really sick today, can't tell if a bug or UC flare. Can things change that fast?

Had to leave work abruptly at 11:45 am....kept severely cramping up...BM's wee - and have been, perfect and normal. However they soon turned to diarrhea. Been on my regular diet - mostly gaps but been having salads daily with egg. Last two nights made pancakes - b squash, eggs, and almond butter. That many eggs and the almond butter new to my diet. ONLY thing can think of.

Been off prednazone for 3 weeks and know this is my tricky time...whether will relapse or not. I can't tell if this a relapse. Its all new. For ex. with my recent flares in past two years...I don't get the severe cramping. However I also literally never get intestinal bugs (guess theres a first for everything). In the back of my head all I know is it IS that magic 3 week mark. I'm on the edge of terrified. I cannot do prednisone again...I just cannot. Afraid I'd have to give up a good job I just got.

But before I go down that road...I did start taking the Isatis Cooling...I thought it can't hurt. Been taking 3-4 weeks...I have to say...my BM's weren't horrible....still tissue and blood but formed BMS...quickly started having more BM's (more blood circulation), and the blood and guts disappeared and I've had centerfold poops. Truly, until this morning.

Any opinions?

If it's only a one day episode then try not to worry. However if it persists for 4-5 days then you have a pattern that needs to be investigated.

We're never certain whether it's a stomach bug or a flare returning. Wait and see, i guess. Since you're tapering the pred, certainly that is suspect. Certainly we're all worried as we taper to low doses of pred, me most recently in Jan 2017.

I wish i could assure you that it is one thing or another but i cannot. Lab tests can help clarify things. Is there a pathogenic cause by stool test? An inflammation test like CRP bloodtest, FCP stool test, or a flexible-sigmoidoscopy can tell exactly what is going on.

Is there a reason why you're only on 75mgs of imuran, as that's a really low dosage.

Have biologics like humira/remicade been discussed?

Well, ended up in emergency. In retrospect became dehydrated as any fluids going through gut just too painful, so minimal liquids. Was going to bathroom (continual diarrhea ) last night with daughter in bathroom, I kept falling down, passing out. So she called 911....4 bags of IV fluid, one of potassium later, I'm back home in bad.

The next stage/step was to try Remicade...but when saw gastro 3 days ago I was doing so good! It just blows me away, even after all this time, how symptoms can change on a dime. So hopefully now we'll start Remicade asap...however will ask gastro why the low dosage of immuron, so little experience with it, you think that might help by itself?

In meantime am taking one immodium and one motrin for pain. Do doctors typically prescribe pain meds for this stuff? Past 3 years I've not had pain...just other symptoms.

Any opinions on this grey area of getting off prednisone...like, does it work for some to wait it out...and then the body just gets better (with help of diet and whatever pre-existing meds)? The hospital doctor gave me a prescription for an alternate prednazone....I forget the name...friend taking it to pharmacy....at low dose...like 15 mgs....but that just means going through this all over again....I hate UC

iPoop said...
If it's only a one day episode then try not to worry. However if it persists for 4-5 days then you have a pattern that needs to be investigated.

We're never certain whether it's a stomach bug or a flare returning. Wait and see, i guess. Since you're tapering the pred, certainly that is suspect. Certainly we're all worried as we taper to low doses of pred, me most recently in Jan 2017.

I wish i could assure you that it is one thing or another but i cannot. Lab tests can help clarify things. Is there a pathogenic cause by stool test? An inflammation test like CRP bloodtest, FCP stool test, or a flexible-sigmoidoscopy can tell exactly what is going on.

Is there a reason why you're only on 75mgs of imuran, as that's a really low dosage.

Have biologics like humira/remicade been discussed?

Likely you were given uceris. It's only effective on mild inflammation.

Imuran is dosed 2.0 to 2.5 mgs per kilogram of body weight (a weight-based drug). I weigh 150 pounds or 68 kiligrams, so my dosage of imuran would be 136mgs (68 x 2) to 170mgs (68 x 2.5) a day of imuran. Depending on your body weight, your dosage might be a little higher or lower than my example. When you first start imuran, they use an initial low dosage and increase it as you get good bloodtest results back. Bloodwork does determine your dose, as well. If your doctor increases ypur dose then you'd have to wait 6-8 weeks to see an improvement within your symptoms.

Personally, I'd go for the remicade.

iPoop said...
Likely you were given uceris. It's only effective on mild inflammation.

Imuran is dosed 2.0 to 2.5 mgs per kilogram of body weight (a weight-based drug). I weigh 150 pounds or 68 kiligrams, so my dosage of imuran would be 136mgs (68 x 2) to 170mgs (68 x 2.5) a day of imuran. Depending on your body weight, your dosage might be a little higher or lower than my example. When you first start imuran, they use an initial low dosage and increase it as you get good bloodtest results back. Bloodwork does determine your dose, as well. If your doctor increases ypur dose then you'd have to wait 6-8 weeks to see an improvement within your symptoms.

Personally, I'd go for the remicade.

Ok, I put all this in my notes...I am hoping my gastro. available to talk on phone tomorrow. If nothing else get stool tests done (don't believe he does any bloodwork testing except what they do to check kidneys, and liver function)....will bring this up. I'm at 140 lbs...so I should be taking similar Imuran prescription as you. So grateful for this website to get some guidance. Maybe my gastro started me at beginning rate and then spaced out? wouldn't be the first time.

parting notes from hospital were to take imodium (which I rarely do)....but quite sparingly...I'm taking one every 4 hours, with a Motrin, as I can start feeling rumblings of pain. The pain is quite intense.

The prescription is for Medrol...12 mg a day - that hospital doc said its similar to 15 mg prednisone. its scientific name is methylprednisolone...just to try to manage things for now.

I am going to go for the remicade....that was going to be our back up plan if things fell apart. Did you gain a lot of weight with it? What side effects do you get with it?

Thank you for your help, very sincerely.

Well, I am happy to hear that you've had no side effects or weight gain with Remicade. Yes, I have several wardrobes. In my non-free time I fantasize about labeling each stack of clothes as 150 lbs, 145 lbs...on down to 120 lbs.

I am still kind of hoping the Istasis Cooling will continue to work for me, but am taking a break for now. Just had my first pureed soup/food since Friday...scared to eat. Last colonoscopy said my colitis mainly active in my rectum...explains the pain but not the sudden turn around...but as doc at hospital said last night...I'd win the nobel peace prize if could figure out why such sudden turn arounds with this disease. My first doc called it a chameleon disease...true words.

Click her username , I think you can view her last 10 replies that way?

First click the profile and then second click on the post within their history to read it's full content.