Prednisone and lower gi distress
Posted , 12 users are following.
I have had pmr for 2 years and am on 6 mg pred. as soon as i started on the pred, i had lower gi distress--lots of rumbling and roiling but with very bad pred-induced constipation--which i still have, by the way. anyway, when i told my gp about my lower gi distress, he said it wasnt the pred, that pred affects the upper gi system, not the lower. hmmmm. in my opinion, pred affects just about everything. i figured that with all my weakened muscles, the internal ones were probably weakened as well. things did settle down when i got below 10 mg. the roiling and rumbling and cramping got better.
however, we just went on a weeks vacation where i ate fatty unhealthy food (VERY atypical for me) and my tummy is torn up. i knew better but did it anyway, thinking i would be ok. im not. very untypical for me. has anyone else had lower gi problems with either the pred or the pmr...i'd be interested to hear. thanks!
0 likes, 12 replies
Michdonn Twopies
Posted
Twopies, I normal had trouble with constipation, how just opposite never know when I'm going to have to run to the John. I know whether it's the pred or the change of diet. 🙂
Twopies Michdonn
Posted
OH NO! sounds like its an ongoing issue for you then? how long in your humble opinion does it take for things to calm down once youve had an "episode?" thanks, michdonn!
susan43406 Twopies
Posted
I don't know if this will help but I have had problems since reducing carbs because of raised blood sugar with the pred. I have found taking a teaspoon a day of Psyllium husk in water very helpful. I've increased now to twice a day and problem solved. Its a natural product you can add to soup, yoghurt or just water. Important to drink a glass of fluid when you have it too. Might be worth a try. Hope this helps.
Twopies susan43406
Posted
thanks! does/did your raised blood sugar show up on blood tests? my results are always normal.
susan43406 Twopies
Posted
Actually discovered it was raised when I had a urinary infection (very unusual for me). Blood tests showed my HbA1c was 45 which is Prediabetic. I've bought a glucometer and find if I cut carbs especially midday my blood sugar is normal thankfully.
Anhaga Twopies
Posted
Coincidentally I spent this afternoon with a friend of mine who suffers from IBS. She has for the past couple of months being following something called FODMAP (I think) and is feeling quite a bit better. You may be sensitive to some foods and that can cause problems which seem way out of proportion to what you've eaten.
Twopies Anhaga
Posted
Yes, im familiar with fodmap and have tried it somewhat. this latest blast of gi distress is coming on the heels of a vacation where i ate basically unhealthy fat foods everyday...imagining myself as 20, I guess. since i was only on the bad diet for a week, i figured id feel better after 3 days but today is day 3 and im still pretty upset. ever since ive been on pred, my lower gi system has been wonky...never a problem before. my gp who treats my pmr was pretty insistent that pred affects the upper gi, not the lower. thats not been my experience. the first week on pred i was miserable. its kind of like what michdonn said--constipation (most of the time for me) and general discomfort and now, just the opposite. a roller coaster ride. thank you for mentioning fodmap--Ill revisit it again.
Mrs_CJ Twopies
Posted
prednisone can effect how your body metabolizes carbs. I see you have mentioned eating a lot more fats, but perhaps you also ate more carbs . If you think this may be true for you, you need to find your carb threshold......fir some it is more sugary things and others it is more like bakery items (grains and sugars) or even white potatoes.....a spectrum!
BtW, I am currently trying fodmaps with a bit of success. I am looking forward to being off the prednisone to see if it is indeed the oroblem for my GI "rumblings"!
EileenH Twopies
Posted
Are you also on a PPI (omeprazole or the like) which you started at about the same time as the pred?
Bur if you avoid a food group for some time and then suddenly reintroduce it in quantity your body will express its opinion!!!!
Twopies EileenH
Posted
no ppi. my body has strong opinions.!
gillian82551 Twopies
Posted
Hello
Yes I also have lower intestinal problems - mainly very loose bowels and constant urination during the night - every 2 to 3 hours plus some incontinence. I also have weakened hip muscles and a weak core body. I have to rely on crutches to get about.
Have had PMR for nearly 5 years. Have tried 3 times to reduce the Pred and have stopped taking it, only to suffer a urine infection and the return of the dreaded disease. Doing some exercises to strengthen the muscles. Am now on 10mg and hope to go down to 9mg next week. The Doc told me that the steroids affect the soft tissue and so they must attack all muscle and tissue within the body I would have thought. I wish there was some drug that could be used instead of Prednisolone with all it's side affects.
EileenH gillian82551
Posted
There is an effective steroid sparer in the form of Actemra - which for many patients will reduce the level of pred required a great deal although it may not remove the need for pred entirely. Under the circumstances you might qualify for it so it might be worth asking.
But frankly - I hope the bowel/bladder problems have been investigated by an expert in the field and this is not just the opinion of a GP or rheumy? These are potentially symptoms of more serious things than PMR.