HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Cramping?? Prednisone taper side effects??

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/1/2016 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I am finally coming out of a 9 month flare (5 inches of inflammation at my rectum/sigmoid juncture). I have had 4 double doses of remicade and a 10 week prednisone taper to get me there.

Symptom wise I am only going 1-2 times a day. No urgency, blood or mucus. The consistency is a little off and its coming out in pieces so I know I am still healing. I will be off of prednisone 2 weeks tomorrow and am down to a steroid enema every third night. Sunday will hopefully be my last one for tapering them.

One issue I can not get my head around is cramping. From the start of the flare I have had this odd off and on cramping right at my pelvic bone. Its actually right behind my c section scar - had my second c section last March. I have been taking bentyl as needed - 20 to 40 mg a day depending on how bad the cramps get. It actually feels like menstrual cramps but I know its not.

I honestly have no idea what to do at this point. Its like a constant UC reminder. Does anyone have any insight? I've had cramping before but it was before or during a bowel movement. I've never had all day cramping when I have no other symptoms.
Posted 4/2/2016 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Can it possibly be scar tissue pulling from your C-section? I've never had a C-section but I do get cramping from the scar tissue due to my endo ablation. Does the Bentyl seem to help or no?
Posted 4/2/2016 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hey red! Yes the bentyl does seem to help. It doesn't stop the feeling completely but calms things down.

I started wondering if it has something to do with the c section. They had to double suture my uterus because it had thinned from my first c section. I wonder if the cramping hasbeen there all along but because I had a c section and then flared while I was still healing from it I never noticed or got the chance to actually feel it without the flare. Maybe I need to contact my ob and get examined??

My GI is saying IBS.
Posted 4/2/2016 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
I would ask for a pelvic ultrasound to check for adhesions. They are the worst. I had a terrible one on my right side after my second c section and I had to do a lot of massaging to help break it up. do a quick Google search for adhesions post c-section.
Glad you are doing better, totes! I have been thinking of you.
Posted 4/3/2016 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
At this point I'm starting to wonder if it part of the steroid taper. My whole body aches. Started Friday and has stayed all weekend. I'm light headed, achey, my back and joints hurt and the cramping.

I was on pred for 10 weeks. Slowly tapered down. Been off 2 weeks yesterday but have been on/off (mostly on) steroid enemas since last July. Today would be my last one of the taper.

My uc symptoms haven't changed. Yet. And hopefully won't. Anyone experience this with pred before?? I literally feel awful and out of it.
Posted 4/3/2016 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I always felt bad whole taping off of it. I was wired up for such a long time while on it, and when I finally stopped, it was a crash. Thank goodness I am done with it.
Posted 4/3/2016 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
UGH! How long should I expect it to last? As if the prednisone and the taper weren't bad enough. I feel like my body is in a vice grip. Praying my UC symptoms stay under control.
Posted 4/3/2016 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I too get cramps...in my legs, arms, fingers, toes....most anyplace...from prednisone. It will pass in a week or two, but talk with you doctors anyway. Prednisone does funny things to me that it doesn't do to other people; I've talked with people who take it and feel NO side effects...but others, like me, it has LOTS of side effects. Good luck and hopefully you shall be in remission forever!!!
Posted 4/3/2016 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisone withdrawal can last several weeks after discontinuing. Everyone gets prednisone side effects if they've been on it for at least 2 weeks. Just make sure you're not tapering too fast as problems will occur.
Posted 4/3/2016 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys!!

My taper was flexible. I waited til my body adjusted at each dose. I went from 40 to 30 to 20 then down to 15 to 10. After 10 I went down by 2.5. I never stayed at each dose less than a week. And I was at 20 for over 2 weeks. So I definitely took my time. It took a little over 10 weeks in all.

It was the longest I had been on higher doses and the slowest taper I've done. This taper I got side effects I've never had and it's the first time my body has felt like this when I was finally off. I have however been on steroid enemas since last July so I'm assuming that's playing a role as well.

I hope this passes quickly and I stay stable. I'm half way to my next infusion which is positive. I really can't handle going backwards again. I start therapy on Tuesday to help me deal with the rollercoaster of the last 9 months :(
Posted 4/4/2016 11:59 PM (GMT 0)

TotesMagotes said...
UGH! How long should I expect it to last? As if the prednisone and the taper weren't bad enough. I feel like my body is in a vice grip. Praying my UC symptoms stay under control.

You know, everything is pretty individual. I know 10 weeks seems like a long course, but it's not that long. You've been off 2 weeks... I would imagine you will be feeling back to normal very quickly. I am hoping your UC stays in check so you can get it out of your mind for a VERY long time.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply