Halloween Prednisone Nightmare

[thike1966]

Last night trickier treaters, good kids in great costumes, the younger ones with parents l in tow and a few teenagers came to our door and I in my Peanuts Halloweenshirt, as in Snoopy and Charlie Brown, happily dolled out candy.

Of course we had way too much candy and me on Prednisone had a few pieces, then a few more and a few more. Skittles, Snickers, Twix, M&Ms and a package of five Reeses and I was like an addict, sneaking a few everytime I went to the door and then mindlessly snarfing until after midnight, sugar high watching late night TV.

I have not had that much sugar since two Halloweens ago before Crohn's. I couldn't stop myself until a storm of diarrhea attacked with vengeance and the steroids/sugar surge kept wide awake and angry at myself until 4:AM, every 20 minutes, exploesians on the toilet, visions of my daughter finding me passed out on the floor like a crack addict. My daughter, who lives 2000 miles away with my ex in Long Island New York was likely sugar dreaming after a night of tricker treating with her clan of many cousins.

I've been fighting anxiety and unspent anger turning into depression. My Physicians Assistant at my family doctor's office has given me Welbutrin to manage steroid mood swings and Cymbalta to manage anxiety. They take the edge off durring the day, but all bets were off in middle of the night.

Today I'm physically and emotionally wasted. Lately I've been in a dangerous lull, so I finally gave in and put my stupid pride aside and see a therapist tomorrow for the first time since many years ago. I have some paperwork to finish today. Since I woke up 4 hours late and way off my medicine schedule, I'm struggling to get on track there too.

I could be better but I could be worse, so I just have to deal with it.

 

[Guerrero]

For how long you'll have to be on prednisone?

I also had difficult time with it.

 

[thike1966]

Thanks for asking. In the last year, I've only had a few weeks off of it in the rare times I'm not flarring. 5 times and 23 days in the hospital getting 160 mgs a day injected. I'm currently on 20 mgs a day and will start tapering down next week by 5 mgs a week. That is until my next flare or C-Diff battle.

The steroid works great and keeps me out of the hospital. But side effects are awful. I have swollen eyes that led to permanent vision damage and cataracts which blind my left eye and can't be removed until I'm a month off Prednisone. I counter insulin loss with drugs and calcium, potassium, magnesium loss with vitamin supplements. The doctor at my support group recommends B12 & D2 as Crohn's happy vitamins, B12, sub-lingual, under the tongue. You can't over dose as extra is expelled in urine. The ileum that is damaged by Crohn's in most cases is where those 2 vitamins are supposed to be absorbed. The nutritionist at my GI' s office guides me on diet and supplements.

 

[Guerrero]

Wow what a battle! I'm sorry to read that. Are you doctors considering to move you on biologics? Steroids souldn't be a long term treatment, and biologics should work almost as well as prednisone..

 

[Nym]

I understand the sugar binging - used to do it myself, blow the consequences. I was stuck at home anyway, may as well have a reason! Kombucha and kefir are both chock-full of B vitamins and probiotics. They have now got me on the sugar-free path. They've certainly played a part in keeping me at the 5mg level for over a year now. I also take large doses of sunlight, and my D levels have been off the chart for some yrs. You can change 96% of the cells in your body over 12 months. Take care!