Frequent bathroom trips (on Prednisone and Remicade)

[kernelmom3]

DS was on 60 mg of Prednisone for a month (for severe stricture) and just got his third dose of Remicade about 10 days ago. He went down to 50 mg daily last weekend and has been doing fine (after some chest pain and high BP that resolved thank goodness). But for the last three days, he's complained of stomach pain "coming in waves". Then the last two days he's gone to the bathroom at least two or three times a day and stays in the bathroom for almost 1/2 hour each time. I'm thinking back to the lab results from 10 days ago that said his white count was 16.2. GI said it was elevated because of the Prednisone, but now I'm worrying that it's something else (stricture, abscess, fistula...he's had all of those). I don't want to worry him but I'm wondering if I should wait until Monday morning to call GI or try to get ahead of any problems by calling today and having him order labs. Another part of me knows that if I'm always trying to get ahead of something, I'll never stop!

He used to have frequent bathroom trips before all this started with his perforation during his colonoscopy to diagnose. It's part of the reason I was suspicious it was Crohn's. But he hasn't been going as frequently since he started treatment and Prednisone until now. HELP!

 

[Mehita]

Has he been tested for c diff?

What is your normal range for WBC? I guess 16.2 seems kind of high to me.

 

[Maya142]

My daughter has been on steroids since July (for her arthritis, not IBD) and even though she's on a significantly lower dose (started at 15mg and tapered, now on 5mg), her WBC is 14.2 (upper limit is 10.8). Her rheumatologist said this was because of the pred and wasn't at all worried.

The increasing bathroom trips and pain could be from tapering, especially since he's only had a couple infusions of Remicade. However, there's no harm in calling especially since he's had so many complications in such a short time.

Hang in there!

 

[DustyKat]

Whilst Prednisone can increase White Cell Count it can also mask symptoms of infection such as fever.

In the context of his current symptoms and past complications, and the fact that the GI made the WCC and Pred connection whilst ‘well’, I would make a call and get labs done in advance.

Thinking of you. :heart:

Dusty. xxx

 

[Farmwife]

See Grace is just weird, her WBC's went really low on pred.
I know my GI would want me to call with those symptoms.