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Just out of the hospital 60mgs pregnizone 6 week taper some slight bleeding at 30 mgs

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/2/2011 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I was admitted into the hospital 4 week ago with a severe Proctosigmoid flair for the first time in my life. Until now they always have been mild to moderate. This is also the first time on meds. I have been dealing with this holistically for 15 years.

But this time I went from 165 lbs to 127 lbs in 5 weeks and became severely malnourished and almost passed. The put me on 60 mgs infusions of pregnazone a day and 6 tabs of 800 mgs per of asocol a day, and feed me like a hog. The drugs allowed me to eat things I haven't been able to eat in 20 years. My bowel started to form stools within a few weeks, something I haven't experienced for many years. (formed stools) IIt was always either loose or constipated, never regular. Blood all but disappeared about 10 days ago.

Anyway Im up in weight from 128 lbs to 154 lbs in 4 weeks, and things seem to be going along very well. Blood disappeared completely for 4 or five days. At the end of my 40mg week I noticed some surface blood on top of my stool with my first stools in the morning, the rest of the day seems to be OK. (about 4 movements a day, formed) Kinda freaked me out a bit. the next day it was gone, but a little more has appeared this morning. Not a lot but all the same not very comforting. I have been eating everything in the house, my appetite has been off the hook. I have been eating peanut butter, avocados, and some sunflower seeds at night. Maybe the fiber is a problem at this point. my diet has been mostly Brown rice, chicken, and well cooked string-beans and some mashed potatoes, and the doc's have me on 4 cans of Ensure a day to drink for the Malnutrition. Lots of sugar there.

Im at 30 mgs starting this week. Im new to this drug approach and can use some insight. Is slight bleeding with formed stools a usual trait of these tapers? Food, fiber are these major factors in the tapering? Im still very weak from the 6 weeks of malnutrition, but other the that and some small amounts of blood in the morning, things seem to be moving in the right direction. But again I wouldn't know this is my first time around a severe flair and drugs. Thanks for your time. Feedback welcomed for sure. God Bless!
Posted 5/2/2011 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
You may just be tapering too quickly. 6 weeks from 60mg to 0 is a fast taper. Many of us experienced symtoms when trying to decrease at 10mg or even 5mg, especially when you get below 20mg. I also think 800mg of Asacol a day is too low. That's not even a maintenence dose and you're in apretty severe flare. Some of us take 4200mg a day. 4 pills 3x a day (or some even a bit more...) You should also inquire about rectal meds, Rowasa or Steroid enemas. That could help control inflammation in the rectum that oral meds sometimes can't reach.

I am sorry you're stressed out. Stress is not great for colitis, try to stay calm, things will improve!
Posted 5/2/2011 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Im sorry I miss represented the Asacol Im taking 2 800 mgs 3 x a day... A total of 42 mg a day...Thanks you for the reply.
Posted 5/2/2011 4:23 PM (GMT 0)

I have to agree with nssg that your taper is probably a little on the fast side.  Alot of people will experience some symptoms returning as you get lower in the doses.  What we've done (daughter has UC) when symtoms have returned, we've upped the dosage back up.  So if your were doing 40 mgs no symptoms and now are at 30 and getting some blood, up it to 35 mgs for a few days until the symptoms disappear.  Then continue with your taper.  I would suggest that you go slower.  Don't taper by 10 try tapering by 5 mgs.

My daughter is tapering by 2.5 mgs.  She is currently alternating between 2.5 mgs and 1.25 mgs.  I think going slow is the key.

Also, keep a food diary to see what foods trigger your symptoms.  And if you aren't doing so already, start taking Calcium with Vitamin D.  Prednisone promotes bone loss. 

Posted 5/20/2011 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
How much calcium are you taking a day?
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