Hi Everyone,
I was diagnosed in 1991 with Crohn's. Was on prednisone and Asacol until 1997 when I was put on 6-MP which turned out to be a Godsend. I started at 100 mg. per day and had been at 50 mg. per day for the last 2 years along with 1600 mg. Asacol. Except for a few bumps in the road here and there all has been great until this year. I had to have my gallbladder removed in 02/2011 and it's been downhill since then. I'm now in my first full flare since 1997. I am totally freaked out. Have been on 40mg. prednisone for the last 3 days (we started at 20 mg. for a couple of days with no effect), but not seeing much improvement yet. It seemed like 20 years ago the prednisone worked so quickly! Of course I'm a doll to live with due to all the side effects
The other possible problem is my insurance made my switch to generic 6-MP last November. I truly believe the stuff was worthless and contributed to the flare. After much wrangling I've been able to get the insurance to switch me back to true 6-MP and the GI has put me back on 75 mg. per day. We're hoping that and the prednisone will get me back in line.
I am truly thankful and know how lucky I've been to have had no bad flares and no surgeries in 20 years. Still, it spoiled me and I'm so freaked out right now. I know some say stress isn't a factor, but I've gone through a divorce and several other major stressors in the last 3 years--sort of one after the other. I've wondered about the cumulative effect of that as well.
It's wonderful to find this board and I appreciate reading about your experiences. Everyone seems kind and helpful and that is support to be thankful for. I hope I can be helpful to some as well.
I was diagnosed in 1991 with Crohn's. Was on prednisone and Asacol until 1997 when I was put on 6-MP which turned out to be a Godsend. I started at 100 mg. per day and had been at 50 mg. per day for the last 2 years along with 1600 mg. Asacol. Except for a few bumps in the road here and there all has been great until this year. I had to have my gallbladder removed in 02/2011 and it's been downhill since then. I'm now in my first full flare since 1997. I am totally freaked out. Have been on 40mg. prednisone for the last 3 days (we started at 20 mg. for a couple of days with no effect), but not seeing much improvement yet. It seemed like 20 years ago the prednisone worked so quickly! Of course I'm a doll to live with due to all the side effects
The other possible problem is my insurance made my switch to generic 6-MP last November. I truly believe the stuff was worthless and contributed to the flare. After much wrangling I've been able to get the insurance to switch me back to true 6-MP and the GI has put me back on 75 mg. per day. We're hoping that and the prednisone will get me back in line.
I am truly thankful and know how lucky I've been to have had no bad flares and no surgeries in 20 years. Still, it spoiled me and I'm so freaked out right now. I know some say stress isn't a factor, but I've gone through a divorce and several other major stressors in the last 3 years--sort of one after the other. I've wondered about the cumulative effect of that as well.
It's wonderful to find this board and I appreciate reading about your experiences. Everyone seems kind and helpful and that is support to be thankful for. I hope I can be helpful to some as well.
