Cortisone treatments

[Malbru]

Hello
New to site. Have been diagnosed Crohns last fall. On mezavant since. All ok until feb when problems with blood and stool reappeared. Readjusted mezavant to no real avail. WEnt to Cuba early March. Caught some bug was given two antibiotics. Helped but still had cramps and bleeding etc. was given cortisone prednisone early april on a decreasing dose. Things seemed to be okay at high dose 8 x 5 mg, now at 4 and sysmptoms all coming back. Lots of gas, more bleeding and very loose if any stools. This seems to be quite a protracted crisis period. Not sure what to make of all this. See my dr next week. But wondering if others had to go the cortisone route and what their experience might be?

 

[Irene3]

This sounds very 'normal' believe it or not. The first time on Pred, crohns settled for almost anyone. It even puts some into remission, but most people have their symptoms return as they taper. It no longer suppresses the imune system the same way, as you wean. After many courses of Pred, it hardly even settles crohns, but all the other horrible side effects begin. So they may suggest to stay on it longer term, but personally, I think you need an extra maintenance med, or Infliximab/humira or something, because Pred seems great at first, maybe a bit of insomnia, but read up on what it can do long term. I was never told you can get psychosis ect, and Iv had many courses of it. Now I'm on 2 diff antidepressants, and it's not great for your bones ect, and masks any other inflammation you may have. Maybe before your GI appointment, read up on a few ness in the treatment section on this forum, and it depends wether most your crohns is large bowel or illeum or whatever, but you may be able to use antiiflamitories with a low dose imune suppressant like azathiroprine.
Can't help but say again....read a bit about cortisone and prednisone before considering long term doses!!!! Best wishes, let me know how your appoint goes and what you decide on

 

[steelerfan]

GET OFF THE PRED...but super slowly.....now I can't really say that because it is different for everyone....but its been as evil for a lot of people as its been wonderful. It seems to get you one way or another.

 

[Malbru]

Thanks for comments. Interesting place to get info and to read what others are living as well

 

[tots]

Irene3-
A long, long time ago (20 yrs) I had that very same problem!
My Dr acted like it was the strangerst thing. :voodoo: Switched Drs and
my new Dr put me on a low dose and sloooow taper. Did well
until I had my last baby. :Flower:

Lauren