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Still bleeding on prednisone

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/27/2013 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had my sixth dose of prednisone this morning. I'm on 45mgs for 10 days. I wake up still leaking blood but end up having formed stool. Before my stool was mushy and I would end up going 4-5 times in the morning for 'residual' movements, like just blood clots. I noticed I'm symptomatic when I wake up and then after my prednisone dose, everything settles down. I'm also using cortifoam to lessen the symptoms in my rectum. The diagnosis my GI is giving me is proctosigmoiditis. I was on prednisone last year which given to me by another GI, in my opinion, a less competent GI who gave me a very quick taper and instead wanted me to go on Imuran or Remicade.

I'm seriously struggling to keep my hopes up here. I wanted prednisone to put me into remission and just in 4 days, I will have to drop 5mgs and taper accordingly (dropping 5mgs every 7 days). Has anyone had prednisone get them into remission slowly? Bleeding has always been the most prominent symptom. I just need some reassurance that prednisone will actually do something in the long term. Short term, I can go about the day feeling fine. I just want a morning where I wake up and there's no blood...
Posted 3/27/2013 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I would call your doctor. I weened off it much more slowly than you. My GI also bumped it up to 60 as I didn't react to 40 at first. It took a few days (even on 60) for it to "kick in."
Posted 3/27/2013 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
I feel exactly like you. You can find my thread here.

I'm seeing blood especially when I eat bad. I keep a food journal so I can tell the difference. Before pred I was bleeding all the time so I could hardly tell what food caused it.

What else are you taking besides pred? A maintenance drug is always important.

How's the bleeding when you eat spinach?
Posted 3/27/2013 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I think a food journal is in order. I had pizza yesterday and that could have done something to upset my colon. Maybe... One can only assume with this type of problem, right? Cortifoam seems to be the only consistent drug I've been prescribed, it visibly lessens bleeding and makes my bum feel normal. Mezavant stopped being effective at keeping me in remission which is why I had to go on prednisone. Mesalamine enemas also stopped being effective. I'll have to talk to my doctor once I get around 30mgs of prednisone to discuss a maintenance drug. Maybe we'll give Mezavant another shot. I don't know how spinach effects me. Is it supposed to be bad?
Posted 3/27/2013 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Spinach is good. Read it here

What other meds besides Mesalazine have you tried? There is so many more maintenance drugs out there. Just because Mesalazine stopped working doesn't mean the end. It seems to happen to a lot of people that it stops working. It did for me. Not sure if this is some kind of immunity?

Have you tried Imuran, 6mp, Remicade or Humira?

I hope you get into remission soon.
Posted 3/28/2013 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
I remember the second time i was on prednisone i was put on 45 mg and it didn't help at first either, doc put me up to 60 mg and it finally worked.. was on it for some time too. I could eat whatever i wanted it didn't cause me to bleed whatsoever. I'm currently on 25 mg of prednisone and also remicade and still experience some blood in my stool. If prednisone doesn't help you ask him for remicade or humira.
Also there is a new steriod called uceris.
Posted 3/28/2013 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisone will not put you into remission, plain and simple. It can put you into remission as long as you stay on it (not advisable) or it can help you achieve remission while taking something else and then after tapering off prednsione then that something else can help you maintain remission. If prednisone is all you are relying on to achieve remission then it's not going to happen if you taper down or off.
Posted 3/28/2013 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had this too. Better after the dose but worse in the mornings. If the sleeplessness is not a bad side effect for you try split your dose between day and night.
Posted 3/28/2013 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Gary, you said it won't put me into remission then told me it would as long as I stay on it. I know it won't be the only drug I can take it which is why in the post above I said I will have to discuss with my GI another drug to take once I taper. Madcat, I'm already dealing with sleeplessness so I'm not sure if splitting the dose will be worth it.

I'm probably going to call my GI today and tell him what's been going on for the past few days.

Thanks, everyone.
Posted 3/28/2013 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
You need to take the other drug at the same time as prednisone and then taper back the prednisone, leaving the other med to hopefully keep you in remission. There is a much better chance of it all putting you in remission using this method. Some of the other drugs can take up to several weeks or a couple of months to start working. If you taper down or off pred before the other meds take effect then that can defeat the purpose and you could start flaring again before the other med has a chance to kick in and work.
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