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On pred again - stubborn flare

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/10/2018 8:00 PM (GMT -5)
Hey guys,


Got another flare up around about 5 weeks ago. Minor flare I suppose in comparison to my 1st flare when diagnosed 7 years ago, which in turn put me in hospital. Anyway, the usual symptoms going roughly 6/7 times a day, with the usual finding it hard to keep food down for long periods. Anyway got the GP to prescribe me my usual dose of 30MG pred for 2 weeks, dosing down by 5MG weekly. All the flares I have had, the pred eventually gets it under control in roughly 2/3 weeks.


Been 4 weeks now and I'm currently on 20MG and although the symptoms have improved, I am only going twice a day now and much longer periods in day where I can hold food in,but when I do go to the toilet , the consistency is still "Colitas" like. It's a mixture of very slight solid, but mostly liquid like still. Can't seem to shrug this one off quickly. Is it worth asking the GP to up the pred to try kill it off? Or do you think my symptoms sound like they will eventually get better and just taper down as advised ? I am not getting any worse and blood seems to have pretty much gone. Just still getting the Colitas like consistency in my stool and it's not turning solid as quickly as the pred did before.

( to note ) I'm also on 150MG day Azathioprine, highest dose of Asacol meselazune and nightly steroid enemas.

Post Edited (Tblock1985) : 4/10/2018 7:03:59 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/11/2018 10:17 AM (GMT -5)
Unfortunately, when people flare up while on medication, in many cases, you will need to add, or increase the dose of medication, in order to taper off pred without symptoms increasing. Have you had the levels for your imuran checked? Maybe a dose adjustment there would help... Have you had stool tests? Always good to look for pathogens. Have you been in contact with your GI? Is there a plan? You may need to consider biologics, or try alternatives, like diet & probiotics. Some people do get relief from symptoms using alternatives, but getting scoped to see what's happening is a better option because relieving symptoms, and achieving remission are two different things.
Posted 4/12/2018 10:11 AM (GMT -5)
Seeing my GP in a few days to discuss next plan and biologics was discussed previously. Say I were to go and dose up My pred, is it safe to go straight from 20MG pred to 40MG next day ? I have never had to dose up on pred before as usually the dosage prescribed gets rid of my flare. This particular flare is stubborn.
Posted 4/12/2018 1:33 PM (GMT -5)
I'd ask your doctor about increasing the dose, as you shouldn't be going rogue and changing things without his/her say. Generally speaking, it should be fine to increase your pred dosage, provided you have enough pred on-hand and generally that's another reason to get doctors input.

Tapering pred is where you have to be careful to go slowly.
Posted 4/16/2018 10:45 AM (GMT -5)
Hey guys. Upped the pred back to 30MG after getting through go ahead from my Gap. Been 3 days now and I think (touch wood ) im turning a corner and achieving close to remission again. Back to 1/2 BM's in morning now and managing to go all day/evening eating without any urgency. Stools still not perfect yet. Still that slight Colitas residue on tissue when wiping, but stools are slowly starting to form slightly. Hoping I'm on the mend now, best I have felt for a while. I'm usually pretty good when it comes to tapering and usually I stay in remission ( famous last words hahahaha )
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