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How to manage mini flare ups?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/21/2018 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my dear friends

I would like some advice please as I think I may be in the midst of a mini flare up.

My bowel motions are looser, and they have gone up from 1-2x a day to 3-4x a day. I can also hear my gut rumbling more. No bleeding. I have slight back pain.

My current medication is Pentasa 1500mg x2 a day + VSL3.
Normally I up my medication to say Pentasa 1500mg x 3 a day; Add Suppositories 1000mg at night. This is how I got into remission 2 years ago.

As I am not bleeding so I am not sure if it is food poisoning or the IBD - it may be both and I am due a Colonoscopy in November.

What do you suggest?

Thanks
LR
Posted 9/21/2018 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
My first approach for a mini-flare is to up oral mesalamine, reintroduce nightly enemas/suppositories, and give it about 2-weeks for a response. There's generally a no-harm in upping the mesalamine temporarily as a test, to see if it heals you and eliminates the aforementioned mini flare symptoms. If I cannot self-manage the flare, then it's time to reach out to my doctor for a stool test for infectious causes, and some lab work for inflammation: FCP stool test or CRP blood test. That's when Uceris/steroid foams are the next point of discussion...
Posted 9/21/2018 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks John.
So maybe I will up the Pentasa to 1500mg x 3 a day. Introduce nightly suppository to 1000mg a day. That's my usual for a flare up.
Posted 9/21/2018 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
A flare is a flare....dependent on location and severity extent.

I would say mild at this point.

Do you have retention enemas? I suggest those at night over suppositories since your bms are looser.
You can use the supps during the day.

Keep us updated.

q
Posted 9/21/2018 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
I don't do well on enemas so will stick to 1g suppository and keep Pentasa at 3g a day. See how that goes. Change diet to something bland.
Posted 9/21/2018 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I then suggest you use the supps twice daily....night and during the day after majority of bms. Do you have refills?

How do you not do well on the enemas....can't recall.

q
Posted 9/21/2018 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Enemas never seem to work for me... and make my stools worse. I have tried them several times. OK I will do 500mg during day and 1000mg at night of suppository.
Posted 9/21/2018 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
You must have lots of 500mg on hand . 1000 would be best, but good to have them for day and the others at night.

q
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