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Using Prednisolone - will this stop UC showing up on a colonoscopy?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Mummajojo1978
Mummajojo1978

Morning all

When I went to A & E on Sunday, the doctor gave me prednisilone to reduce the inflammation and symptoms up until my colonoscopy which I have booked for 9th Sept on the NHS. I'm going for a private consultation on Thursday as my family are extremely concerned & therefore possibly may have a private colonoscopy next Friday.

I'm just concerned that by the time I get to have my colonoscopy will this med have eradicated the ulcers or reduce the swelling so much that it's not as easy for the consultant to see any damage?

I'm sure this is a really stupid question & that UC sufferers will probably think if only so easy to get rid of having UC! I've just had such a hard time with bleeding & other symptoms over the last 2 months that I'd hate to pay £2k to be told that they can't see anything wrong!

Took first dose last night & already noticed a big improvement! Wish I'd started this med months ago.

Any advice would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Jo

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • xyz634
    xyz634 Mummajojo1978

    Posted

    Steroids are likely to give a large improvement and so likelihood is no active inflammation will be seen on colonoscopy. However, they will take biopsies and so be able to tell if there is microscopic inflammation (and there still will be if you have UC). The severity of disease will come back as low, but they will still be able to diagnose and tell the extent of the disease.
  • joan18709
    joan18709 Mummajojo1978

    Posted

    Be aware that steroids have a lot of side serious effects. Read up on them online. Also when you go off of them you have to wean very slowly. Steroids do not cure UC.
    • Mummajojo1978
      Mummajojo1978 joan18709

      Posted

      Thanks for the info. I read the leaflet and it said that there were no side effects with this med but when I looked on line it said very different, confused! I don't know anything about the stuff, just given a prescription at a & e & the junior doc told me they were tablets so shows how much he knew!! 

      I didn't think it would cure it but didn't want it to eradicate the ulcers or inflammation so much so that the consultant couldn't see anything on the colonoscopy.

      As you can tell I'm very new to all of this!!

      Thanks so much for your help. X

  • joan18709
    joan18709 Mummajojo1978

    Posted

    Do you know what started this? Antibiotics, food poisoning, did go swimming?

    Joan

    • Mummajojo1978
      Mummajojo1978 joan18709

      Posted

      They don't know Joan. We've had awful problems with our neighbours for the last year so have been pretty stressed out as the girl living their had behavioural issues and has been terrorising our family so think it may be that but otherwise not really sure. My son always picks up horrible germs from playgroup & we're always poorly with something so could be that too?! Clueless!! Just came on one day & has got worse ever since :-( Got to say that so far this foam has already helped lots. Is it common for it to work so quickly? Only had 2 doses! Xx
    • joan18709
      joan18709 Mummajojo1978

      Posted

      I am happy for you that the foam is working. Yes it can word that fast.

      I asked about the cause because different causes need different treatment. Make sure you take plenty of really good probiotis.

  • gabe99
    gabe99 Mummajojo1978

    Posted

    They may not know what causes UC, but I believe that stress has a lot to do with it.  Having two babies and a difficult neighbour may be enough to set things off.

    I don't know your situation, but when you said earlier that you don't have time to do relaxation exercises for fifteen minutes, it's easy to see that you have your hands full.  Is there any chance that you can get someone ( a babysitter, a family member) come in either every day or every couple of days for an hour or two to give you a break?  That might be helpful.

    As for the meds clearing up ulcerations in a couple of days, that's highly unlikely.  And if it does, that would mean that your symptoms would likely be gone and you should be happy!

    Good luck!

    • Mummajojo1978
      Mummajojo1978 gabe99

      Posted

      I certainly have my hands full but is the best job in the world so yeah it can be stressful but I don't believe they cause me stress that could in anyway cause me harm as I tend to take motherhood in my stride. The neighbour thing on the other hand has almost sent me crazy, this girl has tormented us for a year & it has been beyond stressful. I've never let myself get that stressed before but she has certainly brought out a side I didn't even know I had! She & the carers have just moved out so all very quiet now, there is a god!! I go to physio once a week which although painful I find it's 'my time' to relax! I do wonder whether this groin pain I get is related to my 'possible' UC??

      The steroid foam has certainly worked as only one BM today & no blood but have quite severe cramps & my lower tummy feels really sore. It's just nice to have spent a few hours with my family without spending the duration in the loo! 

      Thanks Gabe x

  • Hurricane
    Hurricane Mummajojo1978

    Posted

    Odds are even if the inflammation is reduced, this close to an attack there should still be some signs of UC.
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