what defines a flare

I have been taking Entocort and Asacol and the bleeding seems to have stopped.  I still have cramping, frequency and mucous.  So, remission or flare?  Thanks.

Oral entocout. I took it for 6 weeks with no improvement, then had a scope. Doctor said give it up it isn't working. Asacol also made me worse some time ago. Recently, doc said he wanted to give that combination another try. It has been several weeks. I have noticed no improvement except that I am not passing blood, but that has always been an off and on thing with me. I may pass quite a bit of blood for several days...then no blood, then another random day of bleeding during a flare.

strangely, my doctor did prescribe rectal meds, then within 24 hours (hadn't filled the prescription) I ended up hospitalized for three days because of the flare. Before discharge he told me to not use the rectal meds and I never really questioned why. I guess that would be a good question for my next visit. Thanks.

Rowesa. I think that the concern over rectal meds was the extent of the diverticular disease I had as well. So, they may not be an option for me, but you are right, it can't hurt to ask.

sounds to me like you have had slight improvement but not remission. I have seen people here who consider themselves flaring and don't have blood. Lack of blood alone is not enough to say you're healed. For me, when the blood stopped, things progressed quickly to feeling better. My first symptom was blood and it was continuous for over a year but I didn't have any other serious symptoms until much later. I agree that rectal meds may help. It's worth a try. goodluck!

I think it is crazy that this disease is so hard to manage. For the last few years, I think I must be in some kind of constant flare. I do have periods of feeling much better, but the never last more than a few weeks at the long end. For me it is much more a day by day thing. So far, no medication seems to make any real difference. If I stay on Asacol or Colazal I seem to have a few less severe episodes, but I have to balance that with unremitting side effects from those drugs like dizziness, ringing in the ears, etc. I guess I am just having one of those days where I really wonder if I will ever just be able to take for granted that I will feel okay tomorrow. I am tired of not being able to plan my life because I never know how I might feel. Thanks for all the info. and letting me vent.