HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Super worried about taking steroids

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/14/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I have been in a flare for the past week, and my doctor told me I have to go on steroids (prednisone). My family has a history of mania on the drug, and I'm worried that it might happen to me again (trying not to think too much about it). She said it was a low dose (20/day), but if I don't respond to the steroids in three days I will have to be hospitalized and given IV steroids.

I'm scared if I do have to have the iv meds... what's it like?

I was diagnosed in May with UC and I also have Celiac Disease, and while this is only my second flare, the pain is so bad I can't deal with it, I had to go to the er and they gave me 2 shots of duilodid to get the pain anywhere near under control.

The er doc gave me Vicodin but the GI said that vicodin is really bad for UC.

She gave me bentyl which seems to be helping a little, the blood work came back and some test showed levels of being very inflamed or something like that, also that my potassium was 3.1.

I'm super anxious (which I know isn't helping) but I am super worried about being in the hospital for Christmas.

Sorry guess this was more of a vent vs a question
Posted 12/14/2011 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi twizliz,

First idea: breathe.

Second idea/question: if you were in remission until one week ago, why would your GI doc already be pushing steroids, and possibly IV steroids? Have you ever been put on 5-ASAs?

Third idea/question: are you open to seeking a second opinion? In my experience the quality of GI really varies from doc to doc. I personally like the ones that view steroids as a last resort and not a first course of treatment.

Last idea: breathe some more and hang in there.
Posted 12/14/2011 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
What medications are you using to treat your UC? I hate steroids and I understand wanting to avoid them. I am curious what you've tried. It has only been a week, if you're not using oral and rectal mesalamine, perhaps that would get you back on track. You could also try rectal steroid enemas, they are steroids but better than oral if they help imo.
Posted 12/14/2011 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
They put me on steroid enemas, the pred, something else I can't remember something like rowesia? I was on Lialda but my heath insurance lapsed and I went off it (now I realize I should have told them that because they gave me a ton of samples). I'm not sure why she said so quickly, perhaps due to the amount of pain I am in and the blood? Because at this point it is just flat out blood and nothing else.

*taking a deep breath*

Thanks everyone
Posted 12/14/2011 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
She also said she was concerned because of fast and hard the symptoms came on. They did a CT at another er last week and there was evidence of inflammation on the ascending column and not just where it was originally (lower left side)
Posted 12/14/2011 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Why do you only have 3 days to respond? Did you start the prednisone? when? You know, you can see a doctor to get something to help with the mania. I started an antidepressant a few months ago and I feel a lot less anxious. I think it's been a good thing for me. If you need to, get treatment. One more thing, 20mg is a low dose. I understand that you've had a bad history with the medication but I am not sure 20mg can get a moderate flare up into remission. I hope it does. The normal starting dose is 40mg. Have you tried 6mp or Imuran? Usually they don't try Remicade unless you've tried 6mp. Some opt to go to Remicade first but I think 6mp has a longer longterm success rate from my observation. The thing about 6mp is that it doesn't start working instantly, it can take quite some time to get into your system. They may want to use Remicade if they need to stop the flare faster.
Posted 12/14/2011 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like your at a point where you need those things. So you have an IV so what ?

"The er doc gave me Vicodin but the GI said that vicodin is really bad for UC."

Total BS - I took max vicodin and it made my UC go away 100% and I asked GI doc for more but he refused, I was given it by GP for a painful stroke. I was bad for your memory but GREAT for your UC.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply