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Your experiences with hydrocortisone?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/9/2009 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

  First let me say that you have all been a great help in my education of this disease and I have really appreciated your input.

  I'm in my second flare in the last seven months or so, only my third flare counting my diagnosis in 2003.  Smoking masked my U.C. for so long.  I haven't smoked for about three years now.

  Anyway, my last flare was quickly put back into remission with hydrocortisone enemas two per day for two weeks then tapering off.  This time I've already been on them for over three weeks at two per day.  I still have a small amount of blood and mucus.  In the mornings I have some urgency however it's tolerable and once I've had a few BMs (fairly solid) I'm pretty good throughout the rest of the day.

  Is this typicall with the hydro?  I have increased my asacol dosage and am trying to watch my diet.  This time around I'm dealing with my general practicioner as it took almost a month to see my G.I. last time I flared.  If this flare continues I'll call the G.I.s office and set up an appointment.  What are your thoughts?

 

Posted 9/9/2009 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
Depending on how bad my procitis is depends on how quickly the cortifoam gets it under control but all in all, cortifoam is the only rectal med that works for me...I've been on it as long as a yr before tappering off (clearly I was having a real bad proctitis flare at the time).  I've only ever used it once a day before bed (my least active disease time).

:)
Posted 9/9/2009 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks pb4.
I hope you can get that crack in your bum repaired at some point :)
Posted 9/9/2009 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Cortifoam is only 10% steroid-- so much weaker dose than liquid hydrocortisone retention jobs. It's good that these latter seem to be taming your flare; the Q is how you'll do when you start to taper off them. You can't stay on them indefinitely because the liquid steroid does absorb systemically over time & can cause the same side effects as Prednisone-- with prolonged use. I myself used them successfully to combat severe left-sided flares about 3 times, which took ca. 2-3 months. Then the 4th time I contracted a staph infection-- so my gastro does not want me to take any more steroids. Period. One just has to beware & proceed cautiously. You should get checked by the gastro a couple times annually. Best wishes! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
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