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Finally low on Prednisone...problems starting

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Posted 3/3/2010 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter started on Prednisone at 40mg beg. of Dec. We stayed on that for 2 weeks and then started weaning by 3 mg a week.

When we hit between 4.5 and 6 mgs she has started having bowel issues sending me into a panic.

She is not able to tolerate 5ASA's so we are not on a maintenance medication right now. I had truly hoped that the Pred cured her

or at least she may be in remission for awhile but I guess it is not to be.

The plan with her GI is that if she has problems when off the Pred we will need to do another colonoscopy before going to the next

level of medication.

I want to push ahead and get her off the pred. and see where we land.

I am using VSL, Omega 3's, add tumeric to food, ordered Psyllium seed powder- not here yet and got some

Slippery Elm lozenges.

She is having a BM 1-2 times a day, no urgency, no pain at this point but she does have some mucus and some pinkish

tissuey looking stuff- stool is soft.

Has anyone pushed ahead to get off the Pred and things settled down?

Advice?

Thanks

Posted 3/3/2010 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Get your docs advice. Mine was "stay the course. Asacol is your backup" Isn't there anything else she's on for maintenance? Everytime I saw something new and ugly I got myself bounced back up on high dosage of pred even though my doctor was telling me to stay the course.
Posted 3/3/2010 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly, I think it's very strange that your daughter wasn't placed on a maintenance med like 6MP or Imuran since she cannot tolerate the 5ASAs. I'd perhaps try to find a new GI...not having her on maintenance meds isn't acceptable, IMO.
Posted 3/4/2010 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
I too am just about to the end of my taper - yesterday was the start of my 10 mg week. Last week, Tuesday, I reduced to 15 mg and by Thursday, all the familiar signs and symptoms started coming back. I was hoping it was just my system getting used the new, lower dose - Denial is soooo good ! Frequency, urgency, gas, pain etc. . . . no blood or mucus though.

I called my GI doctor today to let him know I am going back into a flare. I don't really want to go back on the darn stuff, but it works so well. I read it hear awhile back something to the effect that Prednisone is the drug we love to hate. I have only been on the 6mp since mid January and it seems that it takes 3+ months to build up. I don't know what the doc is going to say, but I am guessing that going back on a higher dose of pred is in the cards.
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