jdd@allegra.UUCP (11/08/83)
About a month ago I was diagnosed as having ulcerative colitis. My
gastroenterologist, whom I think is good (he was recommended by a doctor I
think is good), sent me home with prescriptions for Prednisone (synthetic
cortisone) and Asulfadine (sulfa plus aspirin). I'm having a few problems
with this treatment that I'd like advice on. (Ideally, of course, I would
discuss these problems with my doctor, but he seems hesitant to do so.)
First, the cortisone has significant mood-altering properties. I'm
sufficiently zombied-out, at the dosage I'm taking, that I can't get very
much work, or anything else, done. This is disconcerting; is there any way
around this?
Secondly, the symptoms don't seem to be clearing up very fast. At first,
the gastroenterologist said that he didn't think I'd be on the cortisone
long (with "long" meaning "six months to a year or more"), but he hasn't
said that recently. Any idea of the success rate for cortisone?
Lastly, my gastroenterologist has said nothing about the causes of the
colitis or of long-term strategies to keep it from recurring. Assuming I
ever get that far, what should I do to keep from having it again?
Any advice will be welcomed, though not necessarily followed.
Cheers,
John ("If I Had Known I Was Going To Live This Long,
I Would Have Taken Much Better Care Of Myself") DeTreville
Bell Labs, Murray Hillmsimpson@bbncca.ARPA (Mike Simpson) (11/08/83)
***
(re -- John DeTreville's article.)
John -- be VERY careful in your dealings with Azulfidine.
I was diagnosed as having uncerative colitis in November of 1980,
and was given azulfidine to try and quiet things down (200 mg,
three times daily). I took this for three weeks, and developed a
bright red measles-like rash over my entire body, a high fever
and swelling in my face and throat -- so much so that my breathing
was endangered. It turned out to be a (near-fatal)
hyperallergic reaction to sulfa drugs, an allergy I never knew I had.
I spent three weeks in hospital coming down from that stuff. I
used Prednisone in gradually decreasing dosages to bring down the
swelling in my face and throat, so I don't have too many bad
things to say about it. But if you find that you are feeling
zombie-ish, have a queasy stomach, or are having chills of any
sort, RUN (don't walk) to your doctor.
-- cheers,
Mike Simpson
Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc.
Ten Moulton Street,
Cambridge, MA 02238 (USnail)
msimpson@bbn-unix (ARPA)
decvax!bbncca!msimpson (Usenet)
msimpson.bbn-unix@udel-relay (CSNET)
617-497-2819 (Ma Bell)pc@hplabsb.UUCP (Patricia Collins) (11/09/83)
Beware of Prednisone! This drug can have nasty side effects. A friend of mine who took it for a spinal arthritis problem had severe side effects which (after much medical intervention) have left him blind in one eye (chronic iritis, partial retinal detachment, laser treatments ==> corneal surgery). After my question on colitis, I have received MUCH helpful (and consistent) advice for my friend (a different friend from the guy mentioned above). To summarize: 1. Most colitis lives in the bodies of "intense" people. Learning healthy ways of releasing pent up emotions and ways of relaxing is CRITICAL to GI heaalth. The energy spent minimizing stress is well spent. (Don't go looking for problems.) 2. Watch your diet. An obvious culprit is any dairy product. Go easy on simple sugars and avoid caffeine. Whole grains and cooked-but-not-killed vegetables are recommended. My own experience with a defective GI tract indicates that it is worth the effort to pay close attention to the signals your body gives! It isn't easy to learn how to relax, but with the proper motivation (longer life, healthier life) one can surely change one's lifestyle to a more "laid back" style. The only thing that no one mentioned to me, but which I know can make a difference is REGULAR AEROBIC EXERCISE. Run; swim; bike--at a natural pace with no other purpose than to get in touch with your body. Your body will thank you. (Of course, all of these forms of exercise are opportunities for peace and quiet for those Type A's who can't conceive of "doing nothing.") Good luck...and watch out for Prednisone! Patricia Collins hplabs