HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What is it like to go into remission?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/29/2012 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
This is my first flare of UC, I was diagnosed at mid February and my disease was under control with steroids but then when I tapered off them it returned straight away, Now I will be going on steroids again, about 4 months after my last taper where my doctor will put me on some mystery medication combined with the steroids which will "keep me well after I taper down" (they will explain what the medication is and how it is to be taken on Monday when I go to my appointment)
Anyway, I was just wondering, what it is like to actually go into remission? do your symptoms slowly settle down until they are fully gone? do your symptoms randomly dissappear quickly? is there anything in particular that happens? as I have never experienced remission before
Any responses, would be greatly appreciated :D
Posted 9/29/2012 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
I think it's different for everyone. Mine died down pretty slowly this past flare up. The previous one, I was able to get into remission quite quickly with Asacol. I noticed feeling better within a few days of starting the medication. The more recent flare up, I had to take steriods twice, started 6mp to help me get off the steriods, battled issues with my blood, UC was up and down for months... I also had residual symptoms after getting off steroids for quite a while, I was seeing blood here and there, developed fissures, and dealt with dreaded urgency for months. Medications like 6mp and Imuran can take a long time to work. For some it's a week or two, others a few months. In some situations, people opt for biologics because they can work much faster. The problem is, nothing seems to work for everyone.. I hope you're able to get on and off steriods quickly and into remission.
Posted 9/29/2012 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the well wishes :-) Sounds interesting, I will have to wait and see what happens, from what I can tell I seem to be a slow responder as when I went on steroids it took me around 2 weeks for my body to even respond to them and when it did, my symptoms slowly improved
Posted 9/29/2012 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on steroids starting at 40mg for two weeks and then tapering by 5mg every five days, it took a good three weeks before I saw any changes. Slowly my symptoms started to get better and less severe, and there is no more blood finally, and the sense of urgency has nearly dissapeared. Im due to go down to 5mg of steroids tomorrow and I finish in five days so hopefully I can fully enter remission. Its differant for everybody though but I hope you can enter remission soon when you finish the steroids :)
Posted 9/30/2012 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I think it definitely varies by person, by how inflamed things are during the flare, by what meds and other options you are using to control it. Usually for me when I see the tables turn it takes a few days for things to get back to normal. Real remission for me is not symptoms at all. - No blood, no mucus, no urgency, 1-2 formed BMs a day (mind you I used to be 3-4 per week pre-UC)

And different meds work for different people. Steroids masked my symptoms for a while but never put me in remission.

I like to think of the healing process compared to other injuries/ aflictions. Say you cut yourself, or have a pimple or cold sore.. it doesn't just go away the next day - the body slowly heals, sometimes it may even get re-aggravated before completely healing. Be patient and good luck.
Posted 9/30/2012 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
I was on prednisone as well as asacol + doing fecal transplant when I was flaring my first time and my symptoms went away in around 4-6 weeks and I have been symptom free since then.
Posted 9/30/2012 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses :-) I am looking forward to when I get the steroids, as I have never felt better in my life compared to when I took them the first time round. Hopefully this other medication the doctor speaks of will keep me well as was said.
Posted 9/30/2012 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
most of the side effects I had from steroids came when I was down to ~ 20 mg after going from 40mg. I was a really grumpy and not very pleasant to be with (but being grumpy and short tempered was the only side effect I had)
Posted 10/1/2012 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Remission varries a lot!
I never completely went into remission using prednisone, asacol, rowasa. I always had blood, and some level of urgency. Only with Remicade did I achieve remission, and even now I still act like I have the disease, out of habit (use the restroom a lot, pay attention to where they are, just in case).
Posted 10/1/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Felt like it happened today. I dropped to 20 mg prednisone last week, it was rough at first ( unformed waste, more blood ) but I am spreading it out to take only 5mg at a time to tease the adrenals and after nearly a week of this it seems to be working. I was able to flip on the psyllium husk on top of the seed powder and went for lots of turmeric chicken in turmeric couscous. Bang-zoom everything feels back to normal. Solid waste right color right smell ( none ) no blood. Just downed 4 stimulants for a good workout at bench and dip station but none of the stims caused urgency. Feeling stronger and appetite is huge. I sure do not feel sick - this is how remission feels, feeling good for no particular reason at all.

:)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply