Ideally, what should my next step be? Need advice.

I would ask for some enemas. They can be very beneficial while tapering off pred. Unfortunately while tapering pred symtoms can return. Many times that 10 mg taper is the magic number of when it all seems to slowly start returning.

Sounds like you have improved alot but now are having the issue with the taper. I had left sided colitis and responded well with the enemas. I would give it a go before moving on to the bigger guns. Can't hurt.

do the M enemas -

forget worrying about the rest - 

I agree w/ the enemas as well. I would start w/ Mesalamine, but if that isn't cutting it, than I would try the steroid enemas. Let us know how things go.
B

No prescription drugs aren't covered by government plan. And i don't have a private insurance.

attaboy,

Welcome to the forum.

You say you can't do mesalamines? Because they don't work or you became intolerant?

If you are intolerant, you may have problems with the mesalamine enemas too.

Here are my suggestions as to what you be thinking about:

1) what's your diet like?

you could try diet modification, as in gluten and dairy free and see if it improves your symptoms.

for many of us, it does

2) what are your vitamin d3 levels at?

there's a big correlation between IBD and low vitamin d3 levels

3) what about adding slippery elm powder?

4) L-Glutamine powder is great for diarrhea (on an empty stomach), and if you take it long term it's good for colonic repair

5) probiotics - very important, are you on any?

6) do some research on LDN, low dose naltrexone (you can check out the last post on the UC resources page) - it put me in remission

Anyway, if you are interested in any of these ideas, there are things IMO that you can control, which will have a direct impact on your disease, the symptoms you experience and their severity.

I was able to control my UC into remission through various supplements, probiotics, diet modification, and LDN , low dose naltrexone.

For more info on the protocol which has put me into remission, please go to this link: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1666318 , and look at the 11th post.

I hope you feel better and let us know how we can help you.

 

attboy,

I am not saying you are taking unnecessary stress, at the same time, I strongly recommend you to spend your spare time on this board and educate yourself. You have a lot of misconceptions in the first post, like how did you make conclusions on Azathioprine? I am on it for last 5 years, no complaints (agreed that not everyone is lucky but I would not make such statement before giving it a try). Its immunosupressant but in my family, everyone gets sick on and often, except me. I don't take flu shot. DS and DW took a shot and both had pretty bad flu, lasting about 10 days and fever of 104F. I didn't get flu. I can go on and on but moral of the story, if it needs give a try.

Biologics is NOT a next step as presented by the GIs all the time, lately. As InSoFla mentioned, look at LDN, as a matter of fact, I am also looking into it. Since I may participate in a clinical trial, I can start now but I am researching it for my GI (She hasn't used it on anyone so far so she wants to see proof before giving me a green light.)
Those who think Biologics are a way to go will regret their decision a big time. All will be well as long as it works, once it stops working, ~5 years, no other biologic (that is currently in the market) will work as good as the first one, may it be Remicade, Humira or any other one. Analogy is a like NSAID, once you hit the hump with Ibuprofen, all other give you a flare.
Biologics should be your absolute last option before going under the knife. (I would actually go under the knife than biologics for cost and convenience issue).

Now, to your question, what should be your next step. Get your colonoscopy report and see where the inflammation is. If it is in area which can be served by enema, maintain use of mesalamine enema. Before that, get your flare under control. Implement lifestyle and food habits changes. Give a try to different supplements, not that everything will work but some may work. You won't know unless you try. There is no yardstick in UC business. For example, I tried L-Glutamine and it did not do a thing for me, so I discontinued. I went gluten and casein free, nothing changed so I am back (but I am strictly vegetarian with more stress on organic foodstuff. I do not eat anything processed and cook my food at home. My rule of thumb is, if I don't know the ingredient in any food, I do not buy that stuff.)
There is almost universal agreement on psyllium seed powder supplementation.

With the drugs, there are ton of preparations you can give a try to. Different formulations of 5-ASA (oral mesalamine) or Balsalazide (relatively cheap and works well), Imuran or 6-MP (check liver function regularly). Some darn good probiotic, like Benebiotics (VSL#3 is too expensive)

Good Luck.

Regarding no insurance, what province are you in? Manitoba has Pharmacare, but after a deductible amount.

q