what the heck did I do wrong?

My last GI appointment was in October and there was no inflammation in my rectum. I was told to keep taking Mezavant 4 times a day and then use enemas 3 times a week. I did this and now I know I'm flaring again. I made an appointment and it's on February 4th. I'm able to eat everything and anything within certain bounds which keeps me satisfied. I'm not able to sit around and think 'why me.' It drives me insane and I hate it that even though I'm faithful to my drug plans and loyal to doctors, diets, and even help from people I haven't met before (thank you all), I still end up feeling like crap. I can't speak out within my family because my brother is going through a very bad episode of depression and is in between changing drugs which has everyone helping him out in the process. He came into my room yesterday and thanked me for helping with panic attacks and left saying 'you don't deserve what you have,' and I hated that feeling. I understand the intent but no one deserves this!

I know I'm flaring because I'm having increased bowel movements in the morning (around 3-4) and seeing blood. I only have cramps during the morning with frequent movements. After I made the appointment with the doctor, I went to the Wal-Mart to refill my Cortifoam prescription. I haven't used Cortifoam since October but I remember my specialist's assistant saying use it only when I see blood. It works out fine since the appointment is in 2 weeks and Cortifoam has 15 applications and I use it once a day. I've also been on nightly enemas since last week.

My biggest dilemma is that my symptoms are too mild for Prednisone, Imuran, or Remicade BUT I am symptomatic so I do need something...

Thanks

I don't think there is a "too mild" for Remicade etc. If you are flaring, you're flaring. Having said that, I think it's the more severe symptoms that give people the motivation to try the big guns.

Where you ever on the enemas nightly?

Salofalk enemas...2g or 4g?

And since then till now, you've been on them 3x week?
Did you skip any?

Are you still on them?

Do you have probiotics?

q

So basically you were on them every second night since October.

What's the plan with the Cortifoam...daily? and the Salofalk nightly?

You could consider probiotics. Many here use VSL#3. The ones I use are in my signature.

Please don't think that this is anything out of the ordinary regarding the ups and downs. Since you came here June 2012, I'm assuming it's not yet been a year since you were diagnosed and on meds?

There's also no guarantee you'll be without flares with the other meds either...Some still supplement with the enemas and oral mesalamine.

q

You'll get this flare under control fairly quickly....What's the protocol for you to use the cortifoam/Salofalk regimen?

I hope your brother does OK with the adjustment of his new meds.

Hang tough. It's never easy trying to deal with flares. I know using the enemas suck....but it still has the least amount of side effects compared to the other meds. Not that everyone who uses the other meds has side effects...

q

Couldn't follow your story exactly. Are you saying you were doing Cortifoam before remission, stopped, and then when you noticed symptoms, you restarted and now you are no longer in remission? Maybe it was the cortifoam that was actually keeping you in remission and when you stopped, you started flaring. If that is the case I would make sure I never quit with the Cortifoam, ever again.