What would you do to avert this?

Hello,

I am writing to ask for your advice. I had my first and very bad flare in June this year, when I was Dx-ed with pancolitis. I got in remission towards the end of August, after 6 weeks on Prednisone, and Apriso, and Rowasa. I continued with the Apriso and reduced the enemas to one every second/ third day. I felt perfect!

Two days ago, I started to have a bad sore throat and a slight fever (99* F), and I also noticed that some UC symptoms were returning. Yesterday I pooped pinkish mucous 4 times and I am very scared that I am headed towards a flare.

I still have a bad sore throat and pharyngitis (my voice has become rasp), no fever, but the mucous is still coming. I used the enemas every night. My question is; what would you do if you experienced this? I just took a Tylenol for the throat and I hope it will not increase my UC symptoms. Have you ever managed to avert a flare that started ike this, in the rectum? If so, after how many days have you noticed an improvement?

I am so scared and frustrated! I have two young kids and, of course, at this time of the year, they bring home lots of viruses...

Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it.

Best to all,
RT

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female, 36yrs old, pan-colitis dx-ed 06/2010
med: Apriso 6/day
multivitamin, fish oil, curcumin, probiotics

ARe you completely off the pred?

I wouldn't say that the cold created the symptoms you're having at this point, but you would have had some inflammation happening anyway and the cold just exacerbated it. You had tapered to every third night, so I would suggest as you're doing...enemas nightly till at least after Christmas and until you're off the pred completely.

The fact that you jumped on the enemas nightly again quickly is awesome!!!! That's what we have to do.
Deal with your cold the best you can...mucinex can help get rid of the phlegm.

Gargle with salt water..that can ease some of the symptoms.

Try not to overreact at this point on the scared part...but the frustration part is normal.

Hang tough...if you don't improve regarding your throat and you have an obvious infection, you might need to seek antibiotics.

Keep us posted.feel better soon,
quincy

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*Heather* I give suggestions, do with them what you will.
Status: ...Asacol 3 @ 2x daily; Salofalk enema @ 3rd night (nightly/ flares, tapered/maintenance)
~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)
~Bentylol 20mg as needed; Ranitidine; Effexor XR 37.5mg (depression), Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)
~vitamins/minerals/supplements; Probiotics....(RenewLife Ultimate Flora Critical Care+Primadophilus Reuteri capsules @ bedtime
~Metamucil capsules 6 twice daily with meals; Vitamin D 4000 IU
~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)
My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!

A virus can definitely aggravate UC and bring on symptoms. Most of the time for me the symptoms disappeared after the cold/flu cleared up.

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DX Pancolitis 2003. Subsequent flares limited to left side
Flare every 2-3 years.
Asacol 12 tabs daily,
Probiotics: Primal defense, Ultimate Flora and VSL#3DS. Fiber: Psyllium and "super seed".
Allergic to Imuran

Currently flare last 6 months. Limited to Rectum. No diarrhea.
Switched from Cortifoam to Colocort 2x daily.
Flared again while tapering.