There is some light at the end of the tunnel. I was in a similar situation. I was very symptomatic, on prednisone, and each time I tried to taper, I would have problems. During this last taper in the...
LadyHawk I met with my GI today. He thinks that the Remicade is starting to kick in. If I do get symptomatic he will change the dosage of imuran, and the dosage and frequency of the Remicade before...
I have not had prednisone for two days now. I am willing to take short victories if needed right now. I was tapering for the better part of the summer and into the fall, and as of this Monday I am...
I am now off prednisone!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed because this is the first time in over a year I have been able to taper. I was as high as 60mg this summer. My doctor put me on Immuran and...
If you have not had relief with all medications (inclusing Remicade), and long term prednisone is your only option, have you had any discussions or considerations about surgery? Long term prednisone...
Cindy I never had cramps, per se, from colitis, but did have some intense aches and piains that felt like cramps. Imuran has its share of potential side effects, but not the same as prednisone. That...
My flares were usually very frequent bathroom trips (20-30 perday), very loose stools, urgencies, not feeling "finished", and cramps when going to the bathroom. Blood was not usually a big issue with...
If you can take one more remicade story, here is mine. I was fast becoming steroid dependent, and could not bear anymore prednisone. I was up to 60 mg and had terrible side effects. My doctor put me...
If you are talking about cramping in the legs or fingers, it is very common with prednisone. I was getting it a lot with the meds. I could indicate a potassium deficiency. A couple of banana's helped...
The reason for both meds is that the Imuran takes a while to work. If you are flaring, the Imuran will not help immediately. It can take a few months. The prednisone is continued or started so that...
Everything I read confirms that. It can take a up to a few months for the medication to kick in. That is why people in a flare are often given prednisone concurrently....
I, too, am not sure of the culprit, but have noticed significant hair loss. I did notice it more during taking prednisone so I am suspecting the drug. I figure why not, the prednisone causes all...
I am not sure if this will help, but when I went for my infusion chest tightness was reviewed as one of the symtpoms to look out for during the actual infusion. The nurse said that they would give me...
I have been keeping very detailed logs, and bring those to my appts. My GI is considered the UC guru in my area (Western NY State). However, one of the drawbacks is that he is extremely busy. Having...
First, I apologize for the new posting. I know there are others about Remicade, but I figured that with a new posting I might get more people looking, and I did not want to change the thread of...
I get this. Mainly in my legs. It is very annoying!...
I have found this thread to be particulary powerful in the honesty out out there for a very difficult decision. I find myself thinking along these lines. I am currently on prednisone again, and have...
Canasa has always helped with me in the rectal area. Asacol just does not make it all the way. Canasa is basically Asacol that treats the rectum. When you are flaring the addition of canasa is an...
I work for an HMO, and they actually cannot drop you if you already have coverage. What they can do is include a pre-existing clause in a contract for new subscribers. That would mean that they would...
I think that I am close to your situation. I have been DX with UC for 3 years, and cannot say that I have had any long term remission that did not involve prednisone. I had better moments than...
As all will tell you, and you have probably heard, each experience with prednisone can be different, and not all react the same way. Dosage and length of time are the biggest foactors in how...
I have never tapered off prednisone where I did not get a headache. The intensity may have ranged, but the headaches were always there, but eventually go away....
As previously stated, growth of colon cancer is very slow from the first sign of a polyp. There is probably not much to worry about given your last scope was within five years. However, UCers are at...
I left out replies to some of your questions. Yes, the pills are a bit bigger, but no so much more than a multi vitamin. It is easy to get used to. I am also on Imuran and Lialda together (as well as...
I am hearing that some doctors are just making the change to Lialda because of the convenience. Research shows that up to 60% of patients are non compliant to some degree with Asacol because of multi...
Prednisone is an amazing drug. If you have experience with it, and as you will certainly see in the UC postings, it has brought relief in flares when nothing else works at the time. However, it is...
I am not a physician, and do not routinely second guess the medical opinions, but we do have a right to wonder when things just do not seem right. There are many things about what your MD said that...
I concur with the medication posting. You should go back to your MD to review your meds. Your dosage of Asacol is very low, and does not seem to be helping the UC symptoms. I would think that it...
I am new to Remicade, but this is what I have been told and my experience. Remicade is done by infusion. You need to go to a place (hospital, OP clinic, sometimes your MD office if big enough) where...
Asacol was not very effective fro me so Lialda has not been any different. All things being equal, I think that will be the rule since the meds are the same, just the dosage. If a person is non...