Question:
I am about 23 weeks pregnant and have been on pred for a CD flare
since I was 13 weeks along. My docs are trying to get me off it but I have not
been able to go below 5mg/day. What happens is that I go along tapering really
great, then something stressful happens and my body can't handle it and I
flare. It's happened twice now. Now, the type of stress I am talking about is
1) we had some potentially serious news about the baby that kept my DH and I on
edge for a week, and 2) some very unfortunate neighbor problems that are out of
our control.
Now what I am wondering is, do you think that the stress of these two events
caused the flares, or do you think that due to the prednisone, I am just not
able to handle this amount of stress (which I typically could handle) and so I
flare. Kind of the same thing I guess, just trying to figure out what to do! I
mean, we have stress all the time, and if the pred doesn't allow me to handle
it...well, how do I get off it and build up my stress tolerance without locking
myself in a padded room for 3 weeks?????
Answer:
Stress definitely does exacerbate CD - my doctor believes it plays a major
part. I don't think that being on Pred. makes a great deal of difference
when it comes to major stresses like the worry over your baby.
I hope that the rest of your pregnancy is totally stress free and that your
CD improves too - lots of people say that when they're
Stress could definitely be the culprit. It's possible that between not
feeling well, the pregnancy hormones AND the prednisone, you don't have
the tolerance for stress that you would have in a "perfect" environment.
Maybe you could try other ways to alleviate the stress. Maybe deep
breathing, taking a short walk (if you are up to it), a nice hot bath,
or putting a pair of headphones on and listening to some relaxing music.
Or just try to do something you really enjoy. I know it's hard when you
are feeling so lousy, but it's worth a try.
Of course can induce flares. Stress is part of the problem.
Congradulations on the baby coming. Pregnancy is a wonderful and
horrible time all at the same time.....but for us it is much more,
because it puts such a strain on the body.
I can remember in the labor room crawling over the rails on the bed to
get to the bathroom right up until the time they pushed me into
delivery. the nurses almost lost it on time when they came in and
didn't find me in bed, but in the bathroom. They were sure I was going
to deliver in there. So was I!!! But it can be
the very best time in your life, especially when they lay that little
child in your arms and you realize this was that someone who residing
next to your heart for 9 months. Nothing will ever be better than that.
the things that I enjoy and trying to relax and of course praying too. I can't
believe how on edge I can get sometimes...I thought about it and the worst
fights I ever had with my DH were when I was pregnant - and the last time I
wasn't even on pred! So I guess some of this I can expect is from plain old pg
