UC hide and seek

Hi. I'm newly registered. I'm a 47 year old male , diagnosed with UC about 3 years ago. I'm presently taking 3 400mg asacol tabs 3x daily. My last flareup was in June of 07 , treated with prednisone.Started at 50mg,then tapered off.Fast results. I was wondering how other people decide when to contact the doctor. For the past 4 weeks I feel that I'm "beginning" to have a flare up. Anywhere from 6 to 10 bowel movements a day. Occasional blood but not regular or every day. Occasional diarrhea and mucus but also formed stool the same day. My symptoms over the last month seem to improve then get worse day to day, but I feel I'm not having a "complete" flare up as yet. Most of the day I feel fine. Mornings the worst with mild cramps. Bad gas,on and off,mostly at night. I feel like calling to talk with the doctor now would be "whinning", but my history seems to be of mild symptoms for an extended period.I'm not thrilled about the thought of prednisone again, it gives me night sweats. Right now I feel as though I'm "between" places. Do I call and seek treatment or continue to wait and see if it gets bad. I guess I'm on a fence here.Any thoughts? Thanks.

I agree, I would not wait at all.  Like most doctors, yours is probably understanding of the need to call and see what should be done.  I've probably called and talked to my doctor/nurse about 5 times the past couple months.  Doesn't bother them at all, that's what they're there for.  And like Sherry said, the longer you wait, the worse it could get.  Then it gets even more difficult to treat.

From my own experience, it's easier to get a flare under control at the very first signs than to try to get it under control once it's really full-blown. At the first signs of mucus or blood, I start using Cortifoam. After about a week, I can usually taper off it and then I'm fine. But if I wait until I'm running to the bathroom all day, it can take months to get it under control.

My doctor has always encouraged me to seek her help at the first signs of a flare. If you're worried about calling your doctor too much, just schedule an appointment. That way, you are paying for his/her time and getting the attention you need.

I'm with Princesa on this too -- what you described sounds already "bad". We're all used to putting up with so much!

By the way... if your doctor can only treat a flare with Prednisone, then you might want a second opinion. There are lots of other choices before it gets to that point. You should only take Prednisone -- in my NON DOCTOR OPINION-- when other things aren't working and you're desperately sick.

I call my Gi at the very first sign of anything!!! I call when I my bm patterns change, if i see mucous for more than a few days, or if i see blood at all.

I figure if he doens't think it's anything he will tell me. better safe than sorry. It is his job to take my calls and I know he really doesn't mind. He wants me as healthy as I do.

Hi again. Thank you to everyone that took the time to reply. I did contact my doctor yesterday.I advised the nurse there of my symptoms and she said she would consult with the doctor,who was doing procedures for the morning, and get back to me. about 3 hours latter she did. He perscribed Prednisone 60mg for 5 days tapering down 10 to 5mg every 5 days , also blood work and a follow up with him this coming Tuesday. My last colonoscopy was 12/06. At that time the paperwork referred to my condition as "Established chronic olcerative proctosigmoiditis".I think I'm still getting used to the fact that I have a disease.What I don't like is that it slowly sneeks up on me, its not as though it just suddenly flares within a day or 2. At first it seems so easy to write some of the symptoms off as food related or work stress or both.I work as a firefighter/EMT and we work 24 hour shifts,I tend to eat at unusual hours,do to calls.I see many severe emergencys in the ambulance and my cramping almost seems whineing in compare.I guess I have to get over that. I started the prednisone last night and was sweating within 3 hours,an issue I will address with the doc on Tuesday. The last I saw him,8/07, he gave me an Rx for something other then asacol,can't recall the name right now. It was a once a day med, instead of the asacol 3x. BC/BS of MA does'nt cover it and its expensive , so I stayed with the asacol.I like the doctor I'm with now,he is a specialist.The area in which I live does'nt offer a huge choice though.He is a 40 minute drive away and he is the closest. The nearest hospital is the same distance.My next option would most likely be in Boston , about 2 hours. But so far I'm happy with him. Thank you to everyone,I will return. I have found many of the other posts helpful also.