Are you lactose intolerant? I haven't been properly diagnosed, my old GP told me to do the elimination and challenge thing - which I did - and it showed the intolerance that way. Funny that you mention cheese, as I was never a cheese lover, until I found out I was intolerant, now I crave it, but the smallest amount of lactose/dairy sends me in spins!

I have no proper knowledge on the steroids, so I don't really want to say too much about it. I do think though, that if you feel so horrible on them maybe you should quite taking them, or at least cut back, there are other ways to manage the Crohn's, and you have the 5-ASA's(I think you said you take mesalizine?) right?

And if the prednisone is having all those horrible side effects, would a different brand name/type work better? ie: hydrocortisone, betamethasone, tixacortol, budesonide? Just some questions maybe you could ask, as we know sometimes it's trial and error.

Some doctors treat with immunosuppressives too, but I don't think I would want to take any of those as they can open you up to a host of other problems.

CCFC has brochures that you can print on medications and side effects and such, after reading through, it sounds like what you are experiencing is a side effect of prednisone. Have you gone there and read through their brochures? maybe it would be worth sending your doctor to this site as well ;)

I too am hoping i don't have Crohn's, I'm hoping it's something like a gastritis or something and a "true" arthritis - that I think would be easier to treat.

Big Healing *hugs* to you... Vent away!!!! We all need to sometimes, and I'll always "listen" :D