were diagnosed?

I have never had any luck stopping a flare with Prednisone.

I've had three flareups. All of them went away, not from Prednisone though. The first one went away by itself. The second one from fecal transplantation, and the third one from Probiotics and diet.

I did take Prednisone once for three months. I couldn't taper below 25mgs without the bleeding coming back.

No, I always try to put it off taking prednisone as long as possible, but eventually give in to it when it just becomes too difficult to manage.

Have you people tried Vitamin E enema and vitamin E orally. One has to take the natural vitamin E formulations and not synthetic. I have posted the manner of taking the enema as suggested by one of our esteemed members, who is now 82 years old and had found this cure 20 years back. He is hale and hearty. Mr. Sheldon recommends this to everyone and so do I. Thousand have got cured of UC with this. Another option could be to try Sallaki/Bosenwalia. That also helps to get rid of UC as well as Pred. Try altnernate medicine. Another important aspect, the steroid based enemas, be it hydrocortisone or cortfoam or for that matter any other are equally bad and have similar side effects, like the oral steroids, if enemas are taken for quite a long. Try Turmeric enema. One can also eat home grown fresh Turmeric. It does help in healing a lot and increases the immunity too. I have tried all of them and as my family has a history of UC. Four of us (three brothers and one sister) suffer from UC. So lot of experience in side effect of steroid as well as surgery. So friends take care. Avoid steroids at the earliest - if not then have it strictly under medical supervision.  Cheers and good health to you all.