I was able to get an appointment with my Gastroenterologist today and I am now back on steroids for 5 weeks. I am dreading the side effects I know I will get - the insomnia, the EXTREME hunger (I don't feel like going to the grocery store right now), among other things, but I am hoping I gain weight while I am on it and that it not only clears up the Crohn's flare, but also the joint pain (arthritis) that has accompanied it.
I don't like having to take steroids, but you do what you gotta do. They work pretty darn quick. I'm hoping to be much better by tomorrow or the next day.
Not much energy at the moment to write an article.
Back to laying down while I'm still able to sleep . . .
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Comments: 9
Good luck with all of it!
Five weeks isn't too bad. At least you don't have to stay on steriods and the five weeks includes the time to wean you off of it.
Short doses of steriods doesn't have as drastic of an effect on your body as long term usage does. This isn't too bad. You talked to your doctor about what happens when you are weaned off of steriods right? Maybe the process can be a little bit slower?
Some doctors will give you a short term dosage of sleep meds to help with the insomnia effects of steriods. Consider this as a possibility if you don't have problems with sleep meds. A lot of times they will have sample packs that you can use to avoid the cost and believe me, it won't cost the doctor a penny to hand you a sample pack.
I am treated at the VA, so I don't have to worry about prescription costs. I do have problems with sleep meds and I'm not eager to try any new ones right now. If it is that bad I will call him and see if I can just take a Tylenol PM. I also have anxiety meds that help me go to sleep that I could possibly take if it doesn't interfere.
I'm wondering If I may need to call him about getting weaned off slower as well. I know last year I was on steroids for 6 weeks, but the joint pain when I was weaned off was unbelievable and my Vitamin D went all the way down to 8 (it should be at least 32). He mentioned that the joint pain when weaning off is normal because of the arthritis - that the inflammation is under control with the Prednisone but it acts back up again as I taper off. I'm still concerned about that, but I do live with joint pain regularly - so maybe it just SEEMS worse when I taper off because I don't have it for weeks when I'm on the steroids.
We'll see.
Keep us updated. I'm not sure how Tylenol PM would act in response to bleeding, there is also Simply Sleep, which is the sleep meds without the Tylenol in it.
I understand about the joint pain. I'd agree that you'd notice it more if it was absent for a while, but do tell him about it. He needs all history that you can give him.
It sounds like you are doing all that you can. The important thing is to get the flare under control, which you certainly are doing, and taking good care of yourself. Keep up the protein intake during the flare.
Again, I'll keep you in my prayers and hope that the prednisone will be only five weeks and the time goes by quickly and you quickly go into remission once again!
I'm sorry you had to go back on steroids but hope you don't have to stay on the whole course...prayers for speedy healing in your direction!
Hope you feel better soon.
I'll keep you in my prayers. I hope you don't have the side effects this time.
Hopefully you will feel better now
Hope all goes well and they help A LOT.
(((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))