Going back on the dreaded Pred!!!!!!!!!!!

So, my doctor called yesterday and she is having me go on 30mg of pred for at least a month and then we will taper.  I start it today and have an appointment Feb 28th.  I will then talk to them and hopefully taper off.  I have a love hate relationship with pred.  It helps my symptoms almost immediately but I gain so much weight on it and I go crazy after being on it for about a month.  I go off on anyone and about anything and I don't care.  It helps my joint pain but right now I have gained so much weight from using it last time and I don't have room to gain anymore.  Have any of you takin pred and not gained weight or only a really little bit?

On another note: The nurse said they don't have all my scope results back yet but I don't have an infection so I will probably have to switch my meds(which I don't have many left to try).  They will talk to me more about it in Feb. but I see the PA not the doc I see the doc in April.  Anyways, she said that the top part of my colon(right before the small intestine) came back as really severe active uc and she said I had alot of ulcers there.  She said not all biopsies have come back yet but some in the middle of my colon came back as moderate active uc.  Stupid UC!!!!! So, she said I need to go on pred to get the active uc under control.  Ugh!!!!! So, I guess I will find out what my med options are or what she suggests in Feb maybe april.  Ugh!!! I just don't know what the right option is. 

Also, we have the cruise coming up the end of April I don't need to be bad then.  That will be a horrible vacation if I am.  Ugh!!!!

I am going to see what she suggests but I know she wanted me to try remicade with methotrixate but I don't know if she even wants me on the remicade anymore.  She wanted me to try this about a year ago because of my joint pain. I also know humira is an option.  She even said she would change my diagnoses to something else so insurance covers it.  Two years ago she was trying to get me to do the trial drug for MLN-0002 but I don't really want to do this.  I am scared of the PML factor and I really don't like being a guinea pig.  I am going to look into alernative treatments and maybe try some.  I have an appointment with the pa Feb 28th so I really don't know how much info I will get then.  I had to make it because of the pred and I think they will taper me then.  I have a appointment with the doctor in April so for sure I will find out more then.  Ugh!!! I will try the methotrxate and the humira but I don't know how I feel about the trial drug. I am trying not to worry to much about it until I go in. She said I don't have many options left.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I am trying to get off pred myself, been on it almost 2 months now and only down to 30mg, dropping 5mg every 2 weeks due to my last bad taper of 5mg every week hopefully this time I'll be ok. I've also been having major joint pain which I'm hoping will be gone once I start Remicade.

I do have to say I gain very little weight while on pred, but I've always had troubles gaining weight, so not really helpful info. Sorry to hear you're the other way, I wish I could trade you.

Good luck with everything, hopefully your next change will help clear things up.

I also lost around 15lbs on pred... not happy being a guy in his 20's and all. ;/

WIMOMOFTHREE, have you looked into the SCD diet or other alternatives? Aloe Vera? Slippery Elm? L-Glutamine? Just a few suggestions before going on different meds! :)

If its overwhelming to you, as it can be to me too, start with small adjustments...

Even sprinkling turmeric on your vegetables/fish/meats, etc can make a difference as it has anti-cancer/anti-inflammatory agents in it.

Aloe Vera Juice has been proven to treat alot of digestive disorders, (not store bought) but the plain Aloe Vera Juice from the plant. here is a great article on that. Aloe restores the pH balance in your body which is necessary to keep your immune system running smoothly.

If you're taking Fish Oil I would strongly suggest against any fish oils that contain Omega 6, because this omega contains anachronic acid which is pro-inflammatory to the human body. Fatty foods that are fried in oils at restaurants are a big culprit in America... Cod Liver Oil is great too.

L-glutamine is a natural amino acid thats produced by the body, but when our bodies are under attack or high stress (like UC) its likely we dont produce enough of it, and its needed to restore muscle fibers and the mucus lining which is destroyed with this condition.

Take a look at the anti-inflammatory diet pyramid here.

And raw cabbage juicing! I've been juicing raw red cabbage for about a month now, I never needed time to get used to it and tastes amazing with a few carrots. So much Vitamin K which is a great antioxidant that speeds up the process of healing inflammation in the body! here

Sorry if i'm being redundant! Just hope to help anyone looking for alternatives.

Ugh I'm so sorry. I hate prednisone so much :(