Crohn's and Prednisone - Crohn's Disease / Ulcerative Colitis Message Board

Xanthic411 · 11-07-2002, 10:49 AM

I was just recently diagnosed with Crohn's disease. One of the medications that they have me on is prednisone. I was wondering what the side effects are. I have heard that it might cause a puffy appearance to the face and mayeb some acne. I am really worried about having a "puffy" face, so if anyone here takes prednisone, has taken it in the past, or knows someone who is one it, please please please tell me what you know.. I dont want to look nasty with a puffy face. By the way I'm 14.

-Madeline

lilrayofhope · 11-07-2002, 01:38 PM

Hi Madeline! I'm sorry to hear that you have Crohn's Disease. That's NO fun. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (also a form of IBD). I'm 14 too. I was put on prednisone, a total of...6 times in the past year. Whenever I was put on a really high dosage to control my 'flare-ups', I would get some acne on my face. It wasn't that bad though. I also would get mood swings. I could really be a real ***** at times, but people excused it because they knew it was the medicine. I also got the 'jitters' a lot, and had trouble sleeping. Right now I'm 'weaning' off prednisone. I'm on 20 mg and going down, yeh! I'm having to take it in the morning since I couldn't sleep at nights from the 'jitters'. When I first started taking it I got really worried about the puffy face too. However, it's really easy to manage. Just watch your salt intake. Try to cut down on the amount of salt you eat in foods, like potato chips and pretzels. When ever I would get the puffiness (which really isn't that bad), I'd just drink a lot of water. It goes away once you drink the water. I never found prednisone to actually help with my IBD, but apparently it has, because now (I just had my 3rd colonoscopy/enodoscopy done) and it turns out I'm doing REALLY well. So there is hope. Good luck! And really don't be scared about taking prednisone, the side effects (at least for me) weren't bad at all and about 2 weeks after you're done taking the steriod, the side effects go away, no puffy face, no acne. It's all gone once you're done. So, hang in there!!!

-Carlie

Xanthic411 · 11-07-2002, 10:14 PM

Carlie-
Thank you SOOOOO much! That was the most encouraging reply that I have gotten. I went to a website today about teens with crohn's and everyone was so dicouraging, but you gave me hope! The only thing that really sucks is that I hated having the colonoscopy, and endoscopy (sp?) The prep for it was HORRIFIC, not being able to eat for 3 days and drinking that stuff that makes you throw up... and the cramps.. OH THE CRAMPS! I was hoping that I would only have to have it done once. I remember them putting me out (of course not "all th way" for whatever reasons they had) and I remember it really hurting too.. I guess I'll just have to suck it up if I end up having ot get it done again.. but THANK you SO much for your reply!
-Madeline

lilrayofhope · 11-07-2002, 11:10 PM

Madeline,
I'm sorry to hear that you got some discouraging stuff. Sometimes people get really down when they find out the have IBD. It's not a fun disease to have, and people can get embarrassed. Expecially at our age. Anyways, OMG, I'm right there with you. My first scope was horrible. Not only was I craving food so bad, but then you had to drink that stuff that made you sick as a dog. I figured "Just get the test over with and you'll be fine", but then after the test I was even sicker. I was throwing up blood from the biopsies, hurting like you wouldn't beleive, etc. But then the second scope I had went...better. This last one wasn't too great. The day that I wasn't allowed to eat was Halloween. Yeap! Of all days right? SO the whole time I was craving candy, but I pulled through and got wonderful news!!! It turns out that I'm doing really really well!!! I'm not in a flare-up and I feel pretty good!! So just goes to show that you can have good times too. And that's what we have to remember. Living with IBD is tough, but it IS liveable. STAY STRONG HUN! You're doin' great. Oh! And don't worry about getting another scope. I had to have so many because of other reasons (lot of weight loss) but usually you just have to have a scope once every 2-5 years unless you're having a lot of flare-ups.

-Carlie

11-08-2002, 12:37 AM

Unfortunately, Prednisolone is a steroid and although steroids reduce inflammation, they have lots of side effects, such as steroid induced acne and long-term use can create steroid induced diabetes. That is the same reason that you are experiencing a puffy face. This I am afraid is typical of steroids and is called a 'Moon Face'. You can also get an increase in appetite and can gain weight easily. Sorry not to bring more good news, but try to get off them asap as soon as your tummy is a bit better.

There are more natural ways of reducing inflammation rather than steroids, but you would have to go and see an ND rather than an MD.