How do you know if you're flaring while tapering Pred?

So I started tapering my Pred last Friday after 40mg for 2 weeks, going down 5mg a week.  I had been feeling pretty good, only about 1 or 2 BMs a day and they were always normal with no blood.  Now I have an upset stomach, feel all achy, weak and tired and going maybe 2-4 times a day. Still not seeing any blood though and still normal BMs.  I also have a nasty cold so not sure how that is affecting this all - it sucks since I never get colds, I can't remember the last time I had one!  I know just the taper alone can make you feel tired and weak and sure the cold isn't helping.

Just getting worried with the stomach upset, defnitely don't want to flare up again! I"m taking my enemas nightly and my Colazal each day as well so I've got that as my backup. Have my period this week so I'm going to up the enemas to twice a day just for the week to make sure that doesn't aggrivate the UC as well. 

Going on vacation in 2 2/12 weeks and don't want to be sick!

Nikki

I've only taken Prednisone twice before in 17 years - once when I first was diagnosed and I had been bleeding on and off for a year. 2nd time wasn't even bleeding but having 10+ BMs a day.  Both times the Pred seemed to take away the flare right away (although the first time hard to remember it was so long ago and I was much younger!).  I do remember getting horrible joint and muscle pains while tapering. 

This flare was moderate - 3 weeks ago I was bleeding daily with about 12 trips to the bathroom, alot of them all blood. Flex Sig 3 weeks ago showed active and chronic inflamation after all colonoscopies the past 10 years looking almost 'normal'.

I've been taking Colazal the past 10 years, Asacol before that. I do modify my diet - low fiber, no carbinated drinks, protien shakes. I workout religiously and stay in good shape. Try to eat healthy and keep my stress down.  I have become very in-tuned with my body and whenever I thought I was getting a flare I would up my meds that very day to ward it off. It always seemed to work.

This time my new doc had me try stopping all meds - which is why I had the bleeding start.