Good side effects of pred?

[nitty]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking at the prospect of starting Aza soon, and I'm anxious about whether I may or may not need steroids while the Aza takes effect, especially after experience of mild depression in the past.

I was just wondering what proportion of people on pred actually have beneficial side effects from it, particularly mentally/emotionally? The nature of forums and other sources of feedback can be such that people often write in when they are having problems and need advice, and so there can be a balance towards negative effects being reported.

I guess I'm just looking for stuff to give me a more positive mental attitude before I embark on this:ysmile:

I would just like to add, to clarify what I just said above, I really don't find the forum itself at all negative. In fact it's been the most supportive, informative and welcoming forum I've ever visited, and since my diagnosis it's been the source of so much comfort and reassurance, and just like having a whole new group of friends who really know exactly how I'm feeling:hug:

 

[littlemissh]

Good side effects - weight gain (not good for all), more energy, reduced eczema and dry skin...and of course reduced crohn's symptoms.
Good luck with aza, I have had no side effects other than low white count with it.

 

[nitty]

Thanks littlemissh,

I can do without the weight gain, but it's good to hear about people who get more energy and a mental lift, rather than a downer! I'm sick of just feeling 'flat'.

 

[emmaaaargh]

Even though I'm still on the pred currently, in the first couple of weeks I was like a different person. I don't know whether it was prednisone-induced mania or down to the fact that I didn't have any pain, but I was constantly giddy and couldn't stop running around! Like littlemissh reported, I noticed a huge drop in the severity of my psoriasis, and even now I'm tapering I'm still full of sunshine

I actually love being on prednisone haha! It's made such an improvement in my life over such a short period of time

 

[Catattack]

I love being on Prednisolone! I feel super high, energetic, chilled, happy...everything good really. A tiny bit of weight gain (5lbs) that's it. From the experience I've had I would recommend it to anyone!

 

[stickman7755]

Predisone was great when I was on it, however tapering off it was nasty and I got depressed when I got off it. Also, it has a lot of bad long term implications. I did love the energy and the never ending appetite

 

[nitty]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll be starting it on Saturday once I've got the prescription and have no commitments for a day or two! It'll be covering time until I get onto Azathioprine - expecting my TPMT results back very soon, then hoping for some relief, at last.

Nitty

 

[mattf1977]

I was diagnosed with crohns at 17 after going from a 140lb energetic boy, to a 95lb weakling with no appetite and very low self esteem.
Once diagnosed and put on prednisalone my life changed so quickly. I had bags of energy within a matter of 1-2 weeks, loved eating food again and my weight shot up to a normal level. The mental side effects were also good for me. I felt more confident and driven and had a higher sex drive, which for a 17 year old boy was a good thing. I think girls also found a slight moon face quit cute looking lol.
So I think the side effects can be positive, especially if you have been very I'll for a while.
I then went on to Azathiaprine for 3 years and into a 9 year remission. 35 now and just started on pred again for my 3rd ever flair up. The only side effect that ever worries me is osteoporosis, so I am determined to keep active a d use calcium for the rest of my life to hopefully prevent it.