HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Finally off prednisone... expect a flareup?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/15/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I just got taken off prednisone. I'm on the train home from the appointment now, actually.

For the last month I've been on 5mg and have had some mucus, some blood and some gas. The blood was probably a hemorrhoid but it still had my doctor worried. Right now my stool is pretty good looking but I'm almost expecting another flareup. The doctor is too, to be honest.

My question is... should I assume I'm going to flare up? How likely is it? My doctor said he won't let me go on prednisone again and I'm allergic to Imuran... so is Remicade my only option? I don't know if I should go on Remicade while I live abroad because my living situation is not permanent here and I don't know if Remicade will be as adequately covered when I move back to Canada and start working.

I'm just expecting to be in the middle of a huge flareup in two or three days, despite being mostly in the clear now. Any advice is appreciated.
Posted 6/15/2011 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Wave, thinking that way will most definitely make it happen. Try to think positive. I've been unstable for a while and I've managed to stay out of a flare. I try not to expect the worst. When I have a bad day, instead of thinking things will get worse, I think things will get better. We will all flare again eventually but hopefully it's not too soon. Remicade probably isn't your only option but it is the next medically accepted option.

Are you on any medications for maintenence?

Posted 6/15/2011 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
How many times have you been on Prednisone? There is no way to know if you're going to flare. The first few times my daughter took Pred, she was fine for months afterwards. The last 2 times she was on it, she had flares within a month.
Remicade isn't the only option....have you been on 6MP or Methotrexate?
Posted 6/15/2011 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
Bad news: I've been off of prednisone for less than a day and I'm already bleeding a ton. I'm going to make an appointment.

I went from having normal stools to practically nothing but blood in one day without prednisone.

Post Edited (Wavefunction) : 6/15/2011 6:07:28 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2011 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
I feel so bad for you Wavefunction.

Hopefully your GI doc is able to help you ASAP. All tapers are different. How long you've had UC, how many times you have used Prednisone - we're so diverse group. What works for one, does not work for the next person.

Hang in there. You'll get help, and maybe this is the time the medication works.

All the best.
Posted 6/16/2011 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your support guys.

Its strange, I bled a lot yesterday as it was my first day off of prednisone, so I took two enemas last night and made myself sleep ten hours. I had two normal, formed and blood free BMs today.

Talk about a yoyo effect. I just hope it stays this way. Ill keep on fighting it. :)
Posted 6/16/2011 9:20 AM (GMT 0)
Wavefunction,

Good news, congratulations.

At times the UC acts like a crazy monkey running around.

Yes, keep on fighting and don't forget living.

All the best.
Posted 6/16/2011 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Wave, My doc had me taper off pred really slowly. %mg for a few weeks then 2.5mgs for a couple more weeks. I have been in remission for nearly 6 months now, and am only on Pentasa. So hopefully you'll be ok too!
Remicade isn't your last option, apart from other meds mentioned, there's also LDN!
All the best for a prolonged remision!
Posted 6/16/2011 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Wavefunction, that would be great if you can remain on the nightly enemas for a bit -- maybe even as your maintenance drug, before resorting to Remicade or other.  Good luck and stay positive!
Posted 6/16/2011 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Wavefunction,

Now that you mention it, I do remember having troubles for a day whenever I lowered my dose of pred.

Hope things continue in a positive direction!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply