Is there anything else?

I was very active on this board last summer when I had a huge flare.  Taking 4 pills of Lialda got it under control.  However, I don't think that I was ever fully in remission, as I still had blood and mucus. 

Now my UC is spiraling out of control again.  I am still taking 4 pills of Lialda a day.  My stomach hurts soo bad!!  I am now having right side and top of the stomach pain, whereas before it was only on the left side. 

I have also noticed whole pills in my stool.  The covering is still on them. 

I have started taking Canasa again, but I find that it comes out after 1/2 hour due to need to go.

I spoke to my doctor about this.  She gave me a prescription for the stomach pain...but it doesn't cure it...it only 'covers' it over.  She said if I was not feeling better in two weeks, I would need to go on prednisone.  I am so against this!

So, my question is...is there any other medicine I can take before this step?

You could try rowasa enemas or steroid enemas. You could also see about getting on a medication like 6mp/Imuran but it can take a few months to help and requires frequent bloodwork in the beginning. If I knew I would end up on 6mp, I would have opted for it before prednisone.

You could also try other 5ASAs, pentasa, colazal or Apriso may work better for you, I believe they all break down at a different pH than Lialda. I would speak to the GI about trying these medications before pred.