finished cort suppositories what next?

I have finished 14 days of hemril cort suppositories. Will be staying on sulfasalazine 2/day and folic acid, probiotics. My stools are formed but pale and today no blood. I do feel as if I am becoming slightly constipated as it takes a little to have a BM. Several days of no blood on tissue not sure but about a week. question is can the sulfasalazine keep it this way? My UC was diagnosed in 1/3 of my lower rectum and colon. Got to say I'm a little nervous. But I am hoping others have been able to keep it at bay or symptom remission on the orals only. When do you know you are or have rounded the corner?

I think you should move to mesalamine enemas for a couple of weeks, just to make sure all is well, then assuming all really is well, go to every other day, then to twice weekly. Studies show that people who use both oral and rectal meds (twice weekly on the rectal meds) stay in remission longer than those only using oral meds.

Enemas can reach further than the suppositories. I second fruitgirls opinion to stay on the rectals at least twice weekly once you have tapered down to every other day. Good luck whatever you choose.

Hi Prayerful,
I'm on BOTH hydrocortisone suppositories (in the morning) (anucort 25mg) and Cortenemas (at night) as of Tuesday. I also stopped the Lialda (oral mesalamine) on Tuesday. My bleeding has greatly reduced, my stools are a bit more formed, but still have urgency in the morning. Progress, but not where I want to be.

Today I went to Whole Foods and bought Chia seeds, slippery elm and sesame butter, which were all suggestions I found on this forum.

I think the Sheri's comment is correct. Enemas go further back than the suppositories. You have to take them at night and try to hold them all night. The first few times, it's a little freaky, but you get used to it. If you run the enema under warm water, it's much better. Relaxing helps. I also make my husband leave the room...privacy is important with this :) I think they really help, as do the suppositories. They can leak a little during the day, which is gross....I just put a pad in and it's all good.

I think you need to talk to your doc about a taper. I see many here have done that successfully. Some people do one 1x a week for maintenance. I have been i this flare for 6 months, so I'm not in the best position to answer your question about rounding the corner. My last flare was much milder and all of my symptoms disappeared completely within 2 weeks. No such luck this time! Whatever you're doing, it's working. Good luck!!!
~Cita
ps. My son is coming home for a short visit tomorrow from the University of Wisconsin-Madison! Go Badgers!

Your constipation is part of the flare...so you need to get back on the rectal meds. I'd suggest the enemas, but the supps are better than nothing.

Call the doc asap, continue the rectal meds...you're NOT finished with the flare, even though your symptoms have changed.

q