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I feel so petty knowing there are others that have it worse than I. That said, I am a 35 year old man that is an emotional wreck while on corticosteroid meds. I started on prednisone 40mg on monday and after two days almost went off the deep end. My doctor switched me to entocort 9mg but still have episodes of uncontrollable weeping and anxiety though not as bad. Is this the road i have to walk? Are there no other ways to induce remission. I understand most people dont have this reaction to corticosteroids.

 Reply posted for mikey.

Your post was so validating.  I feel the same way.  In term of colitis, I don't have it near as bad as everyone else, so I never want to complain.  

But, when I'm on prednisone, I too go through ridiculous mood swings  I'll be sitting and all of sudden just start crying.  Sometimes I pretend to go to the bathroom for a BM just to cry in there.  Then, out of no where, I'm disoriented, like I don't know what to feel.  Later, I'll be pacing around the house.  I've gotten used to it in general, but I'm still worried at work.  I'm in a professional field where emotional outbursts are very inappropriate.  I've been good at work thus far, so it hasn't been a "real" issue yet.  I just make sure to have several options at hand always.

 Reply posted for mikey.

You are NOT alone. The steroids def can make your emotions run wild, amoung many other things. Having crohn's or colitis can also do that! Think of all the underlying stress we carry around. I know when I am on prednisone (which I am now) I am impatient and quick to anger, but I am that way off it sometimes too when I'm feeling down and scared. It's like living life under a cloud of impedning doom. But you are NOT alone and if you feel like it is getting out of control you need to tell your doctor. C&C don't just attack your guts, but your whole life. Best of luck to you!

 Reply posted for mikey.

Reply to mikey... Hey! I know to a degree of what you are going through! I was on 60 mg of prednisone for over a year gained weight couldn't aleep felt so bad I had a mental breakdown and had to be hospitalized due to sucide thoughts. I learned there to talk to your family and friends and if they dont hear what your saying go to a therapist. There are certain ones that help you if you have medical illnesses. Good luck mikey! I know I finally got off of the prednisone only to be put on another steroid. Oh for the love of my brain I wish there was a drug like prednisone that does The same job! Good luck and well wishes!

 Reply posted for mikey.

Hi there- My name is Colette, and I am a college Freshman and was diagnosed with Crohn's wihen I was 13. Prednisone is definitely the worst drug to be on. In the past, I had been on Prednisone for months at a time. It greatly messed with my emotions, my stress levels, and my ability to make sound decisions. I was finally put on anxiety and depression medications, which helped a great deal. However I found that attending classes or attending educational programs helped keep me sane and keep my mind off of my disease and how it was affecting me. I hope this bit of advice helps anyone on Prednisone!

 Reply posted for mikey.

Mikey, I was on prednisone as well when I was going through my treatment. I had anxiety, paranoia, even as far as imagining hearing things. I also had terrible insomnia and would often only sleep 4 hours a night. This disease is just as mental as it is physical. Keep your mind fit, believe in yourself and in that you will be healthy again. You are not alone!

 Reply posted for mikey.

Reply posted for mikey.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It could be the inflammatory disease itself wreaking havoc on your endocrine system (hormones). Get your testosterone levels checked. --- Once I got my T level back in an age appropriate normal range, I felt 1000 X's better. 

 Reply posted for mikey.

I am the wife of a Crohn's patient, and I'm not on steroids, but just watching what he is going through makes me weep.  My hat's off to anyone who has to live with this disease every day.  You people are brave, even if you don't feel brave.

 Reply posted for mikey.

That's rough! I'm recently diagnosed and have been on Prednisone for about 3 weeks and finally weaning off. Started at 40mg and now on 30mg. It messes with my head, but not as severe as what I'm hearing from you. It's the insomnia - I cannot get my brain to turn off and then I don't know if its a side effect of the Asacol they've got me on too. So then I've got an anti-anxiety sleep aid, that doesn't work well either. Blah! I feel like my UC is way better, but now I have to manage my side effects. I started seeing my therapist again, weekly. It helps to talk, especially about the emotional transition to accepting a long-term disease that is so overwhelming. Give it time, talk to your doc, find a friend or therapist that can listen... try something that feeds your spirit.