Hello and welcome to all and to the new members, I've been trying to catch up on the last couple of weeks of posts.
I have not been visiting here too much over the last few weeks and am just catching up on all of the posts. Overall My MC and Crohns have been doing quiet well, probably due to the amount of steroids I have been getting for my spinal treatments. Over the past 7 months I have been dealing with a new Dx of Ankylosing Spondlyitis and the finding of 3 levels of stenosis, osteoarthritis and facet joint degradation in the lumbar region.
To treat the spinal inflammation I have been going through a series of spinal injections with Depo Medrol (basically prednisone) both in the spinal canal and in the facet joints. Overall after the first 2 series of these it has settled down the pain. With the high doses of the steroids, the GI symptoms have been pretty good. The plan going forward is to have another series in January and there is a pretty good chance that this combined with other meds I take may settle all of this down for quite a while. What 'quite a while' is varies person to person it seems, so it will be trial and error.
Tex I'm just about done reading the book, it's a great read and a great collection and presentation of the knowledge you have accumulated and are wiling to share. Thanks for putting that together.
I have tried to to say hello to the new members and if I missed any.... Hello and welcome to the board.
Quick Update
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Quick Update
Joe
Hi Joe,
It's good to see you back posting again, and of course it's great to see that your treatment program is coming along so well. Thank you for the kind words about the book, and I hope that by the time you're ready to make that trip to Oz, your back and your digestive system will be performing almost as good as new, so that you can concentrate on enjoying the trip.
Incidentally, I did manage to get the book listed in the iBookstore. I believe it's been available there since Sept. 20, FWIW.
Thank you for the update,
Tex
It's good to see you back posting again, and of course it's great to see that your treatment program is coming along so well. Thank you for the kind words about the book, and I hope that by the time you're ready to make that trip to Oz, your back and your digestive system will be performing almost as good as new, so that you can concentrate on enjoying the trip.
Incidentally, I did manage to get the book listed in the iBookstore. I believe it's been available there since Sept. 20, FWIW.
Thank you for the update,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Hello there Jenny and thanks for the kind comments, I hope this settles down for quite a while...I'm pretty burned out on pain and the effects of the meds. The good news is that I am doing better, I've had a good solid week of no pain, what a treat!
Nestlé loved the hug and sends her best of a smile and about a thousand tail wags. She has been great these past months, I'm not sure what I would do without her.
Tex that's great about the books listing as iBooks has a huge subscriber base. I wonder if its listed in th USA iBooks does it list in the other countries iBooks? Apple seems to have a 'store' in each country.
I have backed off posting for a while mostly due to the the side effects of the meds and my reactions to them, basically a picture of a kitten would make me grumpy ....
With these injections, in the period of just 4 weeks I have been given a a dose of methyl prednisolone of about 260mg into the spinal joints. For comparison a normal daily maintenance dose of this med would be in the range of 8 - 20mg. This version of the med is supposed to absorb slowly into the system as its in a particulate form that is supposed to stay locally for a longer period of time, but even with that, its been very tough with the effects on my attitude as I have been quite grumpy with a lot of anxiety.
The Prednisone types of meds in the higher doses can really affect how well you feel emotionally. I have never experienced this before.
Nestlé loved the hug and sends her best of a smile and about a thousand tail wags. She has been great these past months, I'm not sure what I would do without her.
Tex that's great about the books listing as iBooks has a huge subscriber base. I wonder if its listed in th USA iBooks does it list in the other countries iBooks? Apple seems to have a 'store' in each country.
I have backed off posting for a while mostly due to the the side effects of the meds and my reactions to them, basically a picture of a kitten would make me grumpy ....
With these injections, in the period of just 4 weeks I have been given a a dose of methyl prednisolone of about 260mg into the spinal joints. For comparison a normal daily maintenance dose of this med would be in the range of 8 - 20mg. This version of the med is supposed to absorb slowly into the system as its in a particulate form that is supposed to stay locally for a longer period of time, but even with that, its been very tough with the effects on my attitude as I have been quite grumpy with a lot of anxiety.
The Prednisone types of meds in the higher doses can really affect how well you feel emotionally. I have never experienced this before.
Joe
Hi Joe,
It's nice to see you posting again. You're on quite a high dosage of prednisone - it's no wonder that you haven't been feeling like your regular self. I hope the treatment will help for a long time and you'll be able to live pain-free for a while. Heaven knows, it's time for you to get a break. I hope your trip to Australia happens as you plan. I'm already looking forward to the pictures.
Gloria
It's nice to see you posting again. You're on quite a high dosage of prednisone - it's no wonder that you haven't been feeling like your regular self. I hope the treatment will help for a long time and you'll be able to live pain-free for a while. Heaven knows, it's time for you to get a break. I hope your trip to Australia happens as you plan. I'm already looking forward to the pictures.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Oh Joe! I really feel for you. I was on 60 mgs a day for 6 months. I had horrible mood changes. I couldn't sleep, couldn't read (I haven't regained my level of reading since then), was impatient, bounced off the walls etc., etc. Coming off it was worse than being on it. It took me another 6 months.The Prednisone types of meds in the higher doses can really affect how well you feel emotionally. I have never experienced this before.
I am so glad, that emotional effects notwithstanding, the pain has been decreased significantly. Positive thoughts going out your way for an easy weaning and continued pain free days!!
Hi Joe, It's nice to see you posting again. It's good to hear the update and I'm glad the treatments are starting to reduce your pain. It sounds like you are in good hands. Keep us posted.
Carol
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Great to see you around Joe and glad that taking all of those meds has helped you out. It will still take time but at the end of this long road I sure hope you get to visit OZ and better yet, retire there.
Miss you around here and know what you mean about kittens making you grumpy - it seems to be my state of affairs lately.
Love, Maggie
Miss you around here and know what you mean about kittens making you grumpy - it seems to be my state of affairs lately.
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
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Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
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Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
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Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Thanks to all for your kind notes.
Maggie it's great to hear from you! Sorry to hear about things affecting your attitude. For me it really was just the prednisone, both a combination of 7 months of oral prednisone and then 2 series of the time released version they inject into your spine to help settle down inflammation. That stuff helps but it's a real 2 edged sword with the other effects it has on the body as a whole. It works but has a pretty hefty price as a whole.
Take care Maggie
Maggie it's great to hear from you! Sorry to hear about things affecting your attitude. For me it really was just the prednisone, both a combination of 7 months of oral prednisone and then 2 series of the time released version they inject into your spine to help settle down inflammation. That stuff helps but it's a real 2 edged sword with the other effects it has on the body as a whole. It works but has a pretty hefty price as a whole.
Take care Maggie
Joe