I found these statistics about IBD on the NDDIC website (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm). I didn't know it was this rare...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Incidence:
Ulcerative colitis: 8 new cases per 100,000 people per year (1984-1993)
Crohn's disease: 7 new cases per 100,000 people per year (1984-1993)
Prevalence:
Ulcerative colitis: 246 cases per 100,000 people per year (2001)
Crohn's disease: 162 cases per 100,000 people per year (2001)
Mortality: 825 deaths (2002)
Hospitalizations: 169,000-with 62 percent for Crohn's disease (2002)
Ambulatory care visits: 5.9 million per year (1999-2000)
Disability: 161,000 people (1990-1992)
I didn't realize it was that rare either... but I guess I am the only person I know who has it, and I had never heard of it before I was diagnosed! I also have pan-colitis, and had a similar experience to yours before I was diagnosed. I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better! Feel free to send me a message if you ever need to complain or anything!!
Thanks! It's "nice" to know that someone else understands what all of this is like! I'm still trying to get into remission. Unfortunatly it seems like now the more I decrease the steriod dosage the more my symptoms start to come back. Oh well- at least I've had some temporary relief so far.
The same thing happened to me... I ended up being on the prednisone for over 6 months because my doctor kept drawing it out. I know that the steroids can have some bad side effects (and I definitely noticed that my face got rounder while I was taking them), but they really did help my symptoms. I wish there was something that worked as well without the bad side effects! Good luck!!
Yes, my face is getting pretty round lol- but as you said, it's worth it to get some relief for my colon! Did it make you feel like you were hungry all the time? Even when I'm full my brain thinks that I need more food- something I never had before the prednisone. I sure hope that I don't need it for 6 months- I'm supposed to go for a month- I guess we'll see!
Thanks!
Yeah, I did eat a lot, but somehow I don't think I gained any weight... other than in my face. My skin did get a little broken out though. BUT my hair got really healthy looking. So weird! Anyway... how have the past couple days been?