Major Anxiety, Having a Flare

[ashley225]

Hi Everyone,
I am currently suffering from a flare that started about a month ago. My doctor prescribed Flagyl, which he usually does because I have refused steroids due to the negative side effects I have read and heard about. I am seeing a new doctor tomorrow at Northwestern in Chicago, and I am very nervous that I may have to take Prednisone or something in that family since my flare has not subsided. Does anyone have any advice on other drugs that aren't in the steroid family that could help? Or any herbal remedies? I am looking for any answers and all suggestions.

 

[AbdoAlien]

Hey there...not good to be in a flare ...things I tend to do in a flare is eat very bland food & not a lot...plain chicken & rice type deal..some people say the BRATY diet (Bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast & yogurt)helps, but I found the bananas, apple sauce & yogurt made me worse & I had to go to gluten free bread....I drank ALOT of peppermint tea with nothing in it, also chamomile tea...something mild....& I had to make sure there was no chickory in it....I had to eventually go on steroids...didn't want to, but literally could not leave the house for 2 1/2 moths due to a flare...I went on budesinide, which is a steroid, but not as harsh as prednisone..I had gain 40 lbs, but it did all me to kick out of my flare...I am off of the steroid & have lost the weight, but I have to do a very strict diet and if I waver, I pay the consequences...hope you kick out of it soon...Good luck!!!

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

You don't HAVE to take anything. I recently switched to a new GI. I've been in a flare for a year. He asked if I had tried pred. I said I was not willing to take that. He asked about Entocort and I said I would take that if things got worse, but at this mild stage, I'm not willing to. Entocort didn't give me any side effects. It's still a steroid, so long-term use is bad, but it can work well for short terms.

 

[Sjblanch1984]

I've been on steriods for 6 or 7 years. I've not really gained any weight on them in years....i actually been losing weight because some days i don't eat so much and other days i do but i still dont gain weight. I did manage to get myself off of them over the summer and it was hell. My doctor was stupid and had me wean too fast (like i had told them) and i was out of my mind, jittery, tired but unable to relax all the time, anxious as hell, could barely eat, stomach was a wreck, i was really weak but i still went to work every single day. Now i finally did get through all that even though my doc knew i was going through hell because i told her and went to the er a couple times so they took my blood and you know i was off the roids and was starting to recover and the doctors assistant urged me to get back on the steriods twice and i said no way, then the doctor finally called and urged me saying my natural cortisol levels were only at a 2 when a normal persons are around 20 in the morning and if i got sick my body wouldn't be able to fight it off, etc. So i had to get back on them and they help sure but the side effects LONG TERM are awful but SHORT TERM should be no problem whatsoever