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3 weeks of Prednisone....should I be improving????

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Posted 9/30/2007 7:56 AM (GMT -8)
just curious how long it takes people to have prednisone help them?   I also just started hydrocortisone enemas this past wednesday (I just needed some relief) I don't see any improvement.  GI wrote the prescription for two a day but told me to take one a day, I am going to take two  today.

Looking for a new GI this week and will see my Nephrologist to see if any tests any possibilities I can go back on 5ASA and what outcomes, benefits, complications....I am so tired and miserable.

Posted 9/30/2007 9:29 AM (GMT -8)

I have been on prednisone since July 18 starting with 30mg, going up to 40mg, and for the past few weeks have been tapering off and today started just 10mg.  I can finally say that I have now seen improvement.  I have little or no blood.  I am really new to the whole UC thing since I was just diagnosed in July, so therefor this has been my first flare.  I pray that once I am completely over this flare that it will be a long time before another :-)    I am now having side effects as well, loss of hair, muscle and joint pain, a nice blood clot in my leg... I just want to be back to my ol' self.  My only question now, "what is normal?"  I have no clue.  I hope you start to see improvement soon. 

Posted 9/30/2007 1:25 PM (GMT -8)
Beth, I've been on 40 mg pred for two weeks and now on my first week of 35mg. The day after I started 40, I had immediate relief. Now after two days of 35, I'm gassy (I sound like the Titanic hitting the ocean floor in my tummy) and I did have a little bleeding yesterday. Kinda scary! I do have less of a forceful munchy mood at 35, but the sweats are definitely still there. I am feeling miserable today with the gas and b/f without the pred!

I agree with UCJuly2007: "what is normal?" I have no clue, either.
Posted 9/30/2007 6:58 PM (GMT -8)
I started with 40mg and it didn't work, went to 60 - didn't work. Added Asacol and it finally started working. Took about 3 weeks....I am tapering slowly at 35mg right now......

AlabalmaBabs - "gassy" may be due to something you ate yesterday
Posted 10/1/2007 6:05 AM (GMT -8)
I'm on a pred taper. Started at 40 mg for a week, then 35 for a week, etc. The relief was almost instantaneous. I definitely felt like a totally different person by day two. No ill effects yet, that I can tell, although I have noticed it takes me a little longer to get to sleep. On the flip side, I wake up feeling rested and jazzed... not dragging through my morning, wishing I could go back to bed.
Posted 10/1/2007 8:04 AM (GMT -8)
I agree with what people said above - I usually see improvement from the Prednisone within the first week of taking it.  I will add that my GI has always told me if I don't see improvement within the first week, I should call him because that means it is not working.
Posted 10/1/2007 8:21 AM (GMT -8)
Luckily Pred & Cortenemas always worked within hours to bring me relief from urgency, D, & bleeding. HOWEVER, my gastros have always urged me to rest, rest, rest while taking steroids-- so that the inflamed tissue has more chance to heal. I think that the younger generation UC patients are not getting this invaluable advice! You may need to alter your work schedule, etc. to fully benefit from the drugs: I had to!!! Think about the total picture because the meds alone are not always enough to reverse a severe flare. Good luck, Beth, pursuing a new GI; it sounds like you really need someone with IBD expertise. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 6 Colazal daily for July flare in descending colon; should be back in remission again soon)

Posted 10/1/2007 9:04 AM (GMT -8)
thanks Old Hat, I think my NY trip did not do me any good and I took a day of rest yesterday and my day job I sit on my butt all day (do have a nice comfy chair). I stayed in on Friday (even though plans for my bday) and went out Sat but then started to cramping so I went home early. I don't think I did the enema's right the first couple of nights, I am now. I may be getting slightly better and am going to do an enema when I get home then another one before bed. I seem to have most problems in the am and the pm, once I go I have to continue going repetiveley.

My employer is really good, so if I do need to stay home, I shouldn't really have any issues.
Posted 10/1/2007 9:32 AM (GMT -8)
Sitting is sometimes not as good for the colon as reclining or lying down! (re desk job) I had to take a 3-month disability leave from work one time due to severe left-sided UC flare when it actually HURT to sit at a desk, & gastro put me on Pred because I was centimeters away from blockage. So-- good that your employer is understanding; take the time off to rest because it helps the meds to work better. That's my experience with steroids. One needs to rest adequately while on them even if/when they give a patient a physical "high". Otherwise, one can "crash"! MitzMN & I are concerned about your situation & want you to take good care of yourself & find that IBD gastro in Boston for consultation ASAP. That will make a big difference toward your progress in combatting the MCD & this flare. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 6 Colazal daily for July flare in descending colon; should be back in remission again soon)

Posted 10/1/2007 11:14 AM (GMT -8)

Thanks Old Hat and Mitz & everyone else!!

I just called the Chron's and Colitis Center and they told me what I need to do and how I need to do it.  Next stop I think is going to be a battle with my Primary/GI on getting a referral (I don't think they refer out of the building and if not, I'll find a new primary who will.)  Meeting w/Nephrologist on Friday and I want to discuss with him the possiblity that Red Plum brought up (If I understood correctly) about the sulfasalazine possibly being the culprit not the mesalamine for my MCD (hoping I can still take Asacol).  Also, will be contacting Dr.'s office this afternoon to get copies of my records so I can try to make sense of everything and put it all on a timeline.

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