Posted 4/26/2020 11:38 AM (GMT -5)
Hello everyone
So as most of you know I have been flaring for few months and I have been struggling but through everyone's help in the forum I have had great support. I am again in a situation and would love everyone's opinion please!
I live on a small island where currently there are no GI doctors available not even at the hospital. The hospital is extremely small here and coronavirus is rapidly spreading here. So I have been taking help with a RA doctor here and then later I contacted a GI I visited at the cleveland clinic few years ago who is now helping me over the phone. I was first directed by the RA doctor to start at 30mg prednisone and I did for a week. 30mg did not help me much. Then I increased my dose to 40mg and I was down to 7-8bm. I then tapered to 30mg as instructed and BM were down to 5-6. I have then been tapering down by 5mg per week and just finished a week of 20mg where my BM turned into 8-9 and abdominal pain. I would also like to mention that I am not ready for biologics yet, mentally Ive been afraid and against them and now due to the coronavirus I do not want to suppress my immune system. Before this flare I was on ayurvedic medications which kept me in remission for 4 years. A couple times before trying the ayurvedic medications I took Uceris to get myself into remission it worked greatly. This is my first time on prednisone. My GI doctor does not like me on prednisone long as in such a short time ive had side effects such as blurry vision, extreme fatigue, moon face, weight gain, insomnia, extreme hunger, irritability, depression, mood swings, anger and I already have osteoporosis from before. Would you guys suggest me to increase my prednisone dose? I also asked my GI about adding uceris and he said I can try but he said he isnt sure if itll do anything for me but in the past it has been my miracle drug. Should I stick to 20mg and add uceris? I also did some research on Uceris enema but I dont know much about them. Any suggestions on that? Lastly, I started rifaximin 550mg 3 times a day 2 days ago for the gas issue ive had since this flare started in october! I know its a lot but I really hope I can get all the amazing opinions ive received before! Thank you guys!!!