This really helped my flare

[1tuffcookie]

I recently had a nasty IC flare. You know the drill: your abdomen swells till you look 4 months pregnant; you pee every 10 minutes and even when you're not peeing, you feel like you need to; and worst of all is the pain that saps your strength and drives you to desperation. My pain meds hardly touched it. I noticed an improvement in swelling when I doubled the dose of my anti-inflammatory, Bextra. (Doc okayed it, and I take meds to protect my stomach from it.) So I reasoned that a stronger anti-inflammatory should help more, and I tried a Medrol Dose Pack. In case you don't know, it's a short course of Prednisone that tapers down over 6 days. But I didn't feel much better after 24 hours, so I added Diflucan, the anti-yeast med that I remembered had helped me in a flare once before. Bingo! The flare finally ended.

I'm very allergic to yeast, so it doesn't take much to cause problems. And I know we're all different, so this won't help everybody. But I know how awful a flare is, so if it could help even one person, I had to post this!

[dyno]

I'm glad it helped and also glad you are talking to your Dr. before doing anything different with medications.:)

[Sarojini]

I carry an emergency course of prednisone around in case my regular asthma meds don't work.

However, I'm not sure I'd recommend taking courses of prednisone very often... the side effects of regular use of systemic steroids are extremely severe and include adrenal insufficiency (your adrenal glands decide to quit working), diabetes, cataracts, osteoporosis, suppression of the immune system, and decreased ability to heal after surgeries, infections, etc.

For quick fixes they're okay, but more than a couple times a year can be trouble...

However, yeast infections, even the very beginnings of them, can make me flare... so I totally agree that checking for one and then taking Diflucan if you have one can help :)

[1tuffcookie]

Yes, I forgot to mention Prednisone/Cortisone's nasty side effects if you take it too long or too often, so I'm glad you did. I've had problems with the lowered immunity before. I was glad to see the pharmacy is now putting a label on it cautioning patients to avoid people with infectious diseases. I just wish someone would invent a med that works as well but doesn't have the side effects! But I have to take it a little more often than I'd like sometimes because of other health problems. I guess it's from my fibromyalgia and maybe also tendinitis/bursitis that I've had before, but every 3 or 4 months I get so much pain in knees and/or hips that I can barely walk. I try everything I can think of first before I do the Medrol Dose Pack--it's a last resort.

[Beavcan]

As a nurse an IC suffer, what is the effect of Prednisone for IC flairs? It would seem like a good drug, but the side effects are bad. You would think it would help decrease the irritability of the bladder wall, and lining. I have heard nothing about it. Anti -inflammatories, are mentioned a little.

[Lou]

Although presdnisone is not good for you, I am taking it for ulcerative colitis and lupus, and I found that it did help my ic symptoms as well, which are quite severe. I have to have blood tests once a month and am monitored carefully because of the side effects, and so far (2yrs) I am o.k. These are hard choices to make ...I was worried about it, but my gastroenterologist said that he has had people on low doses for many years, and as long as one is careful, its a trade-off. Its been a blessed relief for me, but, the end result always is to taper it off completely.

[makeyourday]

Lou, I hope you don't mind me asking, but which came first, your ulcerative colitis or IC?

[Indy]

Hi. I have a few comments here. First, the prednisone is known to make you succeptible to yeast infections so taking a diflucan with it is a smart idea.

I have been alergy tested for yeast and tested positive on the skin but negative on the RAST blood test. Whatever, I know for a fact that yeast is a major problem for me and a big contributor to flares. I can handle it in small amounts during remissions.

I found this out after observing Passover 3 years in a row and eating Matzah! It's not the wheat that was the problem but the yeast/leavening. It makes sense since it is fermented and other fermented things cause trouble for IC too. For example, we can get the acid out of vinegar but that is also a fermented product so it can still be a problem.

Anyways, just my thoughts.

[Indy]

I forgot to add that since we have added a steroid to my heparin installations, I am feeling improvement. I don't worry about it entering my bloodstream.

[1tuffcookie]

Beavcan, I haven't read or heard much about oral Prednisone being used for IC, either.

Lou, I'm glad Prednisone is helping you! :D You're right about it being a trade-off. I think many meds or like that. What's your dose? Have you had problems with weight gain and/or water retention? Some of my family members have taken it for years at low doses and they had problems with weight, water retention, and diabetes brought on from the drug. I have to be really careful with it, or I gain weight, too.

Indy, that's great you're improving! :) I tested positive to a skin test, but I haven't had a blood test. When you eat or drink something with yeast in it, do you get any other symptoms besides bladder flares? I'm just curious. Before I noticed any bladder effects I had other problems. I would get a migraine and throw up. In fact, that's what still happens if I get too much yeast. You're right about the fermenting--I've read that. I think that's why I couldn't/can't drink wine, wine coolers, or other alcoholic drinks.

[Indy]

Hi.

Now that you suggested other possible food reactions, I think I might get headaches too.

When I first got this disease 10 years ago, I was told to live off meat, bread and potatoes.

It was amazing when I found out how much yeast was bothering me. I also get lots of yeast infections but the allergist and nutrionist claim it's not the same kind of yeast (brewer's yeast) that the infections are and they are not related.

I have been trying alternate grains like spelt tortillas and pasta. They taste great but wouldn't you know these grains have more potassium than a banana!

I just got so disgusted yesterday I had a cup of decaf and a chocolate brownie for the first time in 6 months! I gave in to the PMS-I'm not a martyr!

I'm waiting for the payback.

[Lou]

Originally posted by makeyourday
Lou, I hope you don't mind me asking, but which came first, your ulcerative colitis or IC?

I first got IC somewhere in the early 1990's and was finally diagnosed in "97. Then I got acute ulcerative colitis, where it was a question of removing my colon, or trying to save it with massive doses of prednisone. Yes, I gained a lot of weight, but as I tapered it off, the weight came off too. Last autumn I found out I have lupus, so I was back on the prednisone, and now I am tapering off again, I now take 1 or 2 mg a day, depending on my pain and inflammation level. At one point I was taking 40 or 50 mg. I find that it does help my ic, without question....the inflammation decreases, although the frequency is always there.

[1tuffcookie]

Lou--Bless your heart, you've been through so much! Thanks for your input. I'm glad the Prednisone helped your IC pain, too. You must be doing a lot better now if you're down to 1 or 2 mg. Will you stay there, or will you soon be totally off the Prednisone?

[Lou]

Thanks, cookie:hi:

My goal is to get off completely, but even 1 or 2 mg can help a lot. I'll be seeing one of my docs next week and we'll see....I really hate taking so many meds because...frankly...its hard not to get confused sometimes:confused: