Your definition of coming out of a flareup

Just curious as to how those of you who have had more experience, how do you know you are coming out of a flareup?  Is there less blood first, fewer cramps, fewer trips to the restroom?  What's the first indicator that you are on the road to recovery, so to speak?

For me it's the lessening of bleeding. Usually the bleeding is the last to go for me so when I see it becoming less and less then I know I'm on the right road.

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I haven't bled since the first year or two I was diagnosed, so for me, it's fewer restroom trips and less cramping. I also notice a return of energy and a much better mood... I'll find myself laughing, joking and singing.

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Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

I agree with the other replies - the blood lessens, the bms are more formed, the cramping subsides, the mood is better, a bit more energy than I had while flaring but mine takes a LONG time to get back to UC normal. I usually measure the better in terms of days, maybe weeks because I usually would take two steps forward and one back! I thought - oh, a good day, let's eat something not so good for me - and then a bad day would follow... But I was SO anxious to be feeling better!

I hope remission finds you soon!

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Pan-colitis and GERD diagnosed May 2003

 

Asacol 12 per day,  Azathioprine 75mg, Rowasa and Canasa as needed

Aciphex, Effexor XR, BCP, Rhinocort nasal spray

Culturelle, Biotin, Folic Acid, Forvia, Calcium, and B12

 

Osteopenia (hip and spine) from prednisone use.  Started Azathioprine because I was steroid dependent.

 

Co-Mod for the UC forum

Keep HealingWell running smoothly:  www.healingwell.com/donate

Thanks for the ideas. I know I am very early in thinking that I should start seeing some improvement, but I'm trying to maintain the idea of a normal, UC-free life (free of symptoms, that is.) After such a decent remission, I am not ready to forget it so easily.

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36 yr old female

i had a 2 month flare up that was pretty bad and painful and it went away spontaneously. like in a day or 2.. all gone. nothing. i felt better within 5 days. couldnt believe it. but, 2 months later i got another flare up and i still have this same flare up now 7 months later. grrrr...
my dr said it goes away pretty quick, but who knows. everyone is different.

took me 8 weeks of Asacol to see improvement go from 10+ bm's a day w/all the bad stuff to 1 to 3 bm's a day w/none of the bad stuff, though I am taking some steps back and forth right now. I had to quit the Asacol and am only on prednisone now, today is my 12th day and I am tired, having some hot flashes on my face, my tongue hurts (I think I need to put the pred in water and swallow instead of letting it sit on my tongue for a second). I am having more blood my stools are mostly mucous/blood and have about 3-4 in the morning 1-2 during the day and 2-3 at night so about 6 to 10 a day but it is getting slightly better, can't really tell yet.

Also, I have the worst gas, nothing is helping me, I don't know if it's my colon healing itself b/c it started when I started taking the Asacol and even after stopping the asacol and starting the pred I still have it.

I get a lot of gas going in and coming out of a flare.

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Beth, 31