Prednisone or not? Modern Medicine or Homeopathic Medicine?

[Chimpur]

Ok so in an update to My story I've been let off work a second time now, my specialist has narrowed my main problem area to a stricture and inflammation of the duodenum, I've continued to loose weight, been prescribed prednisone and am being strongly pressured by my mother to peruse homeopathic treatment over "evil" modern medicine.

I'll start off by saying that basically my only symptoms at this point are the upset stomach/bloating and cramping, foul burps, smelly farts, vomiting daily and weight loss. There are probably incidental sort of side effects like being irritable and grumpy etc.

My Specialist has said that my Crohns has manifested in an odd way in that my inflammation is in the duodenum and that its very difficult to operate in that area. He recommend that he try and dilate it a bit with a balloon via a gastroscopy in about a week and that it may become something that I just do on a quarterly basis till things clear up or get worse. He would like to get me on Remicade but since I may no longer have a job and its expense that he will wait till the papers get filled for Trillium health benefits come through.(My jobs benefits and any short term disability payments are questionable considering I don't really want to go back. A month off and no one is concerned enough to bother asking me how I am or when I'll be back shows they don't seem to really care about me.)

So in the mean time I will continue with my twice daily 2g Pentasa and Prevacid. My Dr has prescribed me a round of Prednisone. I'm not entirely sure on the dosing but I know he's starting me off with a certain amount and tapering me down on a weekly basis.

The Prednisone has caused much debate with my mother. She seems to think that I should seek another opinion from a homeopathic Dr and avoid any steroids at all costs. I argue that its not like I'll be on it long. its only 3-4 weeks max according to this prescription. And if I trust my Dr; why should I not take what he prescribes me. Also; I'm not really sure on the whole natural cures homeopathy thing really.

Any suggestions or advice ould help me greatly as my main trigger seems to not be food but stress... and this is causing my tons of stress!

 

[D Bergy]

I would do both. I have never heard of a homeopathic remedy for Crohn's but it also has almost zero risk.

Prednisone works and a short stint is not likely to do you any harm. I was on it for almost a year. It did have some nasty side effects, but not too much at first.

Good luck to you, however you treat it.

Dan

 

[mickey]

You know your body better than anyone so feel comfortable that you will make the right choice. If you do take the prednisone, make sure you follow doc orders to the tee to avoid any potential symptoms of too quick withdrawal. Very important.

You can visit a homeopathic doc and see what they suggest and see what works for you. Good luck!

 

[Chimpur]

I've read on here some pretty nasty things about prednisone. I'm kinda scared, worried and upset with how things are going.

Also the Dr said that a simple resection is not possible because the duodenum is a very delicate and intricate part of the GI tract... Such a procedure would involve a bypass and quite a bit of work getting all the "plumbing" with bile duct, pancreas, liver "hook ups" being modified or relocated. Thats kinda scary... So we agreed that as a last resort.

 

[Jobell]

I went to a homeopath, and she thinks my crohns began with a microscopic bug i picked up overseas. She gave me a homepathic remedy and a diet based on muscle resistance testing. At first I was hugely excited and thought it was a cure. Since then I got sick in other ways, now I am not sure.
But the main point I wanted to make is that she strongly recommends that people who come to her continue to follow their doctor's advice. She feels that her work can be accomplished while on other meds, and that when she succeeds in 'healing' or treating the problem and the person is restored to health, they will then be able to get off of regular meds.

I don't know if other alternative healers would agree with that philosophy, but I found it kind of reassuring. It is scary to just reject modern meds and gamble with your health. Hope you get your disease under control one way or the other, and whatever you decide, try not to stress too much - since that is definitely not good for the stomach!

 

[Chimpur]

Secondly how does one find a homeopathic doctor?

 

[KWalker]

I believe they're called Naturopath doctors and naturopath clinics can be found in different cities. I see you're from Ontario so I don't see any problem with you getting approved for Trillium for Remicade. They approved me no problem before.

I've heard some bad things about homeopath doctors and people wasting a lot of money without any results. I would personally try and find a good dietition before. With prednisone, some people have had bad experiences with it but those are things like mood swings, weight gain, etc. As far as I know when taking it short term there are no risks of serious harm like some other drugs for crohns. You just have to be careful because its been said to make your bones brittle over time while on it but the odds are if you're taking prednisone you aren't lifting heavy weights and stuff like that.

I was on 60mg of prednisone for quite awhile with a slow taper and my worst side effect was weight gain in the face. It sucks, but it could be worse.

 

[Jessasha]

Chimpur,

A short stint on Prednisolone could fix the problem and if it does then your stress level will get better and then you could seek a homopathic road..
It's a very useful and successful drug. The doctors use it for this reason in most cases it works well. I agree with all the above posts, go with your gut instinct, it's usually right.
Good luck and let us know how you go..

 

[Miss Underestimated]

Not treating the Crohn's can only get worse. I would take the prednisone. Mom's are wonderful, but I guess you've learned by now they are not always right. Maybe go to someone she wants you to see just to make her happy, but I'd take the prednisone too, til they can get you approved for Remicade.

 

[bangarang]

I'd check out the naturopath before dismissing the idea. If you can find one that has lots of experience with crohns then why not if they don't I wouldnt. Theres good in bad doctors in all the different fields of medicine.

 

[Jobell]

I think you look for a naturopath/homeopath (there are so many branches of natural healing these days! homeopathy is a very specific one) in your area, preferably through people you know. I would not just go to someone out of a phonebook. do you have a local health food store where you are friendly with the staff? Do you have a good doctor you trust who you could ask? Do you have any friends who might know someone... just start networking and when you hear of someone that YOUR friend knows, used and trusts, then maybe that is a place to start. I went to someone on the recommendation of 2 different acquaintances who are both using her. I still don't know if I feel 100% faith in her - I question some of her practices.

I agree with posts above... go to a naturopath or whatever you want, but also follow advice of your doctor. Once in remission you have a greater chance of maintaining health naturally.

 

[rygon]

I was on pred for 2mnths and had little side effects, its a great drug but not a long term one. I used homeopathy a few times as a kid and didn't notice any results. I find doctors and diet to work best atm

 

[Adil]

I would do both. I have never heard of a homeopathic remedy for Crohn's but it also has almost zero risk.

Prednisone works and a short stint is not likely to do you any harm. I was on it for almost a year. It did have some nasty side effects, but not too much at first.

Good luck to you, however you treat it.

Dan

Woah woah, zero risk? o_0 i'm no stranger to homeopathic medicines and near enough 100% of the medicines used have a significant percentage of ethanol and other chemicals, not recommended in Crohn's disease, alcohol and all that stuff is a huge no for most people especially when your going through a CD flare-up

 

[Jobell]

Adil, I do believe that most homeopathic remedies (in tincture form anyway) contain alcohol or something as a medium to hold the 'active' ingredient, but if you are taking such a small amount, would it still have an impact? Is alcohol a problem even if you take a few cc's?
I don't really drink, so I have never thought about it before.
Aside from the alcohol, do you think there might be INGREDIENTS in homeopathic remedies that could be harmful? aren't their active ingredients done in microscopic proportions?
I don't know much about it.

 

[Adil]

Adil, I do believe that most homeopathic remedies (in tincture form anyway) contain alcohol or something as a medium to hold the 'active' ingredient, but if you are taking such a small amount, would it still have an impact? Is alcohol a problem even if you take a few cc's?
I don't really drink, so I have never thought about it before.
Aside from the alcohol, do you think there might be INGREDIENTS in homeopathic remedies that could be harmful? aren't their active ingredients done in microscopic proportions?
I don't know much about it.

Well i can't speak for everyone but during my 7 weeks of of going through a flare up in Crohn's, i was put on homeopathic medicines for a couple of weeks. I told my GI about this and he said this wasn't good because I had been taking painkillers like codeine, and alcohol with this has bad side effects. He also said that it the alcohol could have been making it worse because the medicine i was having was very high in ethanol. But what i'm trying to say is that some people may not have any problems to homeopathic medicines because different things for different people worsen crohn's disease symptoms and different types of medicines are used so different amounts of alcohol is used so you should ask the doctor because there are certain risks to consider

 

[Chimpur]

Hmm just an update. I'm on my 3rd week of pred. My crohns seems to he better. A few days here and there I still feel the discomfort in the stomach abdomen area. Cramping etc. I still have a fair amount of gas; but nowhere near the amounts I had before where I could feel the pressure until I passed it. I also still have foul smelling burps.

Though I think the pred has effected me in other ways. I have a hard time sleeping. Intake the pred when I wake up with my breakfast so it shouldn't effect my sleep. But my mind just runs and runs. I've always been one who thinks alot; but this is overkill. Also I just feel weary and lazy. I have near no drive to get up and do stuff. Well short of just getting whatever it is over with or just to do something to relieve the boredom.

I know this effects those around me; and it bothers me that it upsets them. But at the same time I find it hard not to snap at them when they fuss too much or start telling me what to do or whatnot.
I try and explain the hats going on to people; but I think they don't listen really and that frustrates me even more.

I don't know if all the psych stuff is due solely to the pred, a mix of all the meds, or just a result of being frustrated with my current situation.

Any ideas?

 

[Miss Underestimated]

When I took it, I was kind of high and giddy.

 

[persephone300]

I get lots of side effects on pred - usually seriously high appetite - but soreness and bloating with it, weight gain, but also more scarily a type of psychosis - where I feel quite drunk the whole time, not with it, don't feel real, a lot of the time dazed and my emotions are all over the place. This however, is much worse on the intravenous ones where I actually thought I'd died at one point. It's quite scary, and apparently can affect some people like that "steroid psychosis".

 

[Chimpur]

I get lots of side effects on pred - usually seriously high appetite - but soreness and bloating with it, weight gain, but also more scarily a type of psychosis - where I feel quite drunk the whole time, not with it, don't feel real, a lot of the time dazed and my emotions are all over the place. This however, is much worse on the intravenous ones where I actually thought I'd died at one point. It's quite scary, and apparently can affect some people like that "steroid psychosis".

Yeah I do feel kinda weird right after I take it. And I feel like utter crap before I take it; especially if I don't take it on time.

And I have these weird bruises on my knees that won't go away. On the insides of my knees... almost like my knees are knocking in my sleep. And my knees ache a lot too...