Question:

Luckily, I only have 7 or 8 inches of my small bowel inflamed… so the surgury should not provide any major life changes… Questions:  Has anyone had any experience with prednisone and long term ileitis?  Can it help if most if the inflamed tissue is now scar tissue? Another question (the real one):  Has anyone had this kind of surgery?  If so, what can I expect? Thanks! -evan

Well, Evan, I can’t answer your question about the surgery.  But I do have PLENTY of experience with prednisone and CD. I was first diagnosed with CD in 1982, and have been taking prednisone ever since.  As much as I hate taking it, I have to admit that when I try to wean myself from it, I get almost immediate, and usually bad, flare-ups.  I thought, at first, that the flares might just be an initial reaction from not taking the prednisone, but this was not the case, as the flare lasted until I started taking the pills again (about 2 weeks).  I do know of some people who stopped taking the prdnisone with no problems, however, so this might just be my case. Perhaps it has something to do with how much of the bowel is affected. In my case, it’s almost the whole thing. Hope this helps you. Harold

Response:

Hi .. I’m new to the newsgroup so here is a little background: I am 26 and have had abdominal pain for 5 or 6 years… the past few year I have seen a number of doctors, but have only recently been diagnosed with CD ( I moved to a new state with MUCH better doctors and medical centers!) The pain has been getting much worse over the past year or so.. I haven’t had a full nights sleep in 9 months or so and I am in varying derees of pain through most of the day.. I have been on mesalamine (asacol then pentasa) for 5 weeks now, and it has done little-to-no good..  After another CAT scan this friday I will probably be put on prednisone for 10 day to see if that helps… If not, it’s surgery time. Luckily, I only have 7 or 8 inches of my small bowel inflamed… so the surgury should not provide any major life changes… Questions:  Has anyone had any experience with prednisone and long term ileitis?  Can it help if most if the inflamed tissue is now scar tissue? Another question (the real one):  Has anyone had this kind of surgery?  If so, what can I expect? Thanks! -evan

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