Hi, all. I’m in a flare, and I feel miserable. Pain is almost unbearable, I’m afraid to eat, etc.

After my colonoscopy, my doc found active UC in three different spots in my colon and put me on a prednisone taper for 4 weeks as well as lialda. I’ve taken both medicines before, but something about this time is just... off. I feel AWFUL. I’ve got the shakes... my hands and legs shake really badly. I feel faint and woozy most of the time, and I feel very weak. I almost feel like my body is “heavy”... like I can’t even lift my head or arms.

I’m a full time elementary teacher, and this is terrible. I’m terrified I’m going to pass out at work in front of my students and traumatize them for life.

Do you have any advice? Is that a side effect? He checked my iron levels, and they’re okay for now... but I genuinely feel like I could fall down at any moment. Existing takes too much energy.

Did you experience this? How did you get through it?