Prednisone and I have a love hate relationship. We go back to the beginning of my UC journey. When I was first diagnosed with UC it was mild, and my doctors had me take Canassas, then this foam, and finally Lialda. We discovered I was most likely allergic to the main ingredient since my symptoms only seemed to get worse. Thus began the Prednisone. Just to give a time line. I started the other medication in March of 2009, and around July we started the prednisone. I was only on it for about a month but it really did the trick. Not only did all my UC symptoms disappear, I stayed in remission until July 2011 with out any medication. Here we begin the 7 month battle. I started to flare up in July 2011, but because I couldn't take any of the medications for mild UC, and Insurance wouldn't help with the stronger medication unless I had moderate to severe UC, we had to play the waiting game. 7 months on prednisone made me absolutely hate this medication. My face rounded out, I had massive mood swings, anxiety... Luckily in February of 2012 my flare up became severe, and insurance would cover Remicade. I was able to wean off the Prednisone, my face went back to normal, and my emotional wellbeing recovered. I have had to get back on Prednisone twice since then. Only for a short time. The longest has been 2 months. Even in that 2 months my face has rounded out again, and I have put on 12 extra pounds. Not what you want when you just spent 12 weeks to lose those 12 pounds.
I am at the end of my latest relationship with Prednisone. Yes I gained 12 pounds, and yes I have the "moon" face again, but it did its job and I'm back on my way to remission with a new medication. Fingers crossed I can go another couple of years before needing to meet up with Prednisone again.
