2 Crohn's related questions - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

06-03-2008, 03:31 PM

I’m not sure if I have posted this in the right thread, apologies if I haven’t.

I am thinking of having a tattoo this week but I am a bit unsure as to whether I can. I am on Prednisolone and Pentasa, but I don’t know if it will be safe to get one whist I’m still on Prednisolone.
Has anyone had a tattoo/piercing when they’ve been on Prednisolone?

Also, I would like to return to going to the gym at some stage, but again I don’t know if this is a good idea. I was thinking to wait a few months to see how I feel then.

Kev · 06-03-2008, 03:57 PM

hey md87 Welcome to the forum. I take it md isn't an abbreviation for doctor? ;-)

Haven't any tattoos or piercings, but I've got some interesting scars I could show you. KIDDING! OK, 5ASA (pentasa is one of them) can thin blood.. don't know if that has a big impact on tattoos.. my understanding is there is minimal bleeding in tattooing. ONE thing to avoid is using a tattoo artist who doesn't use non metallic inks... You may be facing MRI's down the road, some pigments can contain metals, .. ferrous iron, copper, what have you. Under the skin, the risk of metallic poisoning is thought mild; but in a highly magnetic field like MRI literally those tattoos could be pulled right out of your body. Can you say ouch!

Pred.. no matter how you spell it, will lower the immune response. The risk of infection in tattooing depends on the hygeinic standards of the tattoo parlour.
A good parlour sanitizes every resusable item thoroughy in an auto-clave, and disposes of all other items, including the pigments used, without resusing them
Some 'cheaper' places don't do this, and you run the risk of getting infections while your immune system is tanked by the pred. I think those are the facts. I will leave you with one subjective impression. A buddy of mine (who I haven't thought of/spoken to in a while - should try to touc base - thanx for making me think of him) spent 20 years in military, then retired. Took up a new career that involved dress shirt N tie.. but he was always self conscious in summer time as the short sleeves displayed the tats he picked up in the military, not appropo for his new 'office' environment. He reached the rank of captain in the miliitary, but thought his tats really limited his potential advancement outside of that. As to whether his impression was correct or not, I can't comment. Just passing on that info as food for thought. my sister has tattoos, I just never asked her as to how she felt about becoming a tattooed grandma. Things that are terrific at one stage of one's life is one thing, but tattoos usually are designed to last for the long haul. Pretty permanent statement IN case one changed their minds.

As for exercise, it is considered recommended for us crohnies.. just have to be sure rest is included. Rest, exercise, nutrition, those are all very important, OK

BWS1982 · 06-04-2008, 12:32 AM

The exercise also depends on the calibur of intensity....I was a heavy exerciser, mainly with heavy weights and hard running occasionally, and due to my deteriorated condition, was told under no circumstances to do what I normally used to. Not a problem for most of the 9 month flare, as I felt horrible in the first place and the only exercise I got was sprint laps to the tiolet 15 times a day.

Later as I improved some after the hospital stay, I started to feel lazy even though I still felt awful, it wasn't as bad, so I asked when I'd eventually be allowed to lift weights again. The doc said while on prednisone at anything higher than about 10, no lifting. My heart was rapidly beating as it was and with all the physical stress my body had, I had to wait things out. I still don't feel up to going to workout really, but had for a bit in April lifted moderately. 6 days a week of 45 minute sessions was off the table and still is until my body has healed more.

So, despite my rambling, what I'm trying to say is it's up to both your doc, and also how your body is feeling. Heavy exercising puts stress on a body that already is going through a lot if you've got severe Crohns.

katiesue1506 · 06-04-2008, 02:04 AM

I would probably hold off on the tattoo/piercings just because of the potential for your immune system to be out of whack right now. I have/had a belly button piercing while on pred... but it was already healed and was done 2 years prior to that... so I would say since you will need to be healing to hold of on it. especially if you were wanting to get any "specialty" piercings because they tend to be difficult to heal for normal persons, let alone people with Crohn's Disease... I would assume the same for tattoos as well.

06-04-2008, 05:49 PM

I've had a lot of piercings but that was before I was diagnosed with Crohn's.
I did decide to go ahead with the tattoo, so I just hope it heals like it should.

I think I should wait a while before I start at the gym as I get tired from just walking short distances, and exercising might put me in more pain and just tire me even more.

Wiles · 06-04-2008, 05:57 PM

I called my doctor about getting my second tattoo while I was on remicade & imuran. She told me there shouldn't be a problem. I've gotten a few more since without any problems.

FruitLoop · 06-10-2008, 10:14 PM

MD87 - did you get the tattoo ?

06-03-2008, 03:31 PM	#1
md87 Guest Posts: n/a	2 Crohn's related questions I’m not sure if I have posted this in the right thread, apologies if I haven’t. I am thinking of having a tattoo this week but I am a bit unsure as to whether I can. I am on Prednisolone and Pentasa, but I don’t know if it will be safe to get one whist I’m still on Prednisolone. Has anyone had a tattoo/piercing when they’ve been on Prednisolone? Also, I would like to return to going to the gym at some stage, but again I don’t know if this is a good idea. I was thinking to wait a few months to see how I feel then.

06-03-2008, 03:57 PM	#2
Kev Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 3,886	hey md87 Welcome to the forum. I take it md isn't an abbreviation for doctor? ;-) Haven't any tattoos or piercings, but I've got some interesting scars I could show you. KIDDING! OK, 5ASA (pentasa is one of them) can thin blood.. don't know if that has a big impact on tattoos.. my understanding is there is minimal bleeding in tattooing. ONE thing to avoid is using a tattoo artist who doesn't use non metallic inks... You may be facing MRI's down the road, some pigments can contain metals, .. ferrous iron, copper, what have you. Under the skin, the risk of metallic poisoning is thought mild; but in a highly magnetic field like MRI literally those tattoos could be pulled right out of your body. Can you say ouch! Pred.. no matter how you spell it, will lower the immune response. The risk of infection in tattooing depends on the hygeinic standards of the tattoo parlour. A good parlour sanitizes every resusable item thoroughy in an auto-clave, and disposes of all other items, including the pigments used, without resusing them Some 'cheaper' places don't do this, and you run the risk of getting infections while your immune system is tanked by the pred. I think those are the facts. I will leave you with one subjective impression. A buddy of mine (who I haven't thought of/spoken to in a while - should try to touc base - thanx for making me think of him) spent 20 years in military, then retired. Took up a new career that involved dress shirt N tie.. but he was always self conscious in summer time as the short sleeves displayed the tats he picked up in the military, not appropo for his new 'office' environment. He reached the rank of captain in the miliitary, but thought his tats really limited his potential advancement outside of that. As to whether his impression was correct or not, I can't comment. Just passing on that info as food for thought. my sister has tattoos, I just never asked her as to how she felt about becoming a tattooed grandma. Things that are terrific at one stage of one's life is one thing, but tattoos usually are designed to last for the long haul. Pretty permanent statement IN case one changed their minds. As for exercise, it is considered recommended for us crohnies.. just have to be sure rest is included. Rest, exercise, nutrition, those are all very important, OK __________________ KEV

06-04-2008, 12:32 AM	#3
BWS1982 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 4,213	The exercise also depends on the calibur of intensity....I was a heavy exerciser, mainly with heavy weights and hard running occasionally, and due to my deteriorated condition, was told under no circumstances to do what I normally used to. Not a problem for most of the 9 month flare, as I felt horrible in the first place and the only exercise I got was sprint laps to the tiolet 15 times a day. Later as I improved some after the hospital stay, I started to feel lazy even though I still felt awful, it wasn't as bad, so I asked when I'd eventually be allowed to lift weights again. The doc said while on prednisone at anything higher than about 10, no lifting. My heart was rapidly beating as it was and with all the physical stress my body had, I had to wait things out. I still don't feel up to going to workout really, but had for a bit in April lifted moderately. 6 days a week of 45 minute sessions was off the table and still is until my body has healed more. So, despite my rambling, what I'm trying to say is it's up to both your doc, and also how your body is feeling. Heavy exercising puts stress on a body that already is going through a lot if you've got severe Crohns. __________________ -diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in Sept. 2006, currently 27 years old "Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird." "Men with Spartan lives, simple in their creature comforts, if only to allow for the complexity of their passions." -The X-Files, S4

06-10-2008, 10:14 PM	#7
FruitLoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheshire, ENGLAND Posts: 134	MD87 - did you get the tattoo ? __________________

06-04-2008, 02:04 AM	#4
katiesue1506 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,398	I would probably hold off on the tattoo/piercings just because of the potential for your immune system to be out of whack right now. I have/had a belly button piercing while on pred... but it was already healed and was done 2 years prior to that... so I would say since you will need to be healing to hold of on it. especially if you were wanting to get any "specialty" piercings because they tend to be difficult to heal for normal persons, let alone people with Crohn's Disease... I would assume the same for tattoos as well.

06-04-2008, 05:49 PM	#5
md87 Guest Posts: n/a	I've had a lot of piercings but that was before I was diagnosed with Crohn's. I did decide to go ahead with the tattoo, so I just hope it heals like it should. I think I should wait a while before I start at the gym as I get tired from just walking short distances, and exercising might put me in more pain and just tire me even more.

06-04-2008, 05:57 PM	#6
Wiles Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada. Posts: 547	I called my doctor about getting my second tattoo while I was on remicade & imuran. She told me there shouldn't be a problem. I've gotten a few more since without any problems.