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Starting Pred. for the first time

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/7/2008 12:14 PM (GMT 0)

I am extremely sick (Massive bleeding, D, Horrible pain......) to stay out of the hospital I had to agree to start Pred today and I am really scared! Can anyone help me see the good in this or give me a clue what to expect. I am freaking out again.

Posted 8/7/2008 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
This is the best medication to get the inflammation under control. While it does have it side effects, insomnia, crankiness, its pluses are that it helps you to get feeling better fairly quickly. No reason to freak out, you will more than likely have to use this medication again sometime in your Crohns life. I consider this med a necessary evil for us Crohnies. You will be fine and I am sure feeling better soon.
(((HUGS)))
Posted 8/7/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Agreed. I went on pred for a short period after I was diagnosed, and as far as I know I had no side effects, except an increase in my already prolific acne. It got the inflammation under control and then my doc put me on a nice taper and got me off it asap.
Posted 8/7/2008 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
I really did not have any of the side effects. After 4 wks on it I did notice I got a little puffy and started to get acne. I did not have issues with insomnia! After about 2 wks off of it the puffy and ance went away. Although I go not like pred. and would not want to be on it long term. I do think it was best for me to be on pred. for a short time. Don't be scared just think you may feel better and you may not have side effects to it.
Posted 8/7/2008 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I would love love love to start feeling better, doc says min 3 months then a taper down if i am doing well.
Posted 8/7/2008 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on pred now for about a month, and this is the first time that I have ever had to take it. I started it because of joint pains. I have gained a couple pounds so far, for about the first week on it I had insomnia, but that cleared up and now i sleep well again. I have also noticed an increase in acne and the puffy face. But its all worth it to be able to walk around and do all the other things that I enjoy without looking like a 90yo woman lol.
Posted 8/7/2008 5:40 PM (GMT 0)

 Wow! I was Diagnosed with CD in 2005 and had a bi-section in 2006. I was on Prednisone for a year. 40 mlgrams... with a tapper. I was always leary of the word "Tapper". My Docotor would say, "And then we'll start the Tapper". Kinda freaked me out! He made it sound like a trip to China or going to a Haunted House or something! Oh and then I had my RN sister telling me...."You'll get a moon face...or look like Charlie Brown"...yada yada. Truth be told I Loved It! I lost weight because I could keep up with everything I wanted to do and couldn't do for so long! My house was so clean and I had energy to run errands. It took about 2 weeks to kick in. I felt emotionally better too.  I also started to wonder if this is how normal people who don't have inflamation or pain feel. It was really eye opening for me.

Yes, eventually I did get a larger face. So what! I felt better. I could help my daughter move into college. She didn't care if I had a big face or not. I was there.  And, yes now a side effect is joint pain I hear what ever....I'm on this ride in Life for quality not quantity! I decided that a long time ago. I will suggest to keep a very regular schedule of life. If you usually go to sleep at 10 o'clock ....go to bed at the same time every night and keep yourself on a strict schedule and the side effects of sleep will be better.

Good Luck.....

Posted 8/7/2008 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
The worst part of it for me has been tapering off. Yes, I had some mood swings at 40 mg, and yes I was SOOOOOO hungry! LOL I gained 15 pounds in 3 months. I was one of those people who thought I could control that part, haha!! But I felt GREAT! I had so much energy, and I could eat anything. I went on vacation at 30mg, and we ate mexican food, without bringing it back to the room like I'm used to. I didn't have one problem on the trip. My DH had more stomach issues then me. It was awesome.

Like I said, tapering has been hard for me. I got down to 2.5 mg and was getting terrible headaches, and feeling crappy. My doctor put me back up to 10mg, and slowly tapering down. I'm at 4 mg now, going down to 3 mg tomorrow. But I just wish they could bottle stuff that made me feel as great as I did stomach wise, and energy wise, without all the other side effects!
Posted 8/7/2008 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
WOW! Thanks Flowery and Jen...I am dreaming off having energy again...and wow a clean house I can not wait! I do need to work at getting over all the physical body image issues and focus on what I have to do to get well again. You guys give me so much hope I am in tears! Thank you thank you for sharing.
Posted 8/7/2008 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Aw, no problem monkeychic! At first I was really scared to take it like you. I had always dreaded the day they told me that I had to. But a few weeks ago I told my doctor that was the best I had felt in 10 years (before I had Crohn's). I had to take it first thing in the morning, or it would keep me up at night. I was zipping around all day. LOL First time in years that I didn't need a mid-day nap!

Now that I'm down to 4mg the energy is gone, and I'm back to having my trigger foods bother me. :( I'm still in remission, but remission for me is never perfect. I miss feeling that good. Don't like the weight gain, and some of the mood swings, but otherwise it did the job. I guess that's what people mean by having a "love/hate relationship" with the stuff! LOL Anyways, good luck, and I hope you get the same positive effects I had. Keep posting too, this board was soooo helpful to me when I started taking it.
Posted 8/7/2008 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I was recently on a short course of prednisone- 30mg for 3 days, then 20 mg for 3 days, then 10mg for 3 days and stop.  I had a similar reaction- I had tons of energy, but not crazy  I think it was *normal*.  I never gave my gut one thought. That is much different than always knowing what stage digestion is at.  I just kept telling the doctor that I felt so normal at 30mg.  Because I was on it for such short a period of time I didn't develop side effects like moon face or weight gain (which I could use but unfortunately it tends to go in the midsection with prednisone)  I did have sleep problems but not too bad.  Everytime I went down I felt awful and then I stabilized after a day.  After the taper he put me on 10mg and then last time I saw him reduced that to 5 mg.  Now I am on 2.5 mg and just about where I was when I started in terms of pain, gi issues etc.  I would not be afraid to go on this drug again although long term might be a different story. I have no experience with that.  Good Luck!  You can always go off it if you don't like it but I suspect you will.  
Posted 8/8/2008 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Monkeychic....let us know how your fairing and isn't a clean house worth like....the Lottery or something! :) Enjoy your time feeling better and we'll all be hear when your not.
Posted 8/9/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Though I have a love/hate relationship with prednisone I take it because it gives me my life back. I've been on and off of it for the past two years and in the past it is the only medication that has been able to keep me in remission. My doc doubled the dosage of my Remicade and that seems to be working, so I'm def glad about that!

My blog documents my journey and love/hate relationship with prednisone. Check it out if you have some time, it may answer some of your questions.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing!! =-)~
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