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UC flare for over 1 year

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/21/2007 2:53 PM (GMT -8)
i recently just had my third colonoscopy (after flaring for going on 15 months now).  haven't seen the doctor yet to get any results, but was wondering if any one has flared this long?  and if so what kind of help did they get?  i haven't been able to get far from the house in so long that i've forgoten my way around town!!  ; ) 

let me know.  thanx

M

Posted 8/21/2007 3:03 PM (GMT -8)
Hey MJP. Yes I have been there. My first flare lasted for 3 years. We just couldn't get it under control at first then I couldn't get off of steroids. This flare is following the same lines but now my doc is trying different things. I am waiting to begin immuran (hopefully this week) to try to get me off of pred. I still have 5-6 bms a day. no blood, little mucus, some pain...

Were all of your colonoscopies in the past 15 months? What are they looking for? Have they deterined what kind of UC you have? What meds have they tried you on? Sorry for all the questions, just want to be able to help the best I can.
Posted 8/21/2007 3:36 PM (GMT -8)
Yes, I had a 2.5 year flare. I wish you well in getting your disease in remission, I know how frustrating it is.

Sue
Posted 8/22/2007 4:01 AM (GMT -8)
Hmmm I can honestly say my longest flare was 10 years! Of course it wasn't ALL bad in those 10 years but I always had symptoms and at that time I was in denial of having this disease. So I would constantly make excuses as to why I have this symptom or that symptom. Once I realized what the denial was doing to my body did I decide to step in and take charge of my health and life. But once I became serious about getting my health under control, my doc switched me from Asacol to Colazal, I've used steroid enemas off and on for about a year and even then I couldn't get my flare under control so then the doc put me on 6mp as well. Now I'm in remission and what a great remission it has been.

Oh and welcome to Healingwell :) I hope you get this flare settled quickly. What meds are you on at the moment? If you are not on any rectal meds, then I recommend you give them a try either Rowasa, Canasa or Cortenemas.
Posted 8/22/2007 5:47 AM (GMT -8)
I also have been in a long flare it seems, although like Red_34, not all bad. And I guess I have rather mild symptoms, never more than about 6 BMs even at my worst. But urgency was getting to be a REAL problem!! Prednisone helped give me some months' relief from symptoms, even though it was hard to look at my moon face and gain even more weight. Entocort is helping me now, and hopefully will be able to taper that off soon, as I just started Lialda.
If you are having problems with urgency too, take some Pepto Bismal a few times a day. Will turn your poop black, but will give it some form and help with urgency issues.
Let us know what your colonocopy results are and what Dr. recommends next!
Posted 8/22/2007 8:23 AM (GMT -8)
I had a flare that lasted 2-3 years. At first i put it off and just dealt with it. At the time i did not have insurance and just told my self i could just deal with it. It would get worse, and finally i went to the doctor. He started with Asacol, Azasan, Pred., and may other meds and nothing really seemed to work. The Pred. worked a little, but nothing to get rid of the flare. I then just broke down and got insurance and started Remicade. Worked great. Within a few days i was so much better than i had ever been. I was working great until recently - i just started a flare in between infusions, so my doctor is going to let me go more frequently.
Posted 8/22/2007 8:35 AM (GMT -8)
I've had flares but I don't recall them ever lasting that long. And after starting something like Azulfidine or Asacol or the Rowasa enemas/an or Canasa 1000mg suppositories. I don't recall how long the flares lasted me after starting on meds. If I recall mine got better probably within a month or so after starting on meds. But I had a mild case of UC limited to the lower left part of my colon and sometimes the rectal area. I'd hate to have a flare that long. Whew. sad
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