Prednisone Truth Talk

There is something about Prednisone that can be difficult to understand.

The basic understanding is that it helps inflammation and it comes with some nasty side effects. It does its job and can save your life, but you may struggle with the list of adverse effects while you are improving.

It goes much deeper than that.

For a disease like Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease, Prednisone can help with some of the inflammation. It can improve your systems and even go as far as lessening your pain. For some people though, it does nothing for the underlying disease.
It's like a headache that you have masked with loads of Advil. You know it is still there even though you can't feel it.
Or when you get pain killers if you break your arm. You can't feel it anymore, but you and your body are still fully aware of the damage.

Prednisone can sometimes make things feel better, but may not do anything beneficial as far as the underlying disease is concerned. It is still there. It lurks. Diseases can even progress further without you really even noticing.

Last night I did a cortisone enema. Certain specific symptoms are improved today - markedly improved in fact. I have been able to eat full meals today. I have not had any accidents and have only had to race to the washroom twice today (compared to the 19 times yesterday).
Contrary to what these improved symptoms show, I feel weaker, shakier, and have zero energy. I am wiped out and migraine-y and I am still terrified to eat. I know food will be painful - I know that digesting anything will be damaging.
But I don't feel it as much today.

It is great to feel less pain and to suffer from fewer symptoms... or at least notice improved symptoms. What is more difficult to grasp is the idea that nothing has changed. It did give me a bit of a break.
For some people, prednisone can reduce the inflammation enough (whether on a short course or a long term course) that the body responds and the disease itself begins to settle down.
For others, prednisone is just a band aid.

Today my pain and digestive symptoms have improved, but not the cause of those symptoms... despite the masking.

Prednisone.
A total mind bender.