So confused as what to do next?

Hello, once again I'm at a loss as what to do next sorry for all the uncertainty just want to be sure I make the right decision, so all advice really is a help.

Ok I have been diagnosed with moderate pan colitis this year after being diagnosed with left sided in 2011 so it has gotten worse. I am currently on 4.8mg of Asacol and am on my second round of Pred currently at 40 mg for two weeks then tapper 5 mg a week. After my first round of pred which I finished in September my stools became loose then watery no urgency or pain or blood just watery stools, I was using foam enemas along with liquid enemas I did have a few days of solid stools but not consistent.

Spoke to an IBD nurse that suggested I start another round of pred which I'm now on ,feeling great solid Bm again once a day, and go and see the nurse about going on Imuran

So I went to see the IBD nurse and it was a different nurse than the one I had been talking to on the phone. She would not tell me that I needed to go on Imuran but the choice was for me to make. Her advice was that we could try lots of liquid enemas whilst on the pred to see if that would put me into remission when I stop the pred, if that failed then start another round of pred and then start the Imuran together.

Now she also told me that I would be ok to do another course of pred with out any complications? Now I have read and as a lot of people on here say that is not the case as it is quite a deadly drug.

She also informed me that she suffers from UC herself which did make me feel a little more at ease with her but she did not divulge her treatments.

Now I thought to myself that I do not want my condition to get worse and I do not want to do another round of pred if it does not work this time so Imuran probably the best bet.

Then I start reading about immune suppressants and Thinking what am I doing I have also been reading about herbal remedies and I'm so confused right now it driving me mad. For example I have been looking at things that are good for colitis such as liqorice root which is an immune stimulant.

I worried what I am putting into my body with out knowing to much about it do I need to suppress and leave my self open to other illness or strengthen my immune system?

I understand there a lot of people on here that take Imuran how do you find it and what have you experience been with it? Are there people with pancolitis that have done pred and used eneams at the same time and gone into remission and if so for how long.

I'm sorry for all the questions but I'm not sure what to do one minute I'm thinking do the Imuran and the next I'm not so sure.

Sorry for the long post and thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read it.

All advice greatly received.

You are certainly not alone, this disease is very confusing and difficult to deal with. When it comes to medication, it's worrying to think that you're pumping so many chemicals into your system, when it comes to supplements, it's concerning to think that you're routinely taking things that may either not be helping at all or even worsening your situation, and when it comes to diet, it's confusingly misleading since your body has its own preferences and reacts differently to different foods at different times.

In terms of the details, I wouldn't advise staying on prednisone for too long, it can lead to some seriously ugly side effects and the development of other health conditions. You have to think of medicine statistically, steroids are only meant for short term relief because they almost always eat away at your body. Now, when it comes to immunosuppressants and biologics, the rarest side effects aren't that big of a deal because they are so uncommon that many of the people who did suffer from the most problematic complications were either bound to develop certain diseases either way or were on doses that were far too high to be prescribed to people with colitis (e.g. organ transplant recipients, sufferers of much more complex conditions, etc.).

I sense that you're a bit lost, as we all are, when it comes to dealing with your colitis. The trick is not to read too much into it, don't go around reading heaps of random threads and blogs then putting together nightmarish situations or endless complicated transcripts in your mind. Take it easy, trust only the best of academic sources, don't become obsessed with the worst possible scenario, stay calm and deal with this disease in a healthy manner.

Disease progression to me means, you need stronger medications to keep pace with your uc. Prednisone is an evil drug that didn't do the trick, yet you are trying it again. In you shoes, I'd go on Imuran.

Thank you all for your kind words and advice it really does help to talk to people who have an understanding of this condition.

I don't think the pred is helping with my mental state either at the minute as I am not thinking straight I'm now on my second week of 40mg then start the tapper.

I think if I'm honest with myself I have to try Imuran as the Asacol is not as effective as it first was, although I shall continue to stay at 4.8mg of this as well.

I think as you have said Rock, I am still a little bit confused and one minute I think I've come to terms with things then the next I haven't and yes I must confess I do read a lot of things get totally confused and think worst case scenario. I think that is human nature isn't it?

It is hard to remain positive every day as I am sure a lot of people on here understand but as it has been said before I must take one day at a time and try not to worry to much about things.

i have made the decision to start Imuran today 50mg for two weeks then up it by 50mg every two weeks until I reach 200mg. I read on here the best time to take it is at night before bed so that's what I shall try.

Sorry if I seem so uncertain all the time I just want to be sure I'm doing the right thing and thank you all so much for taking the time to read through my post.