Surgery while on prednisone

I was on prednisone when I had my j-pouch surgery in 1995. I had been on it only six months, but it was high dose. I tapered off over a few months (a rapid taper to 10 mg, then a slow taper after that). I had pretty severe joint pain and weakness during that time. I also suffered with complications of wound infections, presacral abscess, bowel obstructions, anemia requiring transfusions, deep vein thrombosis, and incisional hernia. Some of those were probably due to chronic disease, but some were due to the prednisone.

I am OK now. I was lucky not to lose my pouch or develop avascular necrosis (yet). My adrenals did wake up, but it was a painful process and I had to endure the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. It is only the lack of cortisol that stimulates the pituitary to produce the hormones that stimulate the adrenals. The longer you have been on prednisone, the higher the risk that the insufficiency might be permanent.

I hope you are lucky too. After three years on prednisone, I would get an endocrinologist consult before having surgery, so it can be managed safely.

Jan

I was on 60 mg Prednisone when I had surgery in 1992.  I was given IV prednisone during and after surgery and for the 8 days when I couldn't eat. and then weaned off slowly for a period of 6-8 weeks, approximately.  I do recall having chronic headaches during this period of time which I considered withdrawal symptoms. A slow wean from a high dosage is necessary.

In 2010 on a bone density scan I was determined to have osteopenia in my left forearm. My docs attributed this to chronic prednisone use from 1972 to 1992. I have not taken prednisone since 1992.

Shawn, I've had lots of surgery while on Predisone.  It was never a problem.  They just add it to your IV solutions in the O.R.  I've been on it for years because I'm a severe asthmatic.  Just let anastesia know about and they will take really good care of you!

dianne

I was on plenty of prednisone when I had my J-pouch surgery, and had been for some time. They have to significantly increase the steroid dose around the surgery and immediate recovery, since the adrenals can't respond to the stress of surgery. My taper post-op was unremarkable, and very welcome.

I tried to taper down to 10mg of Pred prior to surgery but couldn't do so without feeling very, very sick.....ulcerative colitis symptoms intensified.  So, I went into surgery while on 20mg. Pred.  As a result the anesthesiologist hooked me up to IV Prednisone (or something similar) and I came out of surgery looking like Humpty Dumpty!  This lasted weeks and weeks.  Couldn't even put my shoes on my inflated excuses for feet!  Slowly tapered off over the next few months or so and it must have worked because I had no withdrawal symptoms at all.  Best wishes!