Oh My Tummy...hig dose prednisone

:sick:
So the high dose pred has got my stomach so unhappy.
I ask, is there anything I can do about it?
I do take my medications with food.
I take omeprazole 40 mg with it.
I try the tums antacids but it's short very..lived relief.
I just always have a burning, knawing pain in my stomach and throat, and I always think if I just eat something I will feel better so I do....toast or something...
then it just gets worse....every time I try to eat
my gallbladder has been ultrasounded a zillion times and half sy there is a thickening that might be a problem and the other half say it's non issue and to do nothing...
then I get all cranky and call my hemo and tell her I can't do it anymore...
Misery. Sandy Too

Prednisone can mess with your stomach and cause lots of acid. Not much you can do that I know of other than antacids.

Sandy,
I recommend you use probiotics to help with gut flora. I double the dose when on steroids or antibiotics. It helps a lot.
mj

FYI, when my primary care physician prescribed 40mg of Omeprazole to me he said to take it 30 minutes before breakfast. I think the idea is to get it to kick in before you eat.

The whole time I was on pred back in the late 80s none of the 3 hematologists I had in 3 different countries ever told me to take any type of antacid - I didn't know any better. Thankfully no stomach problems from it.

When was the last time your gall bladder was checked? Possibly what you are experiencing is from it since you have had problems in the past. Are you on a diet for GB problems?

Like Hal - I was told to take omeprazole 30 minutes before when I was having trouble with GERD.

Thanks, my gallbladder has been ultrasounded allot. The conclusions that it is not necessarily a gallbladder issue but a inflammation issue. When my immune response is ramped up anything if fair game with regard to inflammation. So together we have chosen to leave the gallbladder alone.
I have a heck of a time eating anyway always have, then throw that much pred on top and inflammation and my gut is unhappy. I just wish the doctors would take it more seriously. Antacids are a poor Band-Aid. I do have probiotics, thanks and I forgot about them so I will start them again. The problem is a worry as I sure don't need to develop bleeding ulcers with this ITP situation. So looks like baby food for me....something easy to digest, a bit bland and small amounts will have to do. thanks, Sandy Too

I was just curious about the gall bladder since it sounds like you were having the stomach pains/problems before prednisone. I don't know, would the doctors take it more seriously if you did? I know there have been times I've had to "put my elbows on the counter and ask for the manager" with some issues - meaning I've had to insist on some things that weren't offered by the doctor/s.

Do you take the omeprazole a half hour before your meal as Hal & I were instructed?

Well I have taken pred for 25 years but replacement dose only of 7.5 daily. Which is why the stomach protection. But since the high dose I have no doubt it is what is making things bad right now. I just have to try and eat more when I take it. I take my omeprazole at the same time as the rest of my medication. For the lower dose it seems fine. But maybe I will give what you and hal suggest a try. Not sure just what to think about the gallbladder, it is an ongoing issue that has been visited and re-visited. I think that if I wanted it out my rheumy would be happy to help, bu the surgeons all seem less interested and think it is just a flare-up inflammation issue that will pass not that the organ is diseased and needs out...so I dunno what to think. Sandy Too

Sandy Too, one other thing about omeprazole. I read somewhere about not taking antacids an hour before or couple hours after taking omeprazole. But, that may have applied only to non enteric coated tables, not sure.