Hi Lisa,
I'm so sorry that your daughter was diagnosed with Crohns. It's certainly heartbreaking when you just don't know what to do to make things right for them!
But, welcome to the forum! And I'm glad you've found your way to the Parents subforum! There are some wonderful parents here who will certainly understand your worries, questions, etc. The parents here are always happy to share their knowledge, experience and support - even some laughs!
The support and knowledge I've gained here has been invaluable!
I can't offer you any advice on pred as my son has never used it but I'm sure other parents will be along soon.
Being in Canada, were you offered Enteral Nutrition? In the U.S. it's not offered as often as it is elsewhere but is commonly used here - it's a great treatment option. It has a comparable success rate at inducing remission as steroids, provides nutrition, allows bowel rest, has anti-inflammatory and healing properties and NO side effects! This was the treatment offered to my son at Sick Kids Hospital. It did take him into remission and, at 1/2 dose, has been his maintenance treatment (although it is not as successful at maintaining remission as medications). My understanding is that if remission is achieved with steroids, using EN as a maintenance treatment is less successful.
Where is your daughter's crohns located? It may be that EN was not an appropriate treatment for her?? It is also a challenging treatment as you must forgo food, EN formula only, for approx. 6 weeks. There is a thread in this subforum called Kids on Enteral Nutrition and you'll find more info under the Treatment forum.
As you said, this disease presents itself so differently amoungst people and treatments vary just as much! I imagine Ariel's GI has a maintenance treatment planned??
I hope the pred and maintenance treatment quickly get her feeling well
