How bad should I be to go on Pred?

[alfredothebarber]

I'm in the midst of a 3-month flare. I've had Crohn's colitis for about 8 years, but I was in remission for a year until 3 months ago.

This flare isn't the worst I've ever had. I go to the washroom quite a bit (maybe 6-8 times/day), I am bleeding (a moderate amount). But, the main issue is that I don't know when I'll have to go to the washroom, so I barely leave the house due to fear.

I've been a Prednisone before. My doc says I should take it; but, I'm having a hard time rationalizing if I should because I'm not super bad. I don't know if it's worth taking such a bad drug.

Any thoughts on what I should do?

 

[scottmyster]

HI Alfred, HI welcome to the forum, i have had crohn's for 21 years and was in remission for 15 years but, about a month ago i had a flare up and now i am on preds and other drugs for the inflammation. if your bleeding it's time to see the doctor and see GI specialist, just to see what is going on the inside of your bowel. especially if your bleeding. i don't know if you had a bad effects with the preds before. but, i suggest you take them or Intocort which is a milder steriod. to take them to clear up your flare up. especially if it's been 3 months of symptoms it could get worse. You don't won't to put it off too much longer. This is my suggestion anyway. best wishes.

scott

 

[muppet]

A 3 month flare isn't likely to self resolve. You should probably be on Prednisone or some other remission inducing drug. What are you on currently for meds?

 

[alfredothebarber]

I know it sounds bad, but I'm not on any meds. I've been trying to resolve myself through natural means. In my first 5-6 years of the disease, I was on so many drugs and nothing worked; so, I sort of gave up on medical drugs, especially since I got into remission through natural means.

I'm just trying to way the detriment of taking Pred based on the fact that I'm not ultra bad. But, I do know I can't just leave it like this.

 

[muppet]

In my opinion you probably need at least asa if not preds to get back into remission. You need to talk to your doc about this. I was able to stay in remission for almost 7 years using diet alone but it didn't last for me.

I've been successful inducing remission with just Lialda, which is pretty systemically benign as Crohn's drugs go. It depends on whether it works for you personally and how bad your flare is.

If you try to stay off of meds despite flaring, you'll pay for it. Trust me on that one.

 

[alfredothebarber]

ASAs never worked for me. I used Pentasa and Asacol in the past. Both were less than useless. I was also on Imuran for years, which did nothing.

I'm probably going to start taking Prednisone soon. I do need to get this under control.

 

[muppet]

What natural remedy was working for you when ASA didn't? Are you sure you have Crohn's?

I've heard of patients with Crohn's who didn't respond to ASA or Imuran, but the next step is usually Humira or Remicade, not abstention from meds. That sounds crazy to me.

Why were you on Imuran for years if it wasn't working? You took Imuran for years and were actively flaring that whole time?

 

[alfredothebarber]

I was originally diagnosed with UC, up until about 2 years ago when it was upgraded to Crohn's.

While on Imuran, I was never symptom free. But, I wasn't bad while on it, just mild symptoms all the time. My doc wanted me to stay on it because he claimed I'd get worse if I stopped. I couldn't rationalize staying on a drug that at it's best can keep me in a substandard state. My doc said I should go on Remicade or Methatraxate, but those aren't appealing options to me.

I then took this herbal tea (Yerba Mate) and it kept me completely healthy for the past 1.5 years. I then got a C-Diff infection in January of this year which ruined me. Then, that went away with antibiotics and I got better. But, in May I started to become symptomatic of Crohn's again and I've been like that ever since.

 

[muppet]

I wish you lots of luck and I really do recommend starting prednisone sooner than later because if you allow your flare to get worse, you may likely end up on your "no go" drugs whether you like it or not.

Also please don't take this the wrong way, but the 1.5 years of remission are as likely to be coincidence as brought on by the Yerba Mate. I've got fairly severe CD myself and have managed up to 2 years of no meds while eating whatever I please and not taking any measures at all. It's a cyclical disease and there are sometimes long quiet periods which can easily be coincidental with any therapy you might attempt. That's one of the reasons so many people have such difficulty finding a regimen that works.

Still, good luck!

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I think everyone has a different tolerance level as to when they're willing to take prednisone. My tolerance is very high before resorting to that, but some go straight to it at the first sign of a flare. You just have to decide what works for you. Good luck!

 

[Lydia]

A quick course of pred may be just what you need. If you are not going to use conventional maintainance therapies you should work closely with a naturopathic doctor. Also check out the LDN forum here. There are many people there who find LDN works great with little to no side effects.

 

[vickyhunter]

I'm currently having a flare that has lasted 8 months, I've been on pred 3 times in this period and it gets me well for a short period of time, but then the symptoms just return.
I'd say go on it, as it will make you feel tons better and give your body time to heal, but you really should sort out some long term medication, it's a lovely thought being healed naturally but sometimes it's not viable.
I wish you the best of luck, hope you get back into remission very soon
xxxxx

 

[num1habsfan]

I'd go for the Pred if I was you...I'm about to be back on it myself (I hope - assuming my doctor will give me it). I decided to wait until I was ultimately at my worst before going back on it because I know I'll feel better within a few days. On my 6th week of a flare...

Pred may have many nasty side effects (I'm pretty sure it's why I have mild disc degeneration) but something you need to outweigh the side effects with the many benefits.