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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/17/2015 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
How do you sleep once they put you on a steroid? How to you keep yourself from getting sick when you are put on immune suppressing medication?
Posted 1/17/2015 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
Some become abit agitated while on Prednisone, and most experience really high energy levels. Sleep may or may not be affected.

When immunosuppressed, you have to remember that most have overactive immune systems. Tamping it down still leaves you with an immune system to fight off colds and infections. You actually want to be in this state.

Most will tell you that they might get a few more colds and various bugs than average, but it's sort of a trade off for successful treatment.
Posted 1/17/2015 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
When I was on pred, it definitely affected my ability to sleep . My mind would race & it definitely gave me a lot of energy. I personally took over the counter sleep aides. They contain the same components of benedryl. It allowed me to get drowsy so I could fall asleep. Perhaps this could help you.

As far as immunosuppression & getting sick more frequently...to tell you the truth I personally have never experienced this. I have been on pred in the past & also on Humira. Perhaps my advice to you would be to use common sense behavior like good hand washing habits etc.
Posted 1/17/2015 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Take your Prednisone all in the morning instead of breaking up the dose. This will help with sleep. I also won't take Prednisone unless I also have a prescription for .25 mg of Xanax which I take at bedtime and it counteracts the jittery feeling and helps me sleep.

For immunosuppressives, make sure you get a flu shot and all immunizations are up to date. Avoid gatherings where you know someone is sick, frequent hand washing, and don't eat from buffets where other's germs may contaminate things. Don't share your food or taste others' food even if they do not seem sick.
Posted 1/17/2015 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
I never had a problem with prednisone unless it was prescribed in high doses. I felt a lot better on it, than off of it. Took it for many years low dose, unless I was flaring, then it would be jacked up some. Also, I seldom got sick with other things, but since I've been off it 4-5 years, I've been sick plenty of times.

Take it first thing in the morning.

Posted 1/18/2015 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions! I am eating only about 15 things at the moment that I know are safe, until the medication starts to help me. I am not dairy intolerant, except with straight 2 percent milk. How does anyone find fudgesicles, pudding, and store bought muffins to be on your stomachs? Right now I no longer trust Chocolate, which I love, unless it is in hot chocolate or a Boost drink. I read that cookies are somewhat safe, but is that only homemade ones? Right now my only safe sweets are sherbet and hard candy. I am not sure about ice cream right now!
Posted 1/18/2015 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
You just have to experiment and find out. Everyone is different
Posted 1/18/2015 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone of you women lost your hair or your period from having Crohns? Did the medications help with these issues? And experimenting with foods is scary for me right now, as six Ritz crackers or one tiny piece of chocolate chewed in tiny bites can now set me off. I try things on my days off!
Posted 1/19/2015 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Holly, I can't tolerate unfermented dairy (which is in milk or icecream) so I usually avoid all but the smallest amount of those (I may have a dish of ice cream every three months or so). Frozen yogurt and sherbert are great options! Avocados and egg drop soup were my safe foods when I was first diagnosed, and that's still mostly what I eat when I'm not feeling well (I've added miso soup to the list too- it's fermented, and the probiotics seem like a good idea)

I did have problems with my hair falling out when I was first diagnosed- I'm not entirely sure whether this was due to Crohn's or to the meds (Asacol HD, 6MP) but it definitely stopped when I found a treatment plan that worked (Humira). 6MP did a number on my nails too- they were paper thin and splitting like crazy.
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