Flare-up

Hi guys! I just became a member about 30 seconds ago, so I hope I'm doing this right! I'm a thirteen year-old with Crohn's Disease, and I was diagnosed when I was ten. I usually flare-up about once a year, although last year I was lucky. This year, not so much. I have a doctor's appointment with my specialist in about a week, which was scheduled after he put me on Balsalazide, instead of Pentasa. My symptoms haven't gotten any better, unfortuantely. I know my specialist is going to try to put my on Prednisone. It hasn't worked well in the past, and I fail to see how it will work now. Being your average teenager, I am somewhat vain and am not looking forward to the acne, "moon face", and weight gain, among other symptoms. Is there anything else I can use to make me feel better?

Tried: 3g of Pentasa

On: 15mg of Prevacid, 50mg of Mercaptopurine, 4.5g of Balsalazide, and 500mg Calcium Supplement

History: Two half sisters with IBD

Where: Small intestine

Hi Wishing and welcome to Healingwell. There is another steroid called Entocort which has less side effects than Prednisone. It does take a little bit longer to kick in, but this might be a good option for you to discuss with your doc. Good luck and let us know how your appt went. Hugs~

Welcome! I am so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with this so early. Kids and teenagers should just get to be kids not have to worry about this stuff. I am on entocort which as Nanners mentioned has less side effects. I have been on it for just over 2 months and have not experience acne, weight gain or moon face. For me it took only a few days to feel better and about a week to kick in fully. The only weird side effect I have noticed is my teeth seem to be sensitive to cold and hot now..very weird! I am sending you good thoughts for your treatment and come visit us whenever you need support. This is a great site! It is actually too bad I had to meet so many wonderful people under such circumstances!

wishingdontdomuch welcome to HW. I was diagnosed officially at age 47. I'm 55 now but believe I've had crohns since age 15. Your probably going to think I'm nuts but consider yourself lucky to have this site avaliable for support, education and experience of patients like yourself. My life would have been quite a lot easier if something like this had been avaliable to me all my life. Anything we can do to help you please don't hesitate to ask.