Am I about to Flare?

[Asher]

So, i've been taking Asacol & tapering off of Prednisone. I started with 40 mg of Predisone at the beginning of Sept and I'm about to go down to 25 mg tomorrow...

I'm also on a temporary low-fiber diet, which I think I've been following pretty good. The only issue I've been having since my dx in Sept (which was also my first flare...) is that I've been constipated, but I think it's from the diet. I've taken small doses of SmoothLax and that's solved the problem. Soft stools but not D.

Anyways, tonight is the first time I've gone to the bathroom without having to use SmoothLax to jump start it. However, my stool did not look "normal" since being on the meds... it looked like constipated stool (small and rock-like) and it was covered in white mucus. (these are symptoms I've had for years before being DX)

What would cause this? Is it because my meds are tapering down? Could I have eaten something wrong to upset my diet/anger my intestines? Should I be expecting a flare?

I've been feeling SO GOOD lately and had high hopes and now I'm getting bummed.

 

[DJW]

Hi.

Sometimes symptoms can return as the pred is tapered. I'd suggest giving the doctors office a call.

 

[Asher]

Thanks DJW! I do have a follow up appt with my GI next Tuesday, do you think this is something I should call about now, or wait until my appt next week? This is all new to me...

 

[DJW]

I'd make the call. He/she may want you to slow the taper. It's not something to get freaked out over.