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Excessive gas has come back

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/9/2019 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
Good morning everyone,

I’m currently tapering Prednisone as I’m 6 weeks into Imuran, I went down to 10mg 2 days ago and last night, during the night and this morning I have the intense gas problems again

I’ve had some gas during the past weeks, but all of a sudden it seems very intense and wont stop.

Constant flatulance, I must have passed gas like 50 times and it never seems to end, kept waking up, I have that bloated horrible gas feeling all the time, along with a lot of rumbling.

Do you think this has to do with the taper or unrelated? I’m not eating different.

What is the best way to treat this? I’ve taken Gas-X but it hasnt done much. When I wake up its like my body kicks into action again and starts the gas.

Thanks
1Wish
Posted 3/9/2019 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
Another thing to mention is when I get down to the 10mg range I start getting acne on my arms and back. Could all this gas be due to the prednisone tapering/withdrawal maybe? I guess I’m just hoping it’s not a flare..
Posted 3/9/2019 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Since you're tapering, I would lean more to very mild inflammation limited to the rectum. But....what are your bms like at this point?

What dosage did you taper from?

q
Posted 3/9/2019 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

So Ive been up and down since November but sibce starting Imuran about 5 weeks ago I was put back on 30mg. Started on the 24th of January.

I started tapering to 20mg on Thursday 21st of February, a week later to 15mg and I started 10mg on the 7th of March.

My BM’s arent too bad, 1-2 a day, formed, some skinny at times. Some days I may not go at all, might be constipated, others it will be “mushy” or “loose” no blood from what I can see.

Thanks
1Wish
Posted 3/10/2019 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you have limited inflammation, liekly down-low in the rectum and sigmoid (skinny stools, sometimes firm or loose).

Well, Imuran is going to take about 3-months to work, and reach ideal therapeutic (healing) range. If you're 6-weeks in, then you're not quite there yet. I'd try not to get on too low of a dosage of pred, just yet.

Increased gas can happen as we heal. I was a total fartzilla, like you describe. It goes away as you heal fully. Just one of the "wonderful" things that happens as we heal.
Posted 3/10/2019 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate to it. I am fartzilla as well even in remission.
Try to exclude fiber (especially insoluble fiber) from you diet.

It helps me.
Posted 3/10/2019 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
If you are taking probiotics, they can cause a lot of gas too. Cut those out for a few days and see if you have less gas or not.
Posted 3/10/2019 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Regarding probiotics.....or first try taking them at bedtime when the digestive tract is quieter.

Regarding pred taper....you can try alternating, or do a longer time between tapering dosages.


q
Posted 3/10/2019 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Are you taking anything else besides pred and imuran? It's good to get the levels for imuran checked, so you know you're on the right dose. You should also be taking mesalamine if you can tolerate it, and using rectal meds. I'd hold steady on the taper, make sure to check the levels, then once you're sure you're in the therapeutic range I'd taper slowly.
Posted 3/10/2019 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Regarding Imuran concentration, here's the test mentioned in more detail.

Thiopurine Metabolites is a diagnostic test for immunomodulators that determines if you have the proper concentration of that medication in your system for optimum therapeutic (healing) effect, and it is helpful in establishing proper dosing for individuals. Any lab can do this test, here's an example from Labcorp:
https://www.labcorp.com/test-menu/35596/thiopurine-metabolites
Posted 3/12/2019 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
Have folks here had any luck taking Simethicone-80 chewable tablets for gas?

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-16749/simethicone-80-oral/details

Similar to Gas-X, I believe.
Posted 3/13/2019 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
This was just my personal experience, but an SCD/Paleo type diet virtually eliminates all gas for me. I think my triggers are lactose and difficult to break down carbs like bread and pasta. Everyone is different but testing a limited diet might be worth a try.
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