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Halting a flare (techniques)

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/21/2017 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Just curious what everyone here has done in the past to stop a flare before it starts? I mean, when you feel it coming on, before you end up in a 4 month spiral of being sick -- what have you done to stop it in its tracks?

This is something I still haven't figured out. It's like once it gets to the tipping point, I'm screwed.
Posted 10/21/2017 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
A high dose of steroids always worked for me, but I hated using them, and tapering off was nearly impossible without symptoms reappearing. That's why eventually I decided surgery made sense. I think a lot of people use steroid enemas or Uceris, or increase their mesalamine if they aren't on the max dose. Double up on rectals, twice a day. Sometimes I'd use a supp and cortifoam. Perhaps probiotics. I'd always try to eat and drink fermented foods and avoid sugars and carbs, but it never proved to do anything. Nothing I did really did much aside from steroids. Everyone is different. I hope you find something to help you.
Posted 10/21/2017 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Oral and rectal mesalamine.....
Posted 10/21/2017 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Steroid enemas (I can't handle rowasa anymore).

I'm the same as you. Once the freight train starts there's no stopping it. So I hit my colon with rectals. I haven't been hospitalized in 3 years ;)
Posted 10/22/2017 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
If your UC is well managed then your flares tend to be milder and shorter. Mild flares tend to show early warning signs.

Severe flares, what you've experienced, hit like a ton of bricks.
Posted 10/22/2017 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
Steroids were the only thing which halted an acute flare-up in its tracks for me. No other med or diet worked. Eventually it got to a point where I was completely steroid dependent and couldn't get off steroids without ending up back in hospital again shortly afterwards. Eventually I had enough of that cycle and opted for surgery.
Posted 10/22/2017 1:20 PM (GMT 0)

OP said...
This is something I still haven't figured out. It's like once it gets to the tipping point, I'm screwed.


Quincy said...
Oral and rectal mesalamine.....

I agree with you that once your flare gets to a tipping point you can kiss your *** (posterior) good-bye. It is much harder to end a flare than prevent one in the first place. I agree with Quincy about oral and rectal mesalamines. I don't have direct experience with it myself (I am allergic to them) but over the years I have read so many accounts of their effectiveness, even from IBDers who also embrace alternatives and diet modification.

In my case I find that powdered psyllium seed with some probiotics can put me back to normal when the first symptoms begin.
Posted 10/22/2017 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Connor.....what meds are you on? Would you please make a signature and make sure it's in your posts? Invaluable to those reading and answering.

q
Posted 10/22/2017 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Strict SCD in my case. Prevents any flare from happening.
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