Crohns symptoms and conditions

I have been on prednisone for 8 weeks, the first two at 40 mg., then 30. I have sarcoidosis and had a cough for several years, then shortness of breath, a fever for three weeks, very low energy, headaches every day, vision problems, mental fuzziness, fatigue, leg cramps, weight loss, a host of symptoms that were impacting my life. With the prednisone, I have had some jitteriness and occasional insomnia, though not bad. I have had increased energy, clearer mind, no cough, the sarcoid symptoms have almost disappeared. I do have increased appetite and have gained maybe 5 pounds. I occasionally have a day when I have low energy and am depressed, but most often, my energy is a lot better since taking the prednisone. So, for me, prednisone is most definitely NOT a devil drug. In fact, I believe that thinking of it this way is very harmful both to the person thinking that way and to others who come to this site looking for help. It is helpful to know that there are other people having similar problems to yours. But focusing on all the negatives without acknowleging the vast array of positives can only hurt. When I take the pills, I remind myself to be grateful that there is something that can help me fight the sarcoid. When I start being fearful of the side effects (from reading these internet sites), I remind myself of all the many people who have taken prednisone and gotten better and lived a long, good life as a result. My sister-in-law took it years ago for Crohns and loved it. My friend's daughter took it and had a few side effects, primarily the moon face, but it helped her and she now is as thin as ever and doing well. Focus on the positives, people! Where your mind goes, your body will follow. Be aware of the possible effects and work to offset them. Exercise, eat less, find reasons to laugh and be with people. It sucks to have any disease that would cause you to have to be on prednisone, but we are lucky to have medicine and people to help us. Be thankful for what is good in your lives.

My husband has been on remicade since Sept, 2008. He started having what we thought were mini-strokes and had a major one on May 25th, Memorial Day. He was given a clot buster because all along we thought he was having a stroke. After have a specialist examine him, we learned he did not have a stroke but is having seizures and it is medicine related. We are not sure if it is the remicade of some other medicine he is taking for his Crohns. His doctor and another doctor told us they had not heard of Remicade causing seizures but it is listed as one of the side effects - has anyone every had this side effect or know anyone that has - this scared us beyond belief. His doctor is contacting the makers of Remicade but who knows if they will respond. Please let me know!!

They think that I have either crohns or ulcerative colitis. I have tried antibiotics, lialda, mesalamine enemas, with no improvement. After another colonoscopy they put me on prednisone at 40mgs, 30, 20, 10, then 5 decreasing weekly. Well the first week was okay. I had some of the side affects, insomnia, extreme hunger, and crazy. I could deal with that. But then when I decreased down to 30mg, my body flipped. I awoke from the middle of the night with burning pain in the knees. So bad I took 4 ibuprofen and threw myself in the tub with epsom salt. I thought okay that was weird because I have never had a joint pain in my life. I saw the gastroenterologist that day bc I was still having abdominal pain. He totally blew off the knee pain and said he had no idea what that was. I thought okay maybe it will go away. A few days went by and nothing. 3 days later and I awoke one morning crying in pain because of my legs. I called the on call doctor who also said he had no idea and go to the er. So I went crying hysterically for 4 hours. Even after 3 rounds of dilaudid I was still in pain. They suggested a Rheumatologist. So I went to one a week later who said I was going through steroid withdrawals. And there is nothing we can do but treat the symptoms of pain. I am now down to 10mgs have been out of work for 2 weeks and am absolutely miserable with severe leg pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. He also adjusted the drop down increments to 5 instead of 10. Anyway I will never take this drug again and I think they rushed to this one. Just wanted to share. I am glad I found this website because I went from a fully functioning physically fit 28 year old to a crippled crying crazy person. I think I was scaring my husband, honestly, until we both read some of your postings which were similar.

Hey all. I have had asthmatic bronchitis for about 6-7 weeks now and I have never had asthma or bronchitis before. It started off as a normal flu for 3 days with fever. Then when the flu went away, I started having trouble breathing and shortness of breath. It felt like I ran a marathon walking to the bathroom. I never had that before. The doctor told me it was bronchitis. All tests were fine. I was taking azithromycin (took 3 paks of them) and that was the only thing that made me feel normal, but it did not get rid of the infection. Then I was placed on cipro and steroids. Now I'm not on any antibiotics. I'm taking prednisone and just started the advair inhaler. I was having asthma attacks that I never had before. Very scary. Did anyone have asthmatic bronchitis before??? What did you do to get over it and how long??? Please help!!!

I have Crohns and had a flare up so I'm back on 40mg of Prednisone. I've been on 40mg now for 3 weeks and I start to tapper off in another 3 weeks. Well every time I start the prednisone again I get new side effects. This time, my gum are bleeding all the time and the pain in my knees are horrible! I still get the regular side effects, ie: Mood swings, joint pain, sleeplessness, sweating, swelling of my legs and hands, wanting to eat everything under the sun, moon face and my hair falls out! I wish the drug manufactures could develop a drug that would not be so hard on our bodies. I have to struggle with the pros and cons with every flare up. Do I want the weight gain, mood swings and hair loss or do I want to look good and be very sick! I'm 37 and was 16 when I found out I had Crohns.

I was on Entocort and I have such bad anxiety, racing heart, that the doctor has put me on anti-anxiety medicine just so I can function and had to stop Entocort cold turkey due to side effects. Also they took me off Entocort because colonoscopy showed no crohns or colitis.

My experience with Remicade has not been good. On one hand it did help with the crohns. On the other I developed weakness and tingling in my arms and legs, joint pain, ankle swelling, I have difficulty walking now. I also have numbness on the side of my face and occasional sharp chest pain. I find I am very depressed. I'm at my wits end. It is horrible bing in constant pain. I'm thinking of just going it alone without any medical help. I was better off as a 117 pound, 5-'9" lady with only crohns to worry about. Sure swallowing anything felt like glass but it beats this.

Remicade did wonders for me, my Crohn's disease went into remission. Still have muscle pain over a year after not taking it. Maybe that is from the Imuran. When I had my infusions I had to have Prednisone before & during because of an allergic reaction.

Remicade did wonders for me, my Crohns went into remission. Still have muscle pain over a year after not taking it. Maybe that is from the Imuran. When I had my infusions I had to have Prednisone before & during because of an allergic reaction.

I am 75 years old, I was prescribed Fosamax about 7 weeks ago,
one once a week. After taking it for about 4 weeks I developed a
really bad back pain, I went to the doctor, he had x-rays done, result,
I had a crushed fracture in my 11 th vertebrae, how I did it I do
not know, I was in a lot of pain for several weeks, I still can't sit up
without support. I have also been suffering stomach pains and over
the week-end I had a very severe attack of Crohns, I seem worse off
for taking Fosamax ?

I was prescribed 10mg/day for 140/80 BP. Started with 5mg/day. Almost immediatley had less energy and trouble sleeping. After 1 week terrible nightmares and no sex drive. After 2 weeks (still on 5mg/d) had a flare-up of Crohns. Stopped the lisinopril for a month while taking prednisone for the Crohns. Then restarted the lisinopril and the same thing happened. These are the only two flare-ups I have had this year! No more lisinopril for me. This drug is worse than the illness it is supposed to correct.

I've had crohns for about 10 years. My last flareup was in December of 2006. I was on prednisone for 2 1/2 months. Since I've stopped the meds, my hair has started to fall out. It's been falling out now for two months and I'm afraid it will all fall out. I have yet to read anything about hair loss as a side effect of prednisone. What is going on?

I was just diagnosed with Crohns 7 days ago. They started me on 125 mg of Prednisone for 2 days over IV and now 60 mg a day. So 20 mg 3 times daily. I'm severely tired but I think that is just from being in the hospital for 2 weeks and not being able to sleep and I am just now getting home. The main problem is after I started the steroid I have all this white stuff in my mouth. Like the plaque you get on your tongue but it is all over my tonsils, cheeks, back of my throat and my mouth feels really raw. I cant eat because everything burns. The GI siad to gargle with mouth wash but nothing is working. Is the thrush from the high dose of steroids? or because now I have no immune system so I have a yeast infection in my mouth??? Any help would be great. Has anyone notice rapid weight gain with in the first couple of days of being on th ehigh dose????

Originally diagnosed with PMR and was taking prednisone in high doses for 2 years with ok results, except that as I lowered the mg of prednisone the PMR symptoms returned. New doctor diagnosed RA instead and put me on Remicade. After 4 infusions I am having severe muscle pain in my upper right leg. And on occasion the beginning of the same problem in my upper left leg. Affectsmy mobility and I am taking large doses of tylinol & motrin for the pain. Doctor says this is not a side effect of the Remicade. At first I believed him, but now am having doubts. Anyone else have this side effect?

I've had 4 remicade treatments on my 2 treatment they had to stop it after bumping it up to 20 cc cause it started respitory problems and made my blood pressure go up. now when I go for treatments I have to take 75 mg of benedril and 30 mg of prednisone, now i'm noticing leg cramps, muscle pain, joint pain, my hair is falling out more than it ever did before. I'm not sure if this is related. Now i'm having bruises that don't heel up and, i'm getting sick with a respitory infection and i get frequuent migrains I also noticed tooth aches , i try to stay away from sick kids but for my crohns and ulcerates colitis i'm eather bound up or running for the restroom.

I am becoming so *itchy! The mood swings are horrendous! I suffer from Crohns and have to take large doses of Prednisone. Right now I'm on 40 mg daily for 7 day, then 30 mg's for 7 days, then 20 mg's then 10 mg's! I'm still in the 30 mg's and feel like I'm going to have a freakin' heart attack because my nerves are so rattled. I am ready to cry one minute and ready to fight the next. My poor husband and son are trying to be supportive but I don't blame them for getting tired of it, I'm tired of it. Has this been the case for any of you? Also, I am up a good 5-6 times nightly to pee! And I mean, can't hold it any longer, gotta go right now kind of pee! Is this supposed to be a side effect? Does it signal something bad? Any advice from any of you would be very helpful. I haven't gained any weight from taking the meds yet but I'm fearful of it and fearful of what I've heard is called "moon faced" ???? When the information says "prolonged" - how long is considered prolonged use? A month, a year, longer? Any advice is appreciated! Angel

My name is denielle.. im 14 Years old I have had Crohns since i was 7 years old.. i am Currently taking Messacal and Imuran,I was On Prednisone and Asacal ... But the Asacal has been making me sick.. Um,i have Read up about imuran.. And I have Every Side effect.. Dizzy,Feel like i cant Breath,Sickness,heartburn,nightswets,So on so Forth... Has Anyone else Had this?

Prednisone for crohns, started at 40mg. i did experience some of the side effects, the muscle burning, hunger and irritation but was happy to live with it as it was actually making better. then a flare up before travelling to my in-laws in poland and took prednisone to control it. the anger, rage because of an icident there was amazing. my father in law wont even ackowledge me and my marriage is heading to the divorce courts. Someone said earlier" it's 2004 their must be better"..Absolutely

My husband has Crohns. He was treated at the emergency room two days ago for a flare up (we are on vacation). He has never taken prednisone before. He was given 80mg and told to cut to 60mg a day for three days and then stop. This sure doesn't sound like what other people are doing! His calf muscle has swollen and turned hard - like a persistent charlie horse - so bad that walking is difficult.

I have crohns. Been on prednisone every 3 months for the past year. I have experienced the moon face, gained 30 lbs (that I needed), pain in knees and hips, also it depletes your body of calcium, so my teeth have been chipping very easily had to get 2 pulled. Also the strange thing with me is that my skin is very clear while I'm on it but as soon as I'm almost off I start developing this terrible rash on my face that just keeps getting worse. I have been off now for almost 2 mths. and the rash is terrible red, weeping, blistery all around my nose and chin. The Dr's don't seem to know what it is or how to get rid of it they just keep sending me to another Dr. Anyone else who has experienced this and knows how to get rid of it please email me !!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you

I was diagnosed with Crohns about 2 days after my 21st birthday, in April 2003. I was put on 40 mg of prednisone and was to stay on it for a few months, slowly weening off, lowering the doses weekly. Side effects weren't that bad then, only a slight weight gain, which wasnt that bad since i lost about 30 lbs before i went to the hospital, so 10 lbs or so wasn't a big deal. What I noticed later, maybe 6 months of not taking the meds, was that I now had serious depression, mood swings, fatigue, face, back and chest acne, and chest and facial hair! I can deal with the depression but no female should have chest hair! Anyway i realize the meds helped heal me but in the process they've really done a number on my self esteem!

I HAD AN INFUSSION OF REMICADE AND CANT STOP RIDING MY BIKE AND DOING THINGS,,I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS GOOD IN 15 YEARS, i have crohns,,MENERIS DISEASE,HAD A PITUITARY TUMOR REMOVED ON 3/13/02,I FEEL GREAT,,AND I GO FOR MY 2ND TREATMENT ON 2/11/03