Hi all, really need your advice. I had been using steroid enemas x2 a day for the last couple of months. One month in I tried to reduce to once a day but my symptoms were returning about four days later so I went back to x2 a day which brought it back under control. Over the last few weeks I tried reducing so 2, 1, 2, 1 etc but now the blood has returned and very bad constipation and now rectal pain. I was not having much bother with colitis in the rectum this time but I think maybe 2 months without any suppositories there (when normally I would use suppositories at least x1 day in remission) might have set off inflammation in rectum. Aghhh, I remember this!

I lost my job or was rather sacked last week because of absences from work due to flares. I am going to take my employer to Court. My GI said he didn't think that stress would make me any worse but I certainly am worse now and my symptoms got worse within a couple of days of that happening.

The nurse now suggests using 1 mesalazine enema at night and 1 steroid enema per day because they dot like steroid enemas and want me off them asap but this would be reducing the steroid enema even more. I have also suddenly started to struggle retaining the enemas, made worse by constipation I am sure, and lots of red blood today. What shall I do? The nurse said she was new and hasn't called me back. I am thinking return to steroid enema x2 a day but if no recovery on them by early November they want to move me on to steroid tablets I and can't see I have enough time to get things back to something manageable and then taper to nothing by November. Really worried and in distracting pain!….Thanks everyone

Getting off of the steroid enemas is a good idea. Sure, try rowasa plus steroid enemas, and then just rowasa to see if you can get rid of steroids.

Sorry, that sucks on the job. Within the USA, we have FLMA and ADA as protections. Both are supposed to give us extra, reasonable workplace accommodations to help us get through flares. Most workplaces are "at will" employers and either party can cease employment with or without reason. It often puts us in an uphill battle to prove our UC was the actual cause of our termination and not something else (unless they told us it was uc). Certainly within your best interest to have everything documented.

FLMA applies if you've worked at the company for a year or more and they must have 50+ employees.
/www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla

The Americans With Disabilities Act also applies to chronic illness patients.
/www.ada.gov