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Posted 10/23/2014 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone. I was diagnosed with pancolitis in 2011 with 15 years old. I am prednisolone dependent and have been trying to completely get off of it, but the pancolitis always flares up at around 5 mg, and I'm responding badly to other medication besides prednisolone. A side effect I’m experiencing from prednisolone is thinning of the skin, as I bruise badly and injuries hardly heal (before I was ill, I healed extremely well). I’m quite distraught about not healing because it is leaving me with some very bad scars. I would like to know if my skin will ‘recover’ if I completely get off prednisolone. Will my skin ever go back to its normal state (in terms of healing, thinning)?
Posted 10/23/2014 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not an expert on prednisone, but from what I've read, the longer you are on steroids, the greater long term effect it will have on all parts of your body. Getting off steroids and finding a plan that is much safer to stick to is probably a much better bet for your overall health. You're still young, so I'd imagine that you will eventually recover from this, but I highly recommend talking to your doctor about getting off steroids completely and going for something else.
Posted 10/24/2014 9:50 AM (GMT 0)
I was on pred for over six months at 10mg because when i tapered i would flare. Once i started on a biologic i was able to finally stop taking it. It took about 6 months but all the nasty side effects finally went away. That was nine years ago! You can see im on ulceris now which is a steroid but 8 weeks is the maximum term and if i cant taper from it, i start shots of simponi.
You may be able to try tapering down very, very slowly.
Posted 10/24/2014 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
Libby217, what uc drugs are you currently on, and what other uc drugs have you tried?

Some pred symptoms are temporary and go away once you stop pred, others with long-term usage are permanent.

Steroid atrophy (skin thinning) is often permanent, though if caught soon enough and the corticosteroid is discontinued in time, the degree of damage may be arrested or slightly improve.
Posted 10/24/2014 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I think the longest I've been on prednisone was 6 months at 20 mg. I started at 60 mg, weaned down and would flare when I went under 20. It took a long time to get off completely.

I experienced really bad skin thinning, bruising, and slow healing (it seemed to be especially bad on my legs for some reason). (And the moon face was horrible!!!!!!!!! Out of everything moon face is my least favorite side effect).

The bruising went away almost immediately when I got off the prednisone (within three weeks). The slow healing took longer (6 months?). Most of the little scrapes healed up just fine. One or two of the larger ones scarred a bit, but you can't really tell. Also, I'm really fair so I normally scar quite a bit when I cut myself. I have one scar you can still see- I burned myself with a hot water bottle while on the prednisone. It's faded, but still noticeable (and small).

I would say I didn't feel "normal" again until about a year or a year and a half off the prednisone. Prednisone is really hard on your whole body. It takes a while to feel normal again.
Posted 10/24/2014 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
You have to find a UC drug that works, or some elimination diet you can live with. It is not an option to stay on pred indefinitely.

I was on some level between 2-3 years, and it really messed with my diabetes (and still 7 months later). I also found it hurting my concentration and destroyed sleep quality and made me anxious all the time.
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