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Has anyone had cold feet, circulation problems, or faint tingling in arm while on meds for UC?

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Posted 10/2/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
  I have been having really cold feet for the past 10 or so days that I have been on prednisone, asacol, and the canasa suppositories.

  Today, I've noticed that at one point, I felt my left arm slightly falling asleep.  I thought maybe I'm starting to have heart attack symptoms, but I'm pretty young, and don't have any other symptoms accompanying it so far. I just figure my circulation is compromised right now?  I am seeing my doctor first thing Monday morning, so I don't want to drive down to the Er, just because my arm felt a little tingling sensation for a minute.

  Has anyone else noticed mild circulation issues at the onset of UC diagnosis?

  Of course if symptoms worsened then I would definitely go to the ER.  I have had a lot of anxiety on prednisone, and with UC lately! I think I am going to take an Ativan, that should have a positive effect on blood pressure right? Any thoughts?

Posted 10/2/2010 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I just googled prednisone, and found a site that said that circulation problems are a side effect of prednisone use. What do you think? Anyone experienced anything like this?
Posted 10/2/2010 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
I've never taken prednisone so I can't tell you what the side effects are, but if you only felt the sensation for a minute then I think you are fine. I think you are worrying a TON and overanalyzing things! Practice some deep breathing - this helps me when I feel overly anxious.
Posted 10/2/2010 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I'm just really stressed, scared, sad, and feeling helpless. I just took some anxiety medication, hopefully that helps some.
Posted 10/2/2010 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I experienced cold chills with Asacol.  Not good to get right after the night sweat!

 

Posted 10/2/2010 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on pred for 2months now, slowly tapering. Not had any circulation probs as yet, only moon face (aagh!) and irregular periods. When I get anxious, frustrated or down, I also just take some deep breaths, try to meditate and not let this awful disease get me down. It will get better FutureMD, keep yourself informed, but dont let too much info swamp you!
Posted 10/3/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was just about to start a thread about this. Peripheral neuropathy with 5-aminosalicylic acid is rare, but documented.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1838057/pdf/bmj00258-0054b.pdf

I've got it. Stopped taking my meds for 4 days (1 day preparing for colonoscopy and 3 days recovering from it), and the numbness and tingling in my feet subsided somewhat. As soon as I got back on the meds, the old familiar neuropathic symptoms re-established themselves.

My (ex)GI says it's a simple choice for me to make. Mesalamine or surgery, which is one of the reasons he's my ex-GI. Now, I'm not a good candidate for immunosuppressives or steroids, due to liver problems, so that definitely narrows my list of choices. Looks like the only possible option for me is to go the all-natural route, say, VSL-3, SCD diet, anti-inflammatory foods, etc. Of course I don't happen to have a GI who believes in VSL-3, so that puts me somewhere between a rock and a hard place.

I found a good GI in my area though. He's so good, he's booked for 6 months! So all I have to do is play the UC off the PN for 6 months. Sounds like interesting times ;-)
Posted 10/3/2010 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Oh my Gosh! I believe I have this Peripheral Neuropathy! I have had UC for almost 20 years and been on some form of ASA from Sulfasalizine to Asacol (HD 800mg 3 2x a day now since it came out and Lialda before that). This is the first I have heard of this as a side effect although I have been treated for numbness and tingling by a PT off and on now for 7 years! It is mostly in my arms and hands but has been in my legs as well now and then. I cannot believe no one has even mentioned this as a possibility before. Now what do I do? This is the only medication that keeps me in remission and I was worried about Prednisone!
Posted 10/4/2010 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Might be a good idea to rule out diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. IIRC, 50% of diabetes patients present with peripheral neuropathy. At least diabetes can be managed to a degree, with a completely different set of wonder drugs!

So it might not be the 5ASA at all. In my case it definitely is. Interesting dilemma.
Posted 10/4/2010 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I really doubt that is it, I have constant blood work done since I have so many problems and that has never even come remotely close. I have had a lot of the symptoms of PN though and no one has ever thought to test me for that! Is it irreversible damage? Can it be undone if I stop taking ASA drugs? My only alternative now would be 6-Mercap or one of those drugs though, which is even scarier. (I am not obese and have no family history of Diabetes.) They did put me on Statins for a while though and I quit taking them after a few months because of the muscle aches and leg pain. My new Internist said I didn't need them because my cholesteral level wasn't that high and it came down very quickly on the drugs. Thanks for the input!
Posted 10/4/2010 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
I'd say it's generally reversible. Some alkies get it, and apparently most if not all improve after cutting out alcohol. I've noticed a worsening of PN after only a couple of drinks.

What I'm doing now, with no GI available, is cutting back on the meds while upping my intake of anti-inflammatory foods and hoping for the best. Sounds crazy, but I don't know what else to do until I see a GI. I've got no faith or confidence in the one I had.

Post Edited (the thinker) : 10/3/2010 7:54:18 PM (GMT-6)

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