I'm at my wit's end....

[Guest guest]

I just don't know what to do. I've been having a flare all week, and

finally called my rheumy on Thursday and he prescribed 20 mg Prednisone. I

took it Thursday night, and by Friday my joints felt great...I didn't

realize how much I hurt all the time until it was gone for a day. Everyone

I saw commented " Gee you look great! " ...because I felt good and could walk

so much more normally. Well, I got a TERRIBLE headache from the prednisone,

and hardly slept at all last night. I have had problems with prednisone

before and my MD gave me Cortef (hydrocortisone) instead. Well, I tried the

equivalent dose of that today rather than the prednisone, and no headache.

But, now my joints are KILLING me. Worse than in the beginning. I'm so

distraught! Is this my choice...a headache from Hell or such severe pain?

I've even taken a Vicoprofen and half a Soma (which I hate doing) and it

hasn't touched the pain.

What could be going on? I guess tomorrow I will take the prednisone again,

and just stay in bed with the headache. It's better than the shoulder/hip

pain I'm having right now. Then I'll call the rheumy on Monday morning.

Are there other steroid alternatives? I never wanted to take a steroid to

begin with, but I was having such a bad flare this time, and it certainly

was a relief yesterday to feel so good (other than the headache, of course).

Does all this ever get any better? Since I did so well last month, I

thought I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I'm wondering

if we'll ever get this under control.

I think the steroids are also increasing the " I can't cope! " factor for me

today, but I just needed to vent. Thanks for being there....

Carol in FL