somedude:
i went on 50 mg imuran and pred in june. pred was used as a "bridge" , and i did a quick taper (6 week taper). once i was off pred in july, i saw some bleeding, so my gi upped me to 100 mg imuran. I have noticed even more improvement since then. i have had some trace blood in formed stool, so i do either a rowasa or hydrocort enema about 2x a week or so.
i really feel that its a combo of things that have gotten me to about 98% (2-4 formed bms, once in a while some trace blood or mucus, mild to no urgency): lialda cleared the upper parts of my colon, the rectals cleared my lower end and imuran tooks care of the stubborn sigmoid inflammation . Prior to starting imuran i had a stubborn 4 inch patch of inflammation in my sigmoid that would not go away.
i also eat raw organic baby spinach leaves with dinner about 5x a week and started sustenx probiotic. lactose intolerant, and i try to avoid processed food and junk food.
but honestly, i tried every single thing they mention around here, all the diet mods and alternative stuff anf the lglutamine and the vsl and like 6 diff probiotics and nada.
i feel good on the imuran, highly rec you try it, and i also rec you give rectals another shot. i have had uc since 1991 and until 2010, have gotten through every flareup into remission with rectals and oral mesalamines. i have only taken pred 2 x, once in 2010 and then in june 2012 as a 6 week bridge with the imuran. forget this pred yo yo people get on, i would rather try the big gun meds and if that didnt work i would get my colon out. from what i see the people that get their colon out do not regret it. my goal is remission or surgery
good luck and let me know if you have more questions about imuran