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Steroids for inflammation

Posted , 5 users are following.

Katebrenda
Katebrenda

my partner has been prescribed Budesonide for inflammation due to Crohns. Since taking it he has felt constantly drained and tired, irritable, depressed, unable to sleep. Has anyone else suffered similar symptoms? He is weaning off now and is down to 1 a day but feels dreadful, will this go away. He also has a raised PSA reading,which he is seeing a different consultant for.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • IndieHannah
    IndieHannah Katebrenda

    Posted

    In my experience steroids are notorious for being extremely difficult to quit. Mainly because the disease flares and it feels like your back to square one.

    When I get down to the last tiny dosage I just stop and prepare myself for a few weeks of difficulties..... It always passes eventually and the mood swings and depression always go.

    Maybe consider a liquid diet to help calm the Crohn's and give the bowel a rest.

    Wishing you the best of luck x

    • IndieHannah
      IndieHannah Katebrenda

      Posted

      Might be fluid retention re the weight gain...... But this happened to me once where unusually my appetite was diminished on steroids. Turned out I had fiberous stricturing and no active inflammation so had to have surgery

      Maybe speak with a nurse specialist if you have one on the gastro team and see if they can help

    • fred1954
      fred1954 IndieHannah

      Posted

      Interesting. How long do you stay on a liquid diet. I eat chicken and then lots of soft foods and water
    • IndieHannah
      IndieHannah fred1954

      Posted

      The liquid diet I use is called Modulen IBD and it's usually taken for a minimum of eight weeks. So it really is no solid food and only water to drink. It's difficult as everything socially revolves around food, but you know that anyway!!

      The diet will give you all the vits and minerals you need and virtually no waste..... So no more long toilet visits.

      It has always helped me gain remission without the use of steroids but occasionally have used it alongside steroids.

      It's a hard treatment to stick to but has none of the nasty side effects that other treatments do

  • nannylin
    nannylin Katebrenda

    Posted

    I was like this while on Prednisone , felt awful no sleep couldn't stop eating. All went back to normal when I stopped them.
    • Katebrenda
      Katebrenda nannylin

      Posted

      Thank you. He has been on Prednisone before but don't think he had same side effects. He has put on weight too but has no appetite.
  • lynne42182
    lynne42182 Katebrenda

    Posted

    Hi

    im a long term Crohn's patient, and have done steroids for many years off and on, and they are the one thing that sorts me out, the side effects are a killer, but they do wear off, when and how does your husband take them, that can have a big effect on sleeping?

    • Katebrenda
      Katebrenda lynne42182

      Posted

      He takes them in the morning and has now weaned himself down to 1 per day, reduced from 3 a day, taking the reduced number for 2 weeks. He has been having headaches and neck pain whilst doing this. Does that sound familiar? He is also diabetic and they have reeked havoc with his blood sugar. Sees the specialist this week so hope he will have some answers.
    • lynne42182
      lynne42182 Katebrenda

      Posted

      The blood sugar sounds right, I became a diabetic at one stage because of the pills,   but checking it out they are possible side effect, it does take some time for the side effects to go, but the lower the dose the better it is, it's just the down side of them, has the crohns inflammation calmed down?

      it will get better, just takes time, and I really do understand the frustration, it's horrible and my heart goes out to you, it's not easy when your partner is unwell, ask my husband, he is a saint, keep your chin up your not alone

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