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Mini Flare in between Remicade infusions?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/2/2015 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All-

I have had a pretty solid symptomatic remission over the past 4 months.  Have had a lot of stress over the past week and this morning I noticed extra gassiness before I went, floating poops and more of a liquid wipe on the paper than what I normally see.   This is usually my beginning of a flare and I'm trying not to freak out as I've heard many folks say they have mini flares while on Remicade (I'm also on MTX) and they end up coming out of it in a few days to a few weeks.  I am on 7 mg of oral pred and I never plan to go back up on pred since I have now been on it for over 4 years, so that is not an option.  Perhaps I should do a few hydrocortisone enemas or some Proctofoam?  I worry since I JUST got my infusion last week so I'm literally in my first week with a long way to go b4 my next one.   Guess I will give it some time and hopefully it will slow down.  Any thoughts on bridge meds or any other alternative treatments to help keep this possible mini flare at bay?  Thanks for all help you can provide!

Posted 4/2/2015 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
You can also increase the dose of remicade if you're getting worse. I would do the rectals meds and see how things go. proctofoam isn't as good as cortifoam so if you're going to use one, go for the cortifoem. I hope you can get off the pred, even though you're on a low dose. When did you taper last? You really don't want to take all these meds and still be taking prednisone :( You should see your GI and request a test to check whether you've built up antibodies to remicade.
Posted 4/2/2015 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
You could try fiber supplements which can be very helpful or increasing your fiber from foods that you can tolerate...be sure to drink plenty of extra water when using fiber supplements/increase in fiber rich foods.
Posted 4/2/2015 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
I feel completely fine (other than the extra stress I have had lately and it presents in my tummy of course...) other than the loud fart before I pooped and then more of a liquid wipe than I am used to seeing.  I had a BIG ol salad last night with no pain, but maybe I'm paying a little bit of a price today.   I was told by my doc that floating stools meant I was getting a good amount of fiber, but I have read conflicting information about that. I have already read that it may be from extra fat in the diet (which I eat very healthy so I don't know how that could be the case.)  I have given up all processed foods, alcohol, coffee and soda.   I started Remicade back in 05/14 and it started to wear off by November so my Doc added MTX and I have felt great since.  Before we added the MTX I did get the Anser IFX blood test for Remicade and it showed that I had NOT built up antibodies and that I still had a therapeutic level in my blood at week 6, meaning that on paper I should be feeling awesome, but I wasn't.  That is why he added MTX (my liver can't handle Imuran.)   I have heard many people that have their ups and downs while on Remicade but they stay on it because it works for the most part.  I just wanted to hopefully hear from some people who take Remicade, have some bad days here or there and then they are back to feeling fine.   I just wanted to verify that folks still stay on Remicade even if things start to act up and what they may do to bridge until the flare settles down (I won't go back up on steroids.)  Thanks for any help you can provide!
Posted 4/3/2015 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Floating stools means undigested fat, not a good thing, really shocked and sad that your doc would tell you that it means enough fiber in one's diet, that's a pretty sketchy thing for him/her to say being a doctor and all.

It's not extra fat that causes stools to float, it's undigested fat that causes it to happen.

My dietitian suspects I may have issues with fructose, she said it's fairy common for those with IBS mainly C/alternating on occasion with D. The FODMAP diet she's putting me on is fructose free for the reason my journal described what foods I eat and how my bowels behave as a result of my current diet. Should be interesting to see how things go with this diet, hope I don't screw it up while I'm on it...of course half of me wants to know the culprit(s) behind what's bugging my gut and the other half is scared I'll never be able to eat anything with fructose again...this just all sucks, like IBD isn't enough to deal with.
Posted 4/3/2015 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I thought that too when I heard that about floating stool but then I looked it up and to my surprise it was everywhere! Many sources stated that having floating stools was actually a good thing and that it was indicative of a high fiber diet, just google floating stools and fiber and it's all over the place. It's definitely a debate since I've heard about the undigested fat reason as well. I'm on a food combining diet where I don't combine protein and starch and it keeps my tummy very alkaline. I've been doing this diet for over six years now and I have had some successfull years with no meds, it was when I started to cheat that I got symptoms again...
Posted 4/3/2015 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Ya, apparently floating stools can be caused by a few different things so who knows for sure unless you get your floaties tested I guess....well I hope you're able to get back on track with your gut sooner rather than later!
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