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GI put me on prednisone

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/10/2012 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Had my 2nd colonoscopy this afternoon at the age of 26. I'm still a bit groggy from the anaesthesia, but the nurse gave the paperwork to my mom and it had a scrip for prednisone. We went out to dinner afterward which is why I still haven't seen the paperwork. Go figure I'm typing this from my phone while in the restaurant bathroom.

Since getting my UC diagnosis, this is the first time I'm getting prescribed steroids. I have been on a Lialda 3x daily dose otherwise.

What does this mean? Am I worse than he thought or could this just be a temporary adjustment to help the inflammation? I plan on calling him Monday to get clarification on his analysis.
Posted 11/10/2012 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
how was the Lialda working for you? I know there are mixed reviews on the pred, mainly the side affects. Good luck.
Posted 11/10/2012 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
What is it with GI doctors prescribing stuff and giving it to you while you are still  half out of it with the anestia? My doctor did the same thing to me. I am still having to wait to talk to him until December about the true severity of the inflamation and different treatment options. I was told that the predinsone is used as a quick relief to the inflamation and then the medicines like Lialda are used to keep uc in remission.
Posted 11/10/2012 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
It means that he gave you steroids because he saw active inflammation that the Lialda didn't touch. So basically, yes - you are a bit worse off then you thought. What is the extent of your Uc?
Posted 11/10/2012 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
The Lialda was working, although it certainly wasn't making things BETTER. Rather, my body went haywire when I didn't take my medicines, so it kept me from being totally incapacitated. I was on it for over a year and was able to manage, but knew I wasn't in remission or feeling like my normal self.

My UC is probably quite mild.. certainly not pancolitis. It is mostly left sided and in the sigmoid/rectal area.

Since the timing is a bit wacky, I can't call the office until Monday, but I can pick up my steroids tomorrow to start. I assume I need to not take the Lialda while I'm taking prednisone?
Posted 11/10/2012 7:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi dinkydonuts. I am 26 years old too. I was just prescribed entocort (similar to pred) cause my current symptoms may be IBD. Are you sure you want to start pred immediately? Perhaps calling the doc and asking his reasons for putting you on pred first might be good. I haven't started my entocort yet because my G.I isn't sure whether my symptoms are IBD related or not but he wants to test the steroid to see if it helps. I personally don't think that's a good enough reason to risk the side effects of a steroid so I am getting a 2nd opinion and upping my Salofalk. I am also waiting to see if my symptoms subside on their own (which they have in the past) or if natural remedies help.
Posted 11/10/2012 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with MaxM.
You should ask your doctor if you have other options.
You don't want to take pred unless you really have to.
Good luck :-)
Posted 11/10/2012 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
it's hard for me to make much sense of what you are trying to say - i guess because you're still loopy from the butt cam fun -
take the pred and keep taking the lialda - that's why you went to the doc in the first place - you're sick - pred will get you BETTER -

oh, and ask your mom - she was there, right ? maybe she'll show you the paperwork ?
Posted 11/10/2012 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
It's disappointing to hear you've been given pred and NO RECTAL MEDS...

Mull it over...I encourage you to ask for Rowasa first (retention mesalamine enemas).

Save the pred for when you really need it...hopefully never.

q
Posted 11/10/2012 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Continue taking the lialda and any rectal meds you were prescribed, and call about the prednisone.

I'm on asacol and mesalamine enemas, and I'm to keep taking those while doing a course of prednisone to control the flare. I would call your GI - that's their job.
Posted 11/10/2012 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
quincy - I actually was given some samples of Rowasa but am not a good candidate for liquid enemas. I do have a small supply of anucort on hand for when I have pronounced rectal inflammation. My doc said it was either way with enemas for me since the oral tablets should theoretically be reaching the lower colon anyway.
Posted 11/11/2012 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
You should defiantly ask more about rectal meds particularly if inflammation is limited to rectum/sigmoid. A combination of both oral and rectal meds will ensure all inflamed areas get treatment.

Im interested in what you mean by "not a good candidate for rectal meds"??

 

Posted 11/11/2012 7:06 AM (GMT 0)
Not a fan of the rectal meds. They didnt stay in very long in the hospital:(. I would call myself a bad candidate because of that.
Ive had 4 different GIs and not one has ever mentioned rectal meds except for the one at the hospital, even the she only tried one type.
Posted 11/11/2012 9:35 AM (GMT 0)
dinkydonuts...i'm confused. you were given Rowasa to try. You believe the oral 5ASA will treat the rectum.
You're now concerned about taking pred that your UC is worse?
you use the anucort when you have pronounced rectal inflammation....really?

You're flaring.

Why are you not a good candidate for the enemas?

q
Posted 11/11/2012 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Rectal meds can be hard to hold particularly if the inflammation is bad - you may find after using the pred that the inflammations subsides making it easier to retain them.

My GI didnt mention them either but after resurching on here etc i thought it could be worth ago and asked for them. It was aweful to start with but I dont believe i would've had a successful taper off pred without them.

Good luck
Posted 11/11/2012 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, rectal meds can be hard to retain...they were for me which is why I was only able to take cortifoam once/day at night before bed and it still helped with my proctitis...the longer the inflammation goes in the rectum without rectal meds, the longer it will take to treat it...the longest I was ever on cortifoam due to proctitis was one full year before tapering off of it.

Rectal meds have their place...try every one of them under the sun until you find one that works...unless of course you're intolerant to them....but don't expect magic, they don't kick in over night for most people and as stated, the longer the proctitis is there, generally the worse it gets and the longer it takes to treat it with rectal meds.
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