HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Flare Again..

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/23/2010 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all I am new to this group. I have had UC since 2000. I take asacol 9 times a day regular and usually have a flare once or twice a year at which time I use to take Corti Form but now I take Mesalamine. I went over one year without having a flare. But the last couple of years usually around Jan I get a flare. This year I have had flares since Jan on and off. I take Mesalamine and get better. But for some reason my insurance was only covering mesalamine for 2 boxes which is 1 weeks worth of meds. I would get better after the week but then get another flare after a short while. I called the dr office and after a long story was able to get back to having 4 boxes which is 2 weeks worth of meds. I always get better after taking the meds I am on my 3 day of taking it and still going often, hopefully everything works out again... O BTW right before this flare I ate a lot of bread and a little pasta from Carrabas which I think might have set it off. Also I was eating suger waffers and after reading here I think that probably did not help.. Anyways thanks for letting me vent...
Posted 5/23/2010 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi...the bread isn't what set off your flare...you're not on any maintenance rectal medications.

I don't get the insurance company regarding telling you you can't use the enemas longer than whatever length of time....is your doctor not making out a prescription for what you need?

The enemas need to be tapered, preferrably to a maintenance leve.

I'm not understanding the asacol 9 times a day....do you mean you're taking one pill 9 times a day?...can you expand on how you're taking them...

Where in the colon is your UC...limited (where) or throughout?

quincy
Posted 5/23/2010 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
The insurance thing probably has to do with how the doctor is writing the prescription AND how the pharmacy is processing it. If the doctor writes the prescription for say 14 enemas and then writes "use as needed" "use as directed" or in some other day isn't clear what your dosage is, the pharmacy might just plug in that the prescription is a 30 day supply. I ran into trouble when I was using a daily enema and the idiots at the pharmacy kept processing my 28 enemas as a 30 day supply. So, the insurance kept thinking I was getting my enemas 2 days before I was out.
Posted 5/23/2010 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I am taking 9 pills of Asacol a day which is 3 pills 3 times a day.. Yeah I think the doc wrote a different presc and thats where the problem began but that prob is fixed thankfully. I figured I needed 2 weeks worth and what I usually do is when i'm doing better use it every other day till its gone, u know taper it off..
Posted 5/23/2010 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Well, consider taking a maintenance dose of them to keep the inflammation at bay. I think it's better to stay in remission than to keep having flare ups.
Posted 5/24/2010 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
You have to stay on the enemas until your flare is completely finished....that could sometimes take months for some.

So....once back to no symptoms....go every second day for at least 2 - 3 weeks or longer....and if all remains well...go to every third night....etc.

The goal shouldn't be to taper off....the goal should be to remain on them at a dosage to help one remain in a remission maintennce dosage.

Basically....the process of using the enemas could be life-long.....sucks, doesn't it. I've used them for 21 years.

You need to get the doc to write you LOTS of refills and have the pharmacy call him for refills as necessary.

Have the prescription read use one nightly.....no limitations on time limit, because the doctor will have you without medications....and to me, that's a failure of appropriate treatment.

q
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply