I have been diagnosed with GCA and PMR
I have been on high doses(45 mg) of Prednisone and then tapered down in a slow taper
This time back up to the same high dose due to flare of GCA
Has anybody had sensitivity in this area? Irregularity meaning many visits to the Loo each day but not with diarrhea just inability to form one BM
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced change in bowel habits?
Had it started with the flare of GCA or only once the dose went back up? And were you put on any stomach protection medication at the same time?
Once the dose went back up and due to the fact the first time no was I shift dose I didn’t have an issue so never thought To ask about stomach meds
Could be unrelated just wondering if Prednisone is known for this
Not that I know of - but who knows! Altered bowel habit should always be discussed with your GP.
I mentioned bowel habit quite a while ago since starting Pred and Calcium. Usually once a day now can be 2/3 times....I seem to think it's more the calcium that 's doing it though.
Check leaflets in boxes of Pred, Omeprazole and Calcium +K2. Really don't think you have anything to worry about as I'm the same.
On high doses I always had very loose motions first thing after taking my enteric coated Pred in early evening the day before. This got better with dose but didn’t fully go until quite low. Any change in bowel habit should be discussed with a doc though unless you can see an obvious direct early link. I found stomach meds and high dose calcium or magnesium upset the system too where I would go loose or constipated with soft stool that the bowel couldn’t get a grip of, leading to incomplete emptying. Sorry about the detail.
As you’ve had a flare I hope your reductions are going to be much slower now to avoid bouncing back up later.
You just described my B Habits to a T
Will discuss with Primary when the world settles down a bit
Also Fibre for me is not a good thing
Grains veg... cause problems normally without Pred
Hard to stay healthy when you are trying To avoid fibre and I love
My Veg
I have the flutuations Snazzy describes and it was much worse on higher doses and adding in new supplements but I also suffer from IBS and slow digestive motility.
I also have issues because of this with certain foods , including too much meat and insoluble fibre.
Have you ever been checked for IBS or had occasional griping stomach issues and bloating before your GCA?
Yes. I went from explosive diarrhea and flu like vomiting to constipation so long I called a nurse practitioner. It too passed. But don't wait too long. Now 4 years later I am off Prednisone a few weeks and have started a very complete cleanse of my body, from lymph system to toxins. I want to be free of any lingering unhealthy gut bacteria.
Hello Darcy, Interesting to read you've been taking 45 mg of Pred. Would you let me know by how many you first tapered and how long were you on the 45 mg before you started to taper? I too was started on high Pred 40 mg on 13 March, so this Friday I've been on it for 2 weeks. I'd like to start to taper now but don't know by how many and the weeks in between each taper. Due to the Virus not sure if I'll be able to get this information. Still hoping for a call from my rheumy this Friday for advice. Also when you had a flare of GCA how did that present itself ?
Thanks Anne
Hello
I was diagnosed PMR Jan 2019 and was doing well on a slow taper over 11 months down to 11mg...feeling very well.. then the CRP skyrocketed up to 50 with no evident signs of discomfort except for a stiff but not painful jaw. Enough of a concern for a Temporal artery biopsy which confirmed GCA. This happened March 1st 2020.I am now back up to 40 mg and in a holding pattern. Of course you worry about being on high doses of Prednisone but with bone density testing and bone building meds and control of sugar intake I think the positives
Outweigh the negatives.. slow and steady and try to stay positive
My GP put me on 40mg for 3 days to reduce inflammation quickly, then drop to 20mg. After 16 month am down to 3.5 through very careful tapering. Am now slowly tapering to 3mg. I have had odd BM movements during all this time. One way sometimes and then the other. I think it has to do with changing diet and an occasional med.
I think my constipation is caused by calcium tablets - use prunes
I take Pantoprazole when I first wake up. Since I had diverticulitis about a year ago my doctor has me drinking a glass of citrucil every day also. So far so good.
Rheumy's concern about infection?
Concerned about pred level
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Still concerned about statins
Haemorrhoids itching and Bowels.
