Hi Quincy, we know that the food didn't cause the flare. But now that the flare is here, the food is exacerbating it. The problem now is that she isn't eating much again so going to the bathroom often is producing more blood than anything else. She knows she has to eat but is trying to find something that won't make her go to the bathroom immediately after. This morning is another bad day.
She is doing Rowasa every night. (Although she has been doing hydrocortisone enemas for the past few nights instead). Probably will begin alternating Rowasa and Hydrocortisone enemas each night (Sunday-rowasa, Monday-hydrocortisone, Tuesday-rowasa, etc). That is what her doctor had her doing last year.
She usually gets enough calcium so she hasn't taken calcium pills. We will look into fiber supplements. Are fiber supplements just a temporary fix?
Any suggestions on what to eat? (I know everyone is different.)
At what point do we admit that this is not just "starting to flare" and that she is "flaring"? At what point do we call the doctor? Kind of afraid because the doctor said if she flared again he wouldn't put her back on steroids (he would consider her steroid dependent then) and would switch her to 6-MP. We are hoping to get her under control with the Asacol, rowasa, and hydrocortisone enemas again.
--Mom of bratcat (16 years old)--
bratcat was diagnosed with pancolitis October 2006
Current meds:
Asacol - 4 pills/3Xday
Rowasa - 7/07 tapering slowly
hydrocortisone enema - alternating with Rowasa
11/14/06 - started prednisone; 1/28/07 - finished prednisone!
3/3/07 - began to taper off hydrocortisone sloowwly! No more hydrocortisone enemas! Summer 2007 - slowly began tapering Rowasa
Keeping our fingers and toes crossed!!
9/07 -- flaring? Nightly Rowasa. 9/21/07 -- added hydrocortison enemas.