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Frustrated, and Scared with Treatments

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/16/2013 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

My name is Ed, I'm thirty-years old and have been dealing with UC since 2009. I am currently experiencing a flare that has been moderate in symptoms. My GI prescribed me 20 mg of prednisone along with Asacol three 400 mg pills three times a day. I began to feel much better after a week of treatment until I neglected to eat prior to taking the prednisone one morning. Was in a rush to get to work on time... I started to have sharp stabbing stomach pains so to help with the symptoms I drunk Pepto- Bismol. It completely relieved me of the stomach pains but caused me to have a bowl movement with a moderate amount of blood. It has started to become very frustrating when I begin to feel better, but then have a hiccup and back to square one. Should I continue with the medication or make an appt. to see my GI to discuss raising my prednisone dosage. With past flares 20 mg of prednisone was more than enough in helping me achieve remission while experiencing much worse symptoms than this current flare. Shocking my system like this makes me afraid that the usual treatment will stop being as effective. Really want to get back to normal asap!
Posted 3/16/2013 7:05 AM (GMT 0)
How long has it been since you took the pepto and bled? Is it blood with every BM? How many BMs a day? Did it increase because of the pepto? If it was only blood once or twice personally I would give it a few days. However if there is a lot pain or heavy bleeding I would call my GI.
Posted 3/16/2013 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
The pred really makes me hungy and if you dont eat youre going to have those pains. Pred worked for me really well before as well but the more you use it the less effective it becomes, if you have been "hiccuping" for a fair amount of time then its time to up the dosage. Have you tried probiotics or other supplements?

Welcome to the forum!
Posted 3/16/2013 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you got better and stopped all treatments. That was a mistake. You can't take prednisone long term but you should be on Asacol forever at some dosage, no matter how good you feel or how long you have felt good. Hopefully 20mgs of pred will be enough this time. It may be but future flares often get harder and harder to treat, requiring not only higher dosages but stronger and stronger drugs as well. The goal is,when in remission, stay in remission by taking some kind of maintanence therapy, such as Asacol, forever.
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