Steroids not working

I had my first significant flare in August of 2010 which landed me in the hospital. Long story short I went on remicade and 6MP. Returned to work after being out for 9 weeks. Things were good with the exception of low blood counts and some aching joints. I have a demanding job and unfortunately let it run my life. Last summer I had a scope and things were good and I stopped the 6MP but stayed on the remicade. Due to work demands I missed my TB test, got sick and skipped my remicade infusion. I never went back. Then in December due to high levels of stress, lack of sleep and being run down flared up. I have been on 4 Laialda, hydrocortisone enima and 30 mg prednisone. I have been on vacation the past week and last Sunday reduced prednisone to 20 mg. by Wednesday only getting more bleeding so I upped the dose back to 30mg which my GI today recommended. I am concerned that I let my job take over and now have put myself in the arena where my UC is going to take over. I would have thought the steroids would have reduced the aching and bleeding but seem to throw more clots and blood by days end. Has anyone made the bad choice to stop meds such as remicade ( stupid on my part) only to find controlling UC flares more difficult. At what point do you say too much bleeding is occurring and should call your dr.

Thanks - sounds like good advice, I suppose I felt like I never had to take major meds before and all the time. Seemed like why all of a sudden. Bad judgement on my part. Now I have been offered a new job and accepted but am fearful I won't be able to turn this flare around quickly.

Hi, I'm new to this! As a 74 yr. old woman diagnosed with UC in 2009 I guesss I've been pretty lucky. Last March, I was in hospital for 6 wks with uc and all its side effects. Everything good until Dec. when it started again and I've had the D since 12/11/12. Lost 35 lbs. and am taking prednisone 40 mg./day; developed hives with Oct. trtmt of Remicade, so they increased prednisone and benedryl for 12/6/12 trtmnt. It worked..no hives, but 1 week later began big flareup. Now GI is taking me down the Humira route. Seriously considering surgery. Last colonoscopy last wk show pancolitis thruout lg. intestine.

Meds: 4800 mg. AsacolHD daily, 40 mg. prednisone daily, 2 probiotic, activia, tylenol for pain and flagyl for urinary trac inf.

It could be worse, I could be in my 30's with small kids and a stressful job.

Thank you- I'm hoping I can turn things around quickly. I was doing soooo well and didn't appreciate the fact I was living a normal life with just having to deal with a 3 hour infusion once every 8 weeks. Sometimes we just don't realize it til it is taken away.

equinepeace,

Stress is the biggest problem. Chalk it up to another stress induced episode... yes, I'm sorry about that and that you are currently in a flare.

Deltaforce's idea of the budesonide trials is a great idea.

Can you check into that?

Although I cannot speak to the biologics, and neither the prednisone nor the mesalamines worked for me. I can tell you about what did put me in remission. It was a combination of diet modification (gluten and dairy free) and doing Paleo, adding certain supplements like l-glutamine, probiotics, and slippery elm and omega 3's, as well as taking LDN ,low dose naltrexone (on the UC Resources page the last post addresses LDN and all info links).

Have you had your blood serum levels of vitamind d3 checked?

You know that there is a correlation between low vitamind d3 and IBD.

Also, are you on any probiotis? Those IMO are key.

If you are interested, there are things IMO that you can control, which will have a direct impact on your disease, the symptoms you experience and their severity.

I was able to control my UC into remission through various supplements, probiotics, diet modification, and LDN , low dose naltrexone.

 

For more info on the protocol which has put me into remission, please go to this link: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1666318 , and look at the 11th post.

I hope you feel better and let us know how we can help you.

 

Went to GI today and going to try humera shots. Said I could try doing just 6MP, return to remicade or try the humera shot once every 2 weeks. I can get a pen type shot that I can administer myself which would fit better into my busy lifestyle. Does anyone use this type of injection and is it easier to administer than the conventional syringe type shot. GI said this should start working within a couple weeks. Hope so - as I'm tired of going through the gut wrenching BM spasms every time I want or try to eat something!