Crohn's rectal bleeding even with steroids

[mik118811]

hello all,

im 22 and have been diagnosed with crohns/colitis for 2 years. i usually flare up once or twice a year in the last 2 years. recently i was on a reducing dose of steroids since september and after finishing the reducing dose in the beginning of december i had bleeding again about a week later i was put onto 15mgs when i went to the doctor which did nothing and the bleeding has gotten worse i went back to the docs and they perscribed 40mgs a day prednisolone which i have been taking for 3 days and the bleeding is still not improving. i am seeing the gastro-enterologist on wednesday but i am wondering if the bleeding i have is a small amount or is something that i should be going to A&E for.
i am only going about 5 times a day but the bleeding is everytime and is bright red and i am having diahorea so the stools are a mix of red and brown watery stools.
could anyone say what is a large amount of bleeding? i understand a small amount of bleeding can be afew streaks on solid stools but what would be classed as moderate or heavy bleeding? and should i be alarmed that my bleeding is how it is even while i am taking the steroids?

thank you all for any replies

 

[littlemissh]

It can sometimes take up to a week for the steroids to be effective. Do you know what your haemoglobin level was and when it was last checked?
If it was already very low then you should contact your GP (if in UK which i guess you are as you say a+e). He /she will arrange further bloods to see if it has dropped.
My hb dropped dramatically and went to 71 so I needed a transfusuion and then again to 82 but it was a lot of blood- all thgis sorted via gp and consultant by phone.
Best avoid a+e, better to go via GP..even out of hours can give advice...less of a wait etc.

 

[mik118811]

doctor checked my last blood test which was done 4 days before xmas when I had started bleeding and didn't say to check it again just prescribed the higher dose of steroids which I have been on 3 times so far. bleeding is my first sign of any problems then it turns into diahorea and stomach pain which I am getting worse and worse as the days go by. previously the steroids cleared my symptoms up within a few days at 40 milligrams a day but not this time. possibly because I have been taking them for 4 months already? my younger brother was diagnosed a little after me but he gets the usual symptoms of diahorea weight loss then vomiting and has been to a&e twice where they have given him steroids intravenously to sort him out.

 

[littlemissh]

Its probably worth having a chat with your GP- you could ring tomorrow(though will be very busy as prob been closed for 3 days). He/she will know what your Hb was and may recheck your blood count depending on what it was just before xmas. It takes quite a lot of blood loss to drop your haemoglobin but thats what I would do. If you are worried there is alot of blood then you could contact Out of hours for advice.

 

[crazycanuck]

Yeah I give them a call. Steroids arent always the answer either though so keep that in mind. What other drugs are you on or is it just steroids?

 

[mik118811]

I've been on imuran (azathioprine) 150mg for nearly two years doesn't seem to be helping tho. I will try and get a call from my gp tomorrow to ease my concerns