Effects of short-dose steroids on colonoscopy results a month later

[Moodledoo]

Hi there,

I have done something foolish I know (no judgment please, I've been hard enough on myself).

I regularly have diarrhoea that is so bad I am housebound. I am in the process of being investigated for microscopic colitis.

We recently went on holiday and the return journey was a bit of a nightmare (bus/ferry/flight/etc). I don't know what I was thinking when I booked it to be honest.

3 days before this journey home my diarrhoea kicked off so badly I couldn't leave the apartment. In desperation I took 30mcg prednisone for 3 days (left over from when I was on it to maintain a pregnancy after a history of miscarriage - taken with me "just in case") - same dose as I took then, so it wasn't a complete punt in the dark, and I knew that when I was pregnant my bowels had been much much better.

I do know that doing this without medical advice wasn't clever (or possibly legal), and when I had the recent consult with the consultant I didn't tell him (though am wondering whether to get in touch and come clean so he has all pieces of the jigsaw).

The results were, however, verging on miraculous and the journey home was fine. 3 days or so after I finished them I was back to pretty much constant diarrhoea.

My question is, is this 3 days blast of steroids likely to have any impact on the results of a colonoscopy which is due to be done early September (which will be a month after the 3 days of prednisone)?

Many thanks - and be kind, I do know this wasn't clever 🙄

Moodle

[bantam12]

I would suggest you tell your consultant what you did and let him/her decide rather than go through all the prep and procedure and risk getting a false result.

[MWZ3]

Actually I’m thinking if that worked for you why aren’t you on them all the time, maybe reduced dosage or intermittent. You shouldn’t need to suffer with no help to manage. I take something either a maintenance dose or up the dose at my own discretion to 8 pills a day. Two is maintenance. Pyralin EN which is sulfasalazine is my script. I’m lucky as they work for me.

[Moodledoo in reply to MWZ3]

thank you - i do agree. I'm pretty sure the GP will point blank refuse to entertain anything other than peppermint tea (her recent suggestion when I told her i was going to the loo 20+ times per day...). I spent 20 years being told IBS before my coeliac and Bile Acid Malabsorption diagnoses, and they are just saying the same now. So I have little faith there in her trialling steroids.

I have more faith in the consultant but will see what the scopes turn up I guess.

thanks again and I hope the meds keep working for you

[bantam12 in reply to Moodledoo]

Bile acid malabsorption will cause the diarrhoea, do you take anything for it ? I take Colestyramine and it has worked really well, it’s also given for IBDs.

[Moodledoo in reply to bantam12]

Yes I’m on 6 x colesevelam. Much much better than without but still dreadful patches. I didn’t realise til recently that binders were used for IBDs too

[Mimbabe]

I understand why you did it who wouldn’t? We all need relief from our terrible health conditions and side effects. However I do think you need to tell your consultant and hopefully they will prescribe you what you need permanently.

[bantam12]

I have UC and have been on Asacol and in remission for 25 years, it’s such a relief to find the right meds that work !

[Howlinwolf999]

Totally get where you are coming from and pretty sure in your shoes would have done the same. It's been quite a long time since I have taken prednisone but it is marvellous when under medical supervision. When on the 2 or 3 occasions when I used prednisone it was 40mg for the first couple of weeks, then 35, then 30 then 25 etc it was very effective in my case, but we all react diffrently to medication. I can't see how 3 days worth will have any impact on your colonoscopy but it is worth telling your consultant just in case, if they have full information they are better place to give appropriate advice.

[Moodledoo in reply to Howlinwolf999]

thanks Just back from surviving a festival (just massive doses of immodium this time 🙄).

I think I probably need to start living within the constraints of my condition but I so resent it

Interesting that it worked well for you. I hope things have stayed ok for you. thanks again.