input on upcoming dr. appointment

Too bad he didn't get you on rectal 5ASA meds before the pred.

I think pred sours many toward seeking a "natural" approach. You don't have to be on pred...ever...if you don't want to.

You're improving..that's good. You'll have symptoms, probably, each time you taper the pred.

Try not to make too many decisions at this time of what you WANT....find out your options. The 5ASA meds are still a good alternative to most others...if you can take salicylates. There's a process and dedication to them.

Know that flares don't heal quickly.

The trick, really, is to treat as early as possible.

You can try a "wholistic" approach with mainstream and alternative. It all can work together.

Where's your UC...limited or throughout?

quincy

Even more interesting that you're on pred....

Curious...what were your symptoms before on meds?

q

can you be more specific? details...

Asacol is a pretty an innocuous drug and if you're not having any problems on it, you might want to stay on it in your small maintenance dose. (I think 3 tabs is at the low end of the doses.)

With tapering the Pred from 35mg, you're looking at about 6 weeks more at least. The more gradually you decrease, the better off you are.

I agree with Quincy that it's a shame you didn't start on the rectal meds (Rowasa, Canasa, Cortifoam, etc.) instead of the Pred. Pred is hard to get off of for a lot of us and it has all kinds of side effects that the the rectal meds don't have. It's not too late to try them! Great for stopping all the bleeding. It might also help you taper off the Pred sooner if you used a non-steroidal rectal med like Rowasa.

I think a natural approach is good and can also be combined w/meds too. I've never had any luck myself with all the natural stuff I tried: probiotics, tumeric, fish oil, slippery elm, ginger, etc. BUT I think that meditation, deep breathing, yoga, acupuncture and other things can also help.

Don't worry about taking the Pred. It sounds like you're doing a lot better and that's great!

I would ask your doctor as many questions as you need to really understand why s/he is prescribing this particular treatment. It took me a long time to really understand what was going on. I finally started keeping copies of my colonoscopy reports and actually reading them. (I love when they tell you their findings while the sedation is still keeping your brain fuzzy! I never remember a thing!)

I was going 15 - 20 times a day....severe to me, mild according to place of activity.

5ASA did its thing.....and I'm so relieved the doc was one who went that route rather than the "other" who stated he would have put me on pred right away.

Different perspectives...

q

Be proactive and prepare your questions. You don't have to go on pred...just know that. Ask what all your options are. Many doctors and patients are not "patient" with treatment. As well....UC is lifelong. One flare isn't the be all and end all of what your future will look like. Setting you up with constant care so that YOU can use your meds according to symptoms will eventually have you more in control.

Of course....this is all based on my treatment and learned process from my doctor and the long use of 5ASA meds.

You're in the learning phase .... experience is the best teacher, and one always revisits strategies.

Let us know how the appointment goes.

quincy