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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/30/2011 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All - new to this forum, diagnosed a little over a year ago. I have had 3 flares since, including the one I am having right now. I'm looking for support that this will get better. This has been my worse bout to date. Very dibilitating. I just started a new job and suffice to say, not sure I'll be asked to go back as I've already taken two weeks off. Ironically enough it's at a hospital. This flare up has found me feverish, fatigued and very depressed. My GI has me on Apriso, Canasa, topical steroids and now Prednisone. He has me on only 20mg of Prednisone to try and combat the nasty effects but it's been over a week and not feeling much better. I'm just wondering if remission can happen without surgery. I've read the surgery can cause infertility and my husband and myself are finally ready to start a family. I'm nearly 35 and I feel like I don't have a huge window for this to happen...with my age and then if I had sugery, I feel like it might not happen then. On the other hand, I can't stand this anymore, I can't do anything, have basically been a hermit for 2 wks. Has anyone ever found remission just on meds? I have left-sided colitis and have had 3 flares in a year, is this normal? At what point do people consider the sugery? Just looking for hope...trying to stay positive, but it's getting harder and harder to.
Posted 9/30/2011 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm only on Apriso and mesalamine enemas (twice weekly for maintenance) and have been in remission for close to 2.5 years now. Has your doctor brought up other meds, such as 6MP, Imuran, or Remicade? There are several people with UC who can't maintain remission on mesalamine drugs, but do very well on others. It really sounds like mesalamine drugs aren't going to work well enough for you.
Posted 9/30/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you may need a higher dose of Prednisone to get it under control and then maybe a maintenance like 6mp drug to keep it at bay. I have had surgery but I exhausted all the possibilities before making that decision. My UC was severe. If you get to the point where you are constantly in a flare and meds aren't working, then maybe it's time to consider it. You still have some options. Best wishes...
Posted 9/30/2011 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hey PoopyStar - Welcome to Healing Well.

A few things you may consider. You're on a lower dose of prednisone to start. Most people start on 40mg. Considering your flare up sounds pretty severe, you may need to get on a higher dose. Another thing, has your doctor ever mentioned Colazal instead of Apriso? It is formulated to work in the left side and can be more helpful for some than Apriso/Asacol. I recommend trying different 5ASAs, just because one doesn't work for you, doesn't mean another won't. When was your last colonoscopy? I don't think it's a bad idea to have a look and make sure this is all left sided and check the severity. You may want to consider 6mp or Imuran but they are also not recommended for pregnancy (though many have had healthy babies while on these medications). Don't feel like you're out of options, you have many medical and alternative options. I noticed for myself, after starting an antidepressant, my UC calmed a bit. If you're very stressed and anxious, you may want to try an anti depressant to see if it helps.
Posted 9/30/2011 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your responses & support. I'm scared about going on the higher steroid dose, b/c of the side effects, but I can't take much more of this. I'm calling my doctor to check in Monday, I guess I'll see what he says. Perhaps I do need a new anti-inflammatory since the Apriso doesn't seem to be doing the trick right now. I had a colonscopy last August, around the time my symptoms first started. My doctor wants me to get another one soon but he said we might as well wait till I'm in remission b/c obviously my colon will look messed up. I've been thinking about the SCD diet but I'm not sure I can do it. I'm a vegetarian (I eat fish) and I think to be able to function on it I would probably have to go back to eating meat, which wouldn't be the end of the world certainly. Gonna try to keep the faith still - glad to hear there are others in remission w/o surgery. I really appreciate this forumn and being able to talk to/get advice from others in the same situation as me...I'm so glad I found it. Take care.
Posted 9/30/2011 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Meat is not great for the digestive system. There are other forms of protein. Try not to be afraid of 40 mg. of prednisone. We've all done it. It won't kill you. It's just a real drag. 20 mg. is not enough to start withY. our mesalmaines, orals and rectals are your back up as you taper off prednisone. But if none of this works for you, you should consider the immunosuppressives.
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