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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/25/2013 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was tapering down 10 miligrams every two weeks on my prednisone, and i was on my last two weeks and was soooo excited to get off of them and then of course i went into a sort of severe flare up. I have no idea where it came from or what caused it. I hate how the prednisone gives me such a big appetite and all i want to do is eat, I use to be in really good shape, and now that i have a big appetite, i am growing a little stomach and i feel like im kind of fat, i excersize every night but all that is not going to matter while i am on the prednisone. The most annoying thing is the swelling in my face, i can now feel that it is swolen and the other annoying thing is being called fat when they know that i have a medical condition and that my face is swollen not FAT. I see my GI doctor on march 6th of this year. I hope he gives me some good news about it. I have my flare up farely under control. I CANNOT WAIT  to get off of this medication!!!
Posted 2/25/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
My experience over the years with pred is that rushing to get off guarantees a reflare that ultimately slows your getting off the drug. Dont hurry , and dont hesitate to slow tapering, or bump up a bit during an attempted taper, to avoid a reflare. Obviously, if other meds negate that need, great, but if you need to dont hesitate. I hate pred too but hate flaring much more.
Posted 2/25/2013 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have any other medications such as oral AND rectal mesalamine?

If not, I suggest you ask the doc to put you on them at this point. They might help you get off the pred without reactivation of symptoms.

You didn't do anything...it's tapering the pred that's causing them.

q
Posted 2/25/2013 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
azh: I think you are under the wrong impression if you think prednisone is a cure. What other meds are you on? UC is an autoimmune disease where your immune system is attacking your colon or something in your colon, causing inflammation and your symptoms. Prednisone shuts down the immune system, giving your colon a break from the attack and a chance to heal. But, once you taper down to a lower dose or get completely off your immune system will resume the attack all over again. Prednisone only stops this process while you are taking it so it will never "cure" you if you get off of it. You should be taking other meds which you can stay on forever that will hopefully help you remain in remission once the pred is removed because prednisone is not supposed to be taken for long periods, only long enough to jumpstart a remission to the point where the other meds can hopefully take over and keep you in remission.
Posted 2/26/2013 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Yea I've been there. Over the years I switched to hydrocortisone suppositories to use once in a while. You're still getting cortisone - but not as strong as prednisone.

I'm still sticking to taking psyllium husk every evening and avoiding all preservatives. I seem so much better. Same amount of stress...but so much better.
Posted 2/26/2013 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
well they also have me on a cortizone anema prednisone, for ten days only though, i have five more days to go. I hope the doctor gives me good news
Posted 2/26/2013 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I am on Asocal, Folic Acid, Mecaptapurine, Vitamin D3 and I think one other, but i cannot remember what it is called
Posted 2/27/2013 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I still take Asacol (9 per day)...I no longer take Folic Acid or Mercaptopurine (MP6).

I'd ask for the suppository instead of the enema. Just see what the doctor says...
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