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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/13/2015 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
So I'm having my first real flare up since being diagnosed with UC in Feb 2012.

It started Aug '14 and it seemed to be dying down now but for the past week and a half I've been getting some serious bloating in the evening and waking up in the early morning to go toilet (diarrhea and gas, no real stool).

This all seemed to start after I caught the flu on boxing day. Sometimes the blood dies down (never goes entirely) but the diarrhea and bloating/gas hasn't, it feels like that has gotten worse. Yesterday I woke up with severe body pains/head ache, today is better - no headache but minor body ache.

I don't feel like its my diet as I haven't changed it since getting better. I finished my course of Prednisolone yesterday and Im currently on Pentasa (2g in the morning and 2g at night), Allopurinol (100mg in the morning) and Azathioprine (25mg at night). I take Vitamin D + calcium supplements with an odd spoonful of Manuka honey and odd multivitamin tablet (Nutri advanced - Men's multi essentials).

I told my doctor about the problem and he said if it continues to get worse, take a 2 week course of Pred but I'd rather avoid it by knowing what's caused it.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Posted 1/13/2015 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
It's not something you did it's what UC is doing, most likely taking advantage of your weakened system due to flu.
Your UC symptoms are not being handled by your meds after tapering prednisolone and if symptoms are back you may need it again as your doctor said but you should also discuss what other meds you could change to or increase since it sounds like you've never achieved remission.

If you never got rid of bleeding ask for Rowasa mesalalmine retention enema. That will do the job and be a big step toward healing.
Posted 1/13/2015 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
you may not be able to avoid the pred, but have a plan in place to deal with the returning uc before you start it -

as ima said, something isn't working and needs to be addressed -

good luck -
Posted 1/13/2015 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Could be due to the flu but another possibility is the pred being recently tapered down. Pred only works while you are on it and not when you taper down or off. You can't take pred long term. The game plan is that hopefully the maintenance meds will keep you in remission once the pred is tapered but if they aren't then your UC will return. Hopefully it is the flu, otherwise you will need a different maintenance med combo that works better.
Posted 1/13/2015 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with everything that's been said. I don't feel like my pentasa has helped keep me in remission, especially as I did make progress with the Pred. I've decided to take my doctors advice and do another 2 week course of pred.

imagardener2: I've called up my hospital to discuss my situation and I'll definitely bring that up. I tried pentasa suppositories before (around Sept) and found it didn't work as I'd just go toilet but I'll give it another shot.

sillystudly: agreed. Hopefully I can get something arranged with my gastroenterologist. I remember my problems return slowly after a previous course of pred.

garylouisville: yeah its quite frustrating trying to figure out where the problem is coming from but it seems from what you and the rest have said, my current medication isn't helping me to stay in remission.
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