Flare question

That's an improvement as your urge to poop has dropped. Passing gas safely is a very good sign of improvement. I assume urgency has dropped, as well?

Blood is never something that's good or we want to see, but you're only seeing a little bit when wiping (not bright-red toilet water which would be a sign of regression). For some, blood is the very last symptom to disappear.

I would be willing to bet you've healed higher up, but have some lingering inflammation in your rectum. Rectal inflammation can cause bleeding, is stubborn, and is the very last to go. I'd recommend hitting that remaining rectal inflammation with meslamines (either canasa suppositories or rowasa enemas) and/or steroids (in suppository or enema formulation) to help speed up the healing process.

When did you start the enemas?

q

Definitely sounds like you're improving or at least holding steady. For me, if it's a flare, I'm pretty sick 2-3 weeks in.

I'd keep up the daily cortenemas until no more blood and then taper slowly to every other day, then every third day. And be cautious with the Immodium. It got me in trouble last time even though I was only taking 1/2 a tablet - 1 tablet per day. 1/2 a tablet every 2-3 days is probably ok but you don't want to slow things down unless you really need to for work, etc.

I also vote for improving. In the beginning my story was kind of opposite. Just before diagnosis I was going only 3 times per day with bloody diarrhea and mucus. After getting put on full dose Asacol my bloody diarrhea with mucus disappeared but then I was going 10-15 times per day. Sometimes this disease is just hard to figure out.

When I have been fully flaring and working, doing my best to act as if all is well, I've used cortenemas a lot with great success, and over several months (before tapering very gradually). It's a small amount of steroid per enema for the benefits if you get the immediate relief I had (~8mg?). Used overnight, held all night, and it calmed things down on most inflamed distal area (and far less Tenesmus). Another used in early morning, holding it in for 30 min, can help make for easier morning start at work. For some reason my doctor was much more liberal about my using these, even said I could do as many as 3 per day for a few weeks (I didn't).
So I wouldn't hold back or rush to taper if they help you get by. (I'm allergic to mesalamines etc, too, so it was best drug option, setting aside from natural enemas that others prefer.) it's the best spot-on immediate relief I've found.

Thanks guys! You are all so helpful.