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Does anyone have advice on dealing with the side effects of prednisone and children?  I have three kids and my middle child was recently diagnosed with Chrons.  She is weaning off prednisone and her moods swings have been a challenge.  It is very hard for my other children to see her outburst go unpunished.  Of course we have explained what is going on to our other kids but it can be tough when my 8 year old lashes out in anger and hits her other siblings.  Not sure how to handle it.

 Reply posted for Concerned Mom.

    My mom was ready to cart me off to juvy when I was younger for my mood swings with prednisone, and my husband sometimes feels the same way when I get put on it even as an adult.
The mood swings can be so severe and you feel out of control, it's like watching a train wreck you are causing and you can't control it. Counseling helped me a little bit as a child, but as a parent you have to ask yourself is this medication right for my child? If the doctor can find something that works for the flares and not have the mood swings you may want to do that, because as hard as it is on you I can tell you it's even harder on the person having them. Depression, anger and mood swings all sort of go hand in hand with having the disease(s).

 Reply posted for Concerned Mom.

I totally realte. Being the mother of 2 children who are as different as night and day. My daughter 11 diagnosed with crohns 2 years ago and my son 8 who has bowel problem himself but has not been dignosed with anything other than chronic constipation at this point. Anytime she is on the steroids he feels she is given special treatment and her behavior goes unpunished. We try talking to him and we also try to ignore his behavior a littel too, because this can be stressful for him as well since sometimes it takes so much of our attention to care for her. So just try to overlook the little things occasionally. Also remind your child who is on steroids that though you understand that this is a trying time for her and that she feels so blahh( as we call it) that she needs to be aware of her actions and try to control them somewhat. I know it is hard because we have a tendency to want to baby them and help them get thru, but in the long run it is better. When she was first diagnosed we let her get out of hand becuse we hated to discipline, this did not help her. It made her a brat! We loved her still but she was a brat and knew it.

 Reply posted for Concerned Mom.

Hi, I feel badly that its such a tough time. When I was last on prednisone, I was not doing well at all. I had mood swings, irritability, inability to sleep, very restless, constantly had to clean, jittery, my appetite was doubled, not to mention depression. The longer I was on it, the more depressed I got.
I went to my doctor and having heard my symptoms, she put me on a slight sedative or relaxant that I took daily for the duration of being on prednisone. I dont remember what the name of it was, but it really helped me calm down somewhat or at least it balanced it out much better. I wonder if this is an option or if your doctor may know of something that may help counteract the side effects.

 Reply posted for Concerned Mom.

I have a 15 year old daughter she was diagnosed with UC at 13 talk about hormones and then add the side effects of prednisone! OMG~I wondered somedays how any of us would manage through the days.  As she is going off of it things will return to "normal" I agree with the other post that it is so important to treat you child with Crohns like the other kids.  If you treat her like she is different she will be different and expect exceptions for things.  Hang in there I for one know how tough it is (I have 1 other child a son) you will get through this and you will be stonger when you finally arrive on the other side of it.

Good Luck and Take CAre

Sonya

 Reply posted for Concerned Mom.

please remember that if you treat her differently then the other children it will set up resentment and major sibling issues in your home. I know that it is very hard not to put the sick childs needs in front of the other children, But you must.  I would suggest seperating her from the other children until she calms down and then have her appolizes to her siblings.  and make sure that you reneforce the no hitting rule to her very strongly.  If measures like that do not help, i would suggest counsiling.  It has been very helpfull in our household...

good luck