Ready to start tapering...or should I just wait?

My GI wants me off pred as soon as is reasonable, and he said he hoped that we could start the taper when I see him next, which will be April 6. That is only 2 weeks from Tuesday, I know.

Also, my 3rd Remicade infusion (I have had 2 so far-but they were spaced closer together-the second and third will end up being 4 weeks apart) is April 7th.

Anyway, I am doing much better. Going 2-3 times a day, formed, and I can tell there is still blood in the stool, but nothing bright red and no blood alone is passing-it is mixed with the stool. I still have some minor cramping when I have BMs and sometimes when I have gas, but it is not bad. I am DYING to start tapering the pred-do you think that my symptoms are such that I could call him and see if I could go ahead and start now? Or do you think I should wait the 2 weeks until I see him and I am closer to the next infusion?

As much as I want off the pred (and I do-badly), I also don't want to rush things and end up having to start over again, so I am just looking for your thoughts. I intend to do a slow taper-I have no intention of rushing it-it is just a matter of when to start it and if I am ready to yet or not.

Thank you for your input!

I think you should ask your doctor what level of improvement he is looking for before you taper. As you said being on the full dose 1-2 extra weeks now is better IMHO than jumping the gun and having to start over... either way I do not think you should make that judgment call yourself or based on our opinions.

Christine, about calcium, I am taking a multi-vitamin with 600mg calcium and then one tablet that's 600mg calcium + D. Is that enough or should I bump up to another Calcium tablet? I'm 36.

     Good, you're ok then Jennifer.  My family doctor is more concerned about my osteoporosis than he is my UP.  He wants me to start on Boniva.  Right now I am just concentrating on getting this inflammation under control.  I did suffer a compressed fracture of the lumbar spine about five years ago.  I slipped and fell on a tarp my husband had put down around our camper down the shore.  It was in the middle of the night.  We had our grandkids with us and my grandson had fallen out of the camper..ugh.  It was a pop-up camper with the sides only held by velcro.  My husband was sleeping right next to him, went to grab him and almost fell out too.  It should have been on funniest videos.  Anyway, they were fine, but I wasn't.  Had to go to the ER in the morning.   Don't know how I put up with the pain for five hours but I did.  They had to take an MRI because they thought slivers of bone might have chipped off and lodged in my ribs..ugh, what an ordeal!