Should I be feeling the effects of the predisone yet?

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piemom
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Should I be feeling the effects of the predisone yet?

Post by piemom »

Hi everyone...I've been going through some old posts and noticed that several people have been on Predisone at one time or another...I am curious about something...I've been on it for 8 days and haven't noticed the slightest bit of difference. Still having "D", frequently and with urgency. Should I be seeing some changes by this point? The dosage is 20mg/twice a day for 2 weeks, then down to once a day. Once that is stopped, I'll start the Endocort. It didn't really occur to me today as I was heading to the bathroom for the 3rd time in 2 hours that not much has changed so far. Any input is much appreciated!

Wendy
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tex
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Post by tex »

Wendy,

I'm not sure what the statistics are, but for those it helps, I believe that Prednisone usually works pretty fast, (within a few days). Are you experiencing any side effects? Often, those who are not helped by Prednisone, have problems with adverse side effects, (such as neurological problems).

Doctor Lewey could probably tell you what a typical response interval should be, but I suspect that he would probably recommend staying the course, as long as there are no adverse side effects. I'm just guessing here, though, obviously.

Tex
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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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Post by piemom »

Tex, somehow I knew you'd be the first to respond! Thanks...thankfully I'm not having any side effects at the moment, and things are certainly no worse, just not much better yet. Perhaps the damage to the large intestine is so great that it will take a little longer than normal to see some positive results.

Wendy
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Post by starfire »

Wendy,
Prednisone worked almost immediately for me.

My sister-in-law is another who started taking low dose pred (for a different reason) and her reaction was almost immediate also.

I don't know what your dosage is but perhaps you need a stronger one. I'd be starting to wonder and considering talking to the Dr. again.

Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Shirley,

Shes taking 40 mg per day, which should be adequate, under the circumstances.

Love,
Tex
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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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Post by Dee »

I might suspect that something in the diet may be over riding the Pred.
Even while on Entocort, if something is eaten that I have an intolerance to, I will get the D. Not as badly when first diagnosed, but the Enotcort doesn't stop it.
40mgs of Pred a day is a high enough dosage.

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Post by starfire »

Yes, 40 mg should do it. I think something else is "in play". Eight days should be plenty of time for the pred to work, in my UNeducated opinion.

Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
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Post by barbaranoela »

Wendy---yup 40 is a high dose---and I know Inside of 2 dayz I started to have less mad dashes to the *throne*

I had posted my GI;s regimentation of Pred. and the weening off--
If U didnt see it I will repeat myself--here goes

Started @ 30 mgs a day for a week then
2nd week--down to 25
3rd week--down to 20
4th week--down to 17and 1/2
5th week--down to 15
6th week down to 12 and 1/2
7th week down to 10
8th week 5
9th week 5 again and then it was finished

I had another pulmonary Dr.who started me on 30 for a week then dropped 20mgs for a week and then 10 for the last week--

Of course different issues but I gather its how each one feels the body can handle the weening off???

Taint no fun----but sometimes gotta do whats the most aggresive and effective way to go--

Good luck and do feel better

luve Barbara
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Post by Pat »

Wendy,
If it helps I am right there with you. I am only on day 6 and I have not noticed any difference either. :sad: My dosage is lower also. 30 mg for 4 days, 20 for 4 days, 10 for 4 days, and then 5 for 4 days. Then on to Entocort. I am not having any side effects that I can detect. My GI doc told me to take immodium, as many as 10 a day if necessary so that I am not having accidents. I just about fell out of my chair. It helps. I haven't taken that many but I have taken 6. (2, 2, and 2). He said just don't get constipated. What kind of diet are you following and are you taking any supplements?
Pat
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Post by harvest_table »

Hi Wendy, Pat and all :wave:

When I started pred I had been living with a number of chronic symptoms of MC for well over a year. D big time, as well as extreme muscle and joint pain, fatigue, depression and all that fun stuff. What a mess....

Pred worked really quick for me. What I noticed first within a week (about where you are at now) was relief from the body aches and pains, changes in BM's but more vividly I recall just starting to "feel good" after so long of being miserable- things just kept improving from there.

Noticed I wrote in the medical journal here that about the 3 week mark I was feeling like a million bucks and pooping properly. I don't remember what dosage I was at but this med really did the trick for me. I took it for 2 months with no problems to speak of.

Crossing fingers and toes in Alaska that you ladies will start seeing relief soon and by the way, be sure to let us know when you have your first fart...it was sure a thrill for me!
:fart2:

Pat, do you know about the prescription medication Lomotil? I used it off and on while on Entocort with good results.

Love,
Joanna
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Post by Dee »

Looked up the "Tropical Source" chocolate bars since I believe it was stated in another post pertaining to the benefits of chocolate that you eat it every day ..
Here it goes:
Evaporated cane juice
Cocoa butter
Chocolate liquor (non-alcohol)
"Soy lecithin"
"Roasted soy flour"
Vanilla extract
Maybe the soy needs to be investigated. Just a hunch....

Dee~~~
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Post by Pat »

Joanna,
Do you think Lomotil works better than Immodium? I haven't used Lomotil in a long time. Maybe way back before MC. The docs just recommended immodium.
Pat
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tex
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Post by tex »

Pat,

You might be interested in this comparison report.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... t=Abstract

Tex
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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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Post by harvest_table »

Pat,

Thats an interesting study Tex posted.

As Sally use to say, what works for some doesn't for others but in my case immodium did nothing to ease D, maybe because I was to far into chronic D and other MC symptoms. Lomotil did, by slowing my system down I guess.

So you have had experience with lomotil before MC and how did it work for you?

Love,
Joanna
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Post by Pat »

Joanna,
I really don't remember because it was so long ago. I also wanted to respond about the fart. LOL . I really have had no problem in that area at all.

Tex,
Thanks, that is about what I thought. Immodium is so cheap at Costco that I hardly see reason to switch. I could try it just to see if there was a difference, just to compare.

Pat
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