whats next?

just had my first colonoscopy last week. had two bleeding episodes and anemia came from second episode. have lost almost thirty lbs in last two months.had colonoscopy friday 8/31/12 said colon was severely inflamed doc took several biopsies. doc gave me presidone and now waiting for results. doc said probably ulcerative colitis.
so whats next and what am i in for?

Phalen, welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry you've been so sick, but I am glad that you got scoped and now you have a pretty good idea of what's going on. The prednisone should work fairly quickly to suppress the acute problems (you should start feeling better after a day or two, and a LOT better by the 2nd week). Your DR is going to want to get you off the prednisone and onto something safer, but you will probably be taking the pred for at least a month.

When you go to your follow up visit, make sure that you get a very good understanding of where your colon is inflamed. If the biopsies confirm ulcerative colitis, you should talk to your GI about treating the rectum directly with retention enemas. Depending on how much of the rest of the colon is inflamed you will also be given an oral medication. Bring someone close to you to this meeting - your spouse, a parent, a very good friend. Someone who will not be embarrassed when you start talking about your colon.

Hope you feel better soon.

thanks for all the support and advice. hopefully i will get all the results back this week and figure out what i need to do. i have been lactose intolerant my whole life too. so makes the diet difficult.just ready to calm my arthritis down and get my energy back. i will post as soon as i get results thanks all.

Asacol is a good med. Some rectal meds would be good too. Where is your colon inflamed? Did he say you definetely have UC?

Ditto soystud. How long had you been on pred and at what dose? And are you tapering off, or did you just quit cold turkey?

Asacol is a good med, but I agree with sherbear46 that a rectal med, preferable mesalamine enemas, would be good to add. Studies show that those who use enemas in conjunction with oral meds reach remission more quickly (when used nightly) and stay in remission longer (when used at a maintenance dose of twice weekly), than those who only use oral meds.

I've been in remission for over three years now and am still chugging along.