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Off pred for 1.5 mos and Flaring

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/7/2011 4:41 PM (GMT -5)
Started flaring the second day of a cruise celebrating my 5 yr anniversary last Monday.  I also flared in 2008 when I went on vacation to the Dominican while at 5mg of pred. 

I don't know if it's coincidence or that the Imuran is not helping me (was on Imuran both times) though I just went back on Imuran October 2010.

Remicade is my next step if Imuran doesn't work.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

Hope you all are doing well.

Take Care,

Beth

Posted 3/7/2011 4:43 PM (GMT -5)
btw, GI is putting me on a 6 week pred taper, starting at 40mg today.

HATE PRED! but it makes me feel so much better. I bet my muscle and joint pain will feel better too, but I really just wanted to finally get off of it and have a chance for my muscles and joints to feel better on their own. I don't want to add on to the length of time I will be in pain.
Posted 3/7/2011 4:46 PM (GMT -5)
I am sorry you're going through this Beth. I know how stressful it is. Have you been getting your Imuran levels checked?
Posted 3/7/2011 4:58 PM (GMT -5)
no I have been a BAD patient, though I am going tomorrow and they are doing a stool sample too just to be sure (but I know a flare ; )
Posted 3/7/2011 5:41 PM (GMT -5)
You should ask them to do the test that checks whether you're in the theraputic range for imuran. That way they know if your dose needs adjustment. Are you using rectal meds? flares usually begin in the rectum, it's not a bad idea to use rowasa every other day (or whatever schedule works for you) while in remission.
Posted 3/7/2011 8:34 PM (GMT -5)
So sorry, Beth. I got to that point too and was only able to stay off the Prednisone 4-6 weeks at a time. I hate that stuff! I hope this course you're on now gets you into a nice long remission.
Posted 3/7/2011 10:15 PM (GMT -5)
I can share my experience, which is that I became very particular about where I would take vacations. I think extreme changes to the water sources would affect me. A foreign country would have been too risky for me. I don't know about a cruise but I avoid them because of the illness that seems to spread on those boats, especially gastro illnesses.

Also, I think a lot of people who go on vacation experience illness. It seems their defenses relax, and any illness they might have been exposed to gets an opening to attack. Anyone else experience that?

Sorry about the prednisone, but I hope it works. That's why so many of us travel with it!
Posted 3/8/2011 4:47 PM (GMT -5)
thanks for the info

I can't take any 5ASA's, I will update my siggy, I used to love my rowasa. Though they do have the steriod ones.....hmmm that may be a good choice.

Peety - That was the one thing I forgot to take with me, I had more than enough shoes though ; )

I am going on another cruise to Alaska in May, so I will get to test my that theory!

I also got UTI while on the trip too.
Posted 3/8/2011 4:48 PM (GMT -5)
yes I will ask about the range when I go to my appt on May 28! Thanks!
Posted 3/8/2011 9:41 PM (GMT -5)
Aw, Beth, I'm sorry to read that you started flaring on the cruise. I used to adore traveling-- before the airlines/airports became major hassles. The one thing I found that definitely affected my health on trips were ventilation systems. They either dehydrated me or set off a respiratory allergy-- both conditions that can revv up my colon. As Peety mentioned, when you're relatively confined, as on a ship, you can easily be exposed to irritants or infectious agents. When those things bother us we wear down faster, I think, than people without chronic illnesses. Definitely do bloods, as Notsosickly Girl recommends, and otherwise get on top of your symptoms. Keep us posted, too! Best wishes for you to feel better real soon. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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