3 week hospital vacation - Remicade & Prednisone, suddenly symptoms back

For a 1-1/2 weeks I've been out of the hospital after a 3 week stint were I receive IV steriods ( 60mg Solu-Medrol ), and 2 doses of Remicade.

Apparently my entire colon was inflamed ( Diagnosed with U.Proctitis in July 08 ).

For the last 7 days I was on 40 mg of Prednisone, things seemed to be going well as I was starting to form solid stool and the diarrhea stopped. On Weds I met with the GI doctors and he was hopeful.

This Thursday I tapered down to 35 mg and last night I'm suddenly having very watery diarrhea, and noticing some blood. Last night and early this AM was especially bad.

Oddly enough, prior to going to into the hospital I had tapered down from 40mg --> 35mg of prednisone. Tapered on Thurs, hospital on th Tuesday.

Has this happened to anyone else? I'm debating wether I should hit emergency and this morning went back to 40mg.

My diet has been a low residue, lactose free although I eat like a pig. The only "bad" thing is I've had a beer with lunch...which I don't think is the problem. I might also be eating too much fatty foods. My guess is the reduction in steriods but it does seem like a awfully small amount to trigger flare?

If it continues tonight/tomorrow I'm considering going up to 60mg.

Also, don't know about you guys, but my movements occur around the same time lie clockwork. Eg, at 6am I wake up and hit the can, also around 12am.

Anyone else have similar occurances? Not sure how long it will take Remicade to kick in (if it does), my next infusion is March 30th.

thanks
Jaret

Yup, I'm also using a cort foam enema at night and 5asa suppository in the morning.

this AM I used a 4g salofalk enema which seemed to help.

And yea, 3 weeks was an awfully long time. The hospital almost became my second home.

Jaret

Thanks Jame, I pretty much avoid the booze which is a feat since I was a moderate to heavy beer drinker prior to colitis.

The GI said last week some wings and a beer would not be a problem, he was more concerned with avoiding fatty food. That being said, aside from a beer, or a glass of white wine once a week with dinner I abstain from alcohol. I've been keeping a diary of food and trying to eliminate some of the worst offenders that contain fat.

Haha. yes I have a few times. And just realized that discussion of any illegal drugs is against the forum's policy but since it's about the medical use hopefully moderators can approve of it.
So apparently it helps a bit.
Many people claim that it helped them heal their gut and bring up their appetite. That's probably why there's medical marijuana in California. We UC/crohn's patients can LEGALLY get marijuana and smoke them in Cali.

There's also a drug called, Marinol. Marijuana THC based drug to help UC/crohn's patients.

sicklygirl said...
I want to try cannibis for my UC. I wish it were legalized in other places besides CA. It's better than taking all these crazy drugs

you probably can get some from your friends.
Third time when I tried it last year in May, I overdosed lol.

But I did get formed stools the next day.