Starting to get my worry head on.

I don't know whether it's just me because I am a born worrier anyway. I thought I was coping with this current flare but not sure now.

My inflammation is in the sigmoid and rectum, possibly alittle higher but not much. When they did my sigmoidoscopy they didn't measure which was helpful. It wasn't my usual GI that did it. I am taking 4 mezavant a day, 2g salofalk enema and have reduced my pred from 40mg weekly to 20mg. I go 2-4 times in the morning (usually this is twice when in remission). It varies from very soft and formed to sometimes runny (not watery but it comes out fast). I am also taking calcium/vit d supplement.

This is an improvement from before I started the pred but I just don't feel quite right. I have no blood and have not seen much with this flare. In fact all my fare symptoms were different this time with cramps, spasms, bloating but didn't see blood. I did have frequency and urgency but never had the other symptoms before.

I felt bloated yesterday and had heartburn. That's okay today but something is niggling me.

I have been a bit overindulgent with the wine and treats over the Christmas period.
I have found that probiotics don't seem to agree with me and have had problems with
certain calcium supplements in the past (diahrhea). I did stop them once but restarted because I am worried about not getting enough calcium due to the steroids.
I was contemplating physilium in the hope of firrming up and decreasing my frequency but haven't taken
the plunge yet.
I don't know whether I feel like this because of the steroids and the withdrawal effects due to tapering. When I first started them they gave me bad indigestion and gave me anxiety attacks. These have got better since reducing.
I suppose I am really just over half way through my steroid course and it still is early days. I have had a better response to steroids this time because in my last flare 18 months ago I was still seeing blood at 10mg. I felt that at that time the enemas were pivotal in inducing remission in that flare.


I am worried that I will start flaring again.

Sorry you're worrying. I can relate. It is tough to always be analyzing symptoms, especially since the path out of a flare is rarely a straight line.

A few thoughts:
- Christmas indulgences may have caused at least some of your bloating and indigestion issues. Maybe try to eat safe foods consistently for a few days - for me I know stuff like eggs and chicken are digested pretty easily. Lots of water and ginger tea is good too.
-I'm on a prednisone taper too and can vouch for the fact that it can make you more prone to worrying. Are you getting enough rest or is the pred messing with your sleep?
- During my latest taper, my doc didn't recommend dropping my pred dose until all symptoms were gone. He also had me do a slow taper which of course I didn't want to do but it made sense - if you have to be on the stuff, you at least want it to do its job!
- Pred totally gives me heartburn, but rather than take more pills, I found just chewing on some Tums was pretty effective.
- Great that you are able to do enemas twice a day - that's huge.
- If I get a sense that a supplement is not agreeing with me, I will stop it. You can try again when your digestive system is a bit more stable. I think it's good to listen to those hunches. Psyllium has been super helpful for me at times but I tried it during this recent flare and it just messed everything up.
- FWIW, I'm not supplementing with calcium during this flare. I asked my doc and he didn't seem to think it was a problem. He's a really good doctor. I am trying to eat good food - SCD yogurt, kale, etc. - stuff with lots of calcium in it.
- I find taking walks and stretching help me feel less anxious.

I mostly lurk on here but your post really resonated with me - I can really relate to the worrying and second-guessing, especially when it's amplified by racy pred brain! You are not alone!

Jane