I have to say that even with UC (though I have the benefit of mostly being in remission at the moment), I've randomly met other people who have IBS/IBD or know someone who does. Most recently I've...
I really like dakotagirl's idea too. the Chronic, yet Invisible illness is great. Maybe add in something about dorm life with IBD? Persuade them to make campus allow students with IBD to have a room...
I do a variation of the "tequila shot" method. I mix the fleets with an equal amount of gingerale. Plug my nose, chug it down as fast as possible, then chug a glass of peach/grape juice/lemonade, etc...
Haha..this is a great post! I don't get the burn/burp, but I DO get the bloat/gassiness. I know "flatulence" (i hate that word) is a side effect, but it's not very attractive. Any suggestions on...
I got into the routine of taking my meds before bedtime before colitis. Now that I have to take them in the morning too, I've made it routine to take them before brushing my teeth...not sure if that...
I would definitely recommend taking Calcium while on Pred. Be sure to take a supplement that also has vit. D in it. Calcium can't be absorbed without vit D present. I was taking 3 pills/day of 500mg...
So glad you're going with the hall bathroom! And as a suggestion, if you have time to make it to the floor above or below you, nobody knows you there so it's not like you'll walk out of the stall and...
Jools--Please don't think there's anything wrong with declining to take immunosuppressive drugs. It was a decision I had to think long and hard about myself. And it isn't the perfect drug for...
I forgot to add the link to the FDA approved drug site. Judy, not sure where you heard Tacrolimus isn't approved, but it's been on the approved list since the mid-1990's. Here's the FDA's Orange...
Sorry Judilyn, but I have to strongly disagree with you here! JOOLS--I have been on Tacrolimus (Prograf) for about 1 year now with few or NO side effects. My blood levels of the drug are very closely...
My stress and UC symptom correlation is one reason I hold out hope that things will get better someday!! I'm currently a vet student taking constant exams, an inconsistent schedule, and little...
I can absolutely relate! First, how much will your insurance cover for prescriptions?? Second, try calling the company that makes Entocort. Most drug companies offer financial assistance if you can...
I think they try the 6-MP/Imuran before Remicade for a few reasons. It's oral medication, so you can avoid infusions. It also works via a different mechanism--still immune suppressant, but different...
There's a little-known acne medication out there called Spironolactone (the brand name was Aldactone before it went generic). It's off-label usage for acne, but a fantastic gynecologic...
Fleet's Phosphosoda!!! It's goes down fast and easy! WAY better than the jug! I got offered the jug once, gagged on two cups of the stuff, called my GI (or the resident anyway), and he said just do...
bump...
ooo...i'll try that one next time! I can't drink ginger ale anymore since that's what I usually take the Fleet's in....
Always took cold meds with pred without a problem. Just make sure there aren't NSAID's (anti-inflammatory) mixed in (so no advil, ibuprofen--only Tylenol/acetaminophen is okay)....
Both parties need to take responsibility! There isn't a blame game here. We get informational packets on every Rx bought here in the US too, but it's up to us to read it. Also, all the docs I know...
I haven't gone on medication for anxiety, but once I realized the head game I play with myself--the vicious cycle of "what if?" games surrounding my UC, I can talk myself down from the anxiety....
I've been there! I actually had an even more acute case on 6-MP (which works/gets metabolized in the body the same way as Imuran). After 4-6 weeks on 6MP I randomly woke up at 5:30am with severe pain...
Dude, I freakin love the Demerol/Versed combo! I've said some ridiculously funny things on the drive home! It's like taking the best, deepest sleep, going home giggly, and then passing out again for...
what happens if you really scale back the diet? like just cut down to easily digestible foods...not necessarily the BRAT diet, but close? And a drug not many know about it Prograf (Tacrolimus). It's...
It might be water weight, but of the 20lbs I gained on pred (both times) I only lost 5 after going off of it from water weight. I still think a good diet will help. And a lot of docs will tell you...
Just one note on using the MetroGel or Metronidazole abx orally. DO NOT drink alcohol on this medication or for 3 days after using it. Metronidazole is what they also give to alcoholics to get them...
My first round of meds--I was immediately put on Asacol and Prednisone. I don't think I got enemas that early. The pred is what really helped me at first, but I did get all the side effects that come...
I know it might seem scary, but frankly, all of the drugs for UC carry pretty risky side effects! I was told I was part of the 1-2% of people who had my kind of reaction to 6-MP. It was great for me...
EmergenC and Zicam nasal swabs! Work best at the very very beginning of a cold, but help to shorten the duration. and if you have asthma, be sure to use your inhaler or a steroid inhaler to help your...
Yeah, the lactose intolerance part of UC is tricky. Lactaid used to make me feel bloated all the time. I've been drinking soy milk now, and that's better, but I get bloated from that sometimes too....
I still hold out hope too!! Granted I've only had it for four years, but I keep hoping that after grad school when I can finally get on a decent sleep schedule and eat right, and not have as much...
It's possible that the sulfasalazine is really inhibiting the folic acid absorption. It's a competitive inhibitor, meaning that the receptor that binds folate also binds sulfasalazine, and if the...
I've used both as well, and really liked the Canasa better because I didn't need to lie in bed for 1/2 hour or so. I literally could pop a suppository in there, go to class, sit through hours of...
Wow, how cool! I also use cider vinegar and honey for coughing/sore throat with herbal tea. If you hate the taste, try adding more honey, or a little less vinegar. I know when I have a sore throat I...
Hey MarkG, First, I think Pred may be a good choice just to get things under control. If you search Prednisone on this forum, you'll see tons and tons of posts on it with widely varying responses....
In addition to what everyone else has mentioned... TAKE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS if you're on pred, tapering, just off of it...you get the picture. Prednisone mobilizes Calcium away from the bones to...
I was on it for a little while. Didn't think it did much of anything....
I was on Cipro. It worked the first time like a charm, but the next flare it didn't to anything at all. Good luck!...
i was in the same situation as you. my doc suggested going back on pred, and i basically started crying in his office. i started Prograf (Tacrolimus), however. It's his last-resort drug before...
you can also lookup landmark eduation on wikipedia and they have links to news publications from Times, NY Magazine, and the boston globe. These guys have been around for a long long time, and have...
One of my UC treatments was Ciproflaxin actually. Not sure if it's used for colds, but I was on it before for a UTI before the UC diagnosis. Otherwise I was recently on Metronidazole and had no...
Pred is a blessing and a curse. I've been on it a couple times, the second time I had a hard time tapering off of it. It worked within days of starting taking the pills which made living and...
I feel you! I went almost 3 years without fresh fruits and veggies. I added everything back really really slowly. Started with the fruits (which were better tolerated by my GI). I started with...
I've had this happen for years, and it's perfectly okay and expected. It's actually in the side effects or other notes in the packaging info for Asacol. For me, it happens with and without flares,...
I'd say for a few days cut way back to the BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast, and decaf Tea. You can even mash up the bananas on the toast--better than eating it dry. Once things calm down...
It's good to hear you're feeling a little better about things. And kudos for going out! I was diagnosed while I still lived in the dorms in college. The whole public bathroom experience while in the...
I really should keep the smiley face on the butt in mind! Speaking of colonoscopies...how fantastic is Demerol!! I've definitely said some funny stuff on that drug! Whoever drives me to appointments...
Never having to think again if where I'm going has a bathroom. I second relativelyquantum...I would love to do weekend backpacking trips without carrying multiple rolls of TP! And I want to do one of...
Hey Jen, Also wanted to contribute that my experiences on the Fleets have been good. I agree with Bennie's daughter (above)--the stuff tastes awful, and I haven't been able to drink ginger ale since,...
Happens periodically to me too (I'm on 4pills 3x/day). I asked my doc about it once and he wasn't worried as long as my symptoms continued to improve/stay stable. But I agree, it's strange to see...
Prednisone made me feel like a 100 year old woman hobbling around the house. Literally, every morning I'd hobble around my apartment for probably 30min or so before the pain and stiffness went down....