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Constipation and blood while tapering Prednisone?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/30/2011 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Ok I'm just so confused because over the years my uc has behaved so different all the time that I don't know what to make of what is going on.  Do any of you have similar symptoms.

In mid July I started seeing small amounts of blood on formed stool.  Over the next month it got worse to the point of going maybe up to 5x a day.  Mixed stool, blood and mucous.  Sometimes just blood and mucous.  I am not on maintenace meds because I do have a lot of remission and in additions I can't take mesalamine.  I have not been able to jump to immune suppressors yet.  I'm scared.  I'm currently waiting for genetic test to come back to see if I can take 6mp or not.

So I started Prednisone 8/31 at 20mg and then then bumped me up to 40 like five days later.  Stools are now formed even hard and a little constipated.  But there is still streaks of bright red blood on them.  Sometimes trace, small or medium amts.  The stool is brown with these bright red dots or streaks on top.  A tinge on the tp very faint.  No blood in water.  GI wanted me to taper so I started 3 days ago and I'm now on 35mg.  Is this wise to taper while still seeing blood.  I've only been on Prednisone a few times since 1999 and I've never tapered with blood.

Do any of you have these type of sxs?  Regualr stool with blood on top?  I'm scared that Prednisone is not bringing on a full remission  this time.  I want to have one more child and I really wish I could avoid the hard hitting drugs.  I know I have internal hemmies too but I'm not sure if that's it.  I'm afraid if I start 6mp or Imuran that there will be no turning back and my body will absolutely need them to stay in remission.  I cannot imagine these drugs are good for you long long term. 

Thanks

M

Posted 9/30/2011 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Seasons,

I get scared too, I want to have a baby more than anything right now (I don't have any kids).

I also can't take mesalamines and it is scary to go to immune suppressors. I was on imuran and it did not work for me but it did not make me sicker. I think you can do fine on them and was told by my GI and my kidney doc it's ok to be pregnant on it.

Sometimes pred took a while to work for me too. The good news is that you have been able to achieve long remissions, that is a lot working in your favor. Have you tried steriod e's? Those seem to help me better sometimes.

I am so sorry you are going through this, it really bites! I wish I could tell you how to magically get through all this but all I did was cry, but now I am doing much better and the crying didn't do me any good at all and now I have stupid bags under my eyes too boot (which have not gone away, I cried A LOT!).

Try to stay calm and positive and think of all of the good things in your life.

Take care,
Beth
Posted 9/30/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for responding Beth. I know this is just so hard. I am so sad all the time and I get jealous of people who have health. I spend all my time researching, cooking SCD and spending too much money on alternative doctors etc... I just want to be normal. I am so thankful that I've been able to have 2 children and didn't have any major uc issues while pregnant. I have been blessed in that way. I feel guilty that I still want more children. I pray you are able to have them too.

You said the immunos did not make you sicker but in your signature you say kidney and liver disease thank you prednisone and immuran?? Yikes that is scary, can you explain. I am always the 1 percent of people who get the rare complication so I am terrified and my GI seems to not get that. They can be so condesending. HOw is the Remicaide? Will you go off it to get pregnant? I heard sometimes you can't go off it or you build antibodies.

Thanks again
M
Posted 9/30/2011 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
i don't think you should taper if you still have symptoms. my cramping started coming back when i got down to 10 mg, so now i'm on 15 mg again for over 2.5 weeks now. i figure once i feel good on it, i'll go to 12.5 mg. i'd rather just wait it on on a low dose than have to go up to 40 again!
Posted 9/30/2011 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
When I was on Pred and tapering, I had constipation. My problem is D. To help the constipation I took Miralax, but about 1/2 the normal dose. After about a week, the constipation was gone. So I believe the constipation was a side effect of the Pred, not a symptom of my Crohns
Posted 9/30/2011 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
So is it still the uc that is giving me the blood. My GI nurse says if you have a bitl of blood it acts as a laxative which is why so much D with uc. I have harder stools with blood on them. I know I have internal hemmroids but wouldn't he prednisone take care of it? I called GI nurse again today to be sure. I don't feel terrble some minor twinges on the left side occassionally. I just don't get why I still see blood if my stools are formed. Just mild uc? I feel like I'll never stop seeing it. Been since mid July.

Also how do you taper in .5mg? Do you just cut the 5s? My GI wants me to do down by 5mg every 7 days. I want to follow the Prednisone taper schedule on the SCD yahoo board.

Thanks so much!
M
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