Re: MEDROL

[Guest guest]

i only took 2 of the 5 pills i was supposed to take that day and had

steroidal psychosis. i laughed for 2 days straight. (why did i throw those

out?!?!) i was working on the switchboard. purposly cutting people off,

laughing at them . then got very paranoid and was trying to hide in the

corner and put a box on my head so they would stop looking and laughing at

me!!!!after about hours of this they took me into the dr's office. (that

worked at our insurance company) she sent me home paid for the day. told me i

was lregally buzzed!!! but now i am taking prednisone daily. (go figure) it

was quite an unusual day. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Susie, how are you? We haven't heard from you in such a long time. I've

been wondering how you've been doing.

[ ] MEDROL

> Could all of you who have taken the MEDROL dose pak, tell me about it?

> The reasons NOT to take it... the reasons TO take it. The side

effects,

> etc.

> Also... weight gain. What to expect?

> My knees and hips and ankles are so bad, I surely don't want weight to

> add to their stress.

> Susie

[Guest guest]

http://www.naturalessentials.com/medrol.htm.....Susie

here is some info on Medrol....I have been refusing

any steroid use for 6 years because I believe from

everything I have read that the drug is as bad as the

disease process....last week I finished my dose pac of

Medrol...I have been in a major flare...the pain was

the: dig a hole and climb into it type....my husband

said ENOUGH and off to the doctor we went he said OK

medrol dose pac is what we have got to do, seeing how

the hard head refuses long term steroid use...it did

work, I was happy because I didnt have to compromise

my believes and he was happy because it worked...I

didnt notice any side effects except it messed up my

monthly cycle....it bought me some more time to keep

waiting on THE WONDER DRUG>>>ENBREL(been on the

waiting list 8 months)anyway...it worked for me until

the next flare and like I said I didnt see any major

side effect....hope it works for you as everyone

reacts differently to drugs...Kathi in OK

--- Elf <sheadley@...> wrote:

> Could all of you who have taken the MEDROL dose pak,

> tell me about it?

> The reasons NOT to take it... the reasons TO take

> it. The side effects,

> etc.

> Also... weight gain. What to expect?

> My knees and hips and ankles are so bad, I surely

> don't want weight to

> add to their stress.

> Susie

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

http://www.naturalessentials.com/medrol.htm.....Susie

here is some info on Medrol....I have been refusing

any steroid use for 6 years because I believe from

everything I have read that the drug is as bad as the

disease process....last week I finished my dose pac of

Medrol...I have been in a major flare...the pain was

the: dig a hole and climb into it type....my husband

said ENOUGH and off to the doctor we went he said OK

medrol dose pac is what we have got to do, seeing how

the hard head refuses long term steroid use...it did

work, I was happy because I didnt have to compromise

my believes and he was happy because it worked...I

didnt notice any side effects except it messed up my

monthly cycle....it bought me some more time to keep

waiting on THE WONDER DRUG>>>ENBREL(been on the

waiting list 8 months)anyway...it worked for me until

the next flare and like I said I didnt see any major

side effect....hope it works for you as everyone

reacts differently to drugs...Kathi in OK

--- Elf <sheadley@...> wrote:

> Could all of you who have taken the MEDROL dose pak,

> tell me about it?

> The reasons NOT to take it... the reasons TO take

> it. The side effects,

> etc.

> Also... weight gain. What to expect?

> My knees and hips and ankles are so bad, I surely

> don't want weight to

> add to their stress.

> Susie

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

my dr still apologizes for that incident. like it was her fault!!! kathy in

il

[Guest guest]

you know i was the wild one!! kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathy...I had major surgery for a football sized benign ovarian

mass. They sent me home with the pain med Tylox. I took it exactly as

prescribed, but oh brother! I started babbling and laughing and my eyes

rolled around weird! Thankfully, two friends were with me. They were

scared and wanted to get me to the hospital but I just thought

EVERYTHING was so silly & funny. They finally got me to the ER and I

must have been quite the site. They gave e a shot of Narcan, and within

minutes I was my sweet, polite self. : )

I have taken lots of different pain meds that are related to Tylox, but

for whatever reason that one gave me a very strange reaction!

Hugs & Love...Tess

[Guest guest]

Well, Tess and Kathy, I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on you

two!!!

Re: [ ] MEDROL

> Dear Kathy...I had major surgery for a football sized benign ovarian

> mass. They sent me home with the pain med Tylox. I took it exactly

as

> prescribed, but oh brother! I started babbling and laughing and my

eyes

> rolled around weird! Thankfully, two friends were with me. They were

> scared and wanted to get me to the hospital but I just thought

> EVERYTHING was so silly & funny. They finally got me to the ER and I

> must have been quite the site. They gave e a shot of Narcan, and

within

> minutes I was my sweet, polite self. : )

>

> I have taken lots of different pain meds that are related to Tylox,

but

> for whatever reason that one gave me a very strange reaction!

>

> Hugs & Love...Tess

[Guest guest]

HI....

After reading your email, I would assume that this is not a drug to take!...I

would like to know as I go to the Drs soon and if he prescribes this I want to

be able to refuse it..

Thanks,

Bridgette

kringlemom@... wrote: i only took 2 of the 5 pills i was supposed to take

that day and had

steroidal psychosis. i laughed for 2 days straight. (why did i throw those

out?!?!) i was working on the switchboard. purposly cutting people off,

laughing at them . then got very paranoid and was trying to hide in the

corner and put a box on my head so they would stop looking and laughing at

me!!!!after about hours of this they took me into the dr's office. (that

worked at our insurance company) she sent me home paid for the day. told me i

was lregally buzzed!!! but now i am taking prednisone daily. (go figure) it

was quite an unusual day. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi...

I understand the dig a hole and crawl into it pain. Am having it right now. I

have been sitting here crying cause I know that it isn't going to away, and I

hate to admit defeat. I have called the Dr and he is telling me to use heat, or

physical therapy. Well I have done that route before on various parts of my body

and would rather deal with the pain that I have rather than the pain that they

are going to add to it. I don't go back until the 11th of June and I think that

is going to be too long to wait. As I have said I have been dealing with the

condition for two years, and nto sure what the Dr has in mind for me, but I am

hoping to be able to get the IV drug that I have been hearing about. Does any

one know of this...take it....would be curious as to responses on this...Also I

have noticed that most people with RA also have a thryroid problem...is that

going on with you folks? That was what I was diagnoised with first, and then

when I didn't get any better...they did more tests and Ta-Da...well we all know

the rest of that story....Will be waiting to hear from you all....

Bridgette....Maine

Kathi Ragaglia <iamladybird@...> wrote:

http://www.naturalessentials.com/medrol.htm.....Susie

here is some info on Medrol....I have been refusing

any steroid use for 6 years because I believe from

everything I have read that the drug is as bad as the

disease process....last week I finished my dose pac of

Medrol...I have been in a major flare...the pain was

the: dig a hole and climb into it type....my husband

said ENOUGH and off to the doctor we went he said OK

medrol dose pac is what we have got to do, seeing how

the hard head refuses long term steroid use...it did

work, I was happy because I didnt have to compromise

my believes and he was happy because it worked...I

didnt notice any side effects except it messed up my

monthly cycle....it bought me some more time to keep

waiting on THE WONDER DRUG>>>ENBREL(been on the

waiting list 8 months)anyway...it worked for me until

the next flare and like I said I didnt see any major

side effect....hope it works for you as everyone

reacts differently to drugs...Kathi in OK

--- Elf <sheadley@...> wrote:

> Could all of you who have taken the MEDROL dose pak,

> tell me about it?

> The reasons NOT to take it... the reasons TO take

> it. The side effects,

> etc.

> Also... weight gain. What to expect?

> My knees and hips and ankles are so bad, I surely

> don't want weight to

> add to their stress.

> Susie

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Bridgette:

Are you talking about Remicade? I have never tried it , but I know

several in this group are having the infusions...I will leave it for

them to tell....I will say this, you should not have to be in that

kind of pain....are you taking any pain meds?...I would call the

doctors office back and explain you have tried everything they

suggested and it doesnt seem to be working...chronic pain also causes

depression so the crying is normal ,but have they suggested treating

you for depression? It is a viscous circle: the more pain: the more

depression...the more pain...years ago when they suggested a

anti-depressant ..I went home crying to tell my husband...see they

think I am crazy now...the more you know about your disease the more

you realize the depression is part of it..and treating the depression

helps the pain....sometimes the doctors dont believe the pain..or feel

terminal pain we can treat.....chronic pain ...that is a different

story...sometimes it helps to ask ...Can you give me something for

pain? The worst that can happen is they so NO....then it is time to

find a doctor that is compassionate...well I am rambling again...where

in Maine are you?...before I married a military man and got

transplanted to Oklahoma I called New Hampshire home...i was born

there and lived in Keene for 20 years...I miss the seasons but not the

snow...this group is great and I think you will find a lot of support

and understanding...they are a great bunch....Kathi in OK

- In @y..., bridgette quintal <bridgette1959@y...> wrote:

>

> Hi Kathi...

> I understand the dig a hole and crawl into it pain. Am having it

right now. I have been sitting here crying cause I know that it isn't

going to away, and I hate to admit defeat. I have called the Dr and he

is telling me to use heat, or physical therapy. Well I have done that

route before on various parts of my body and would rather deal with

the pain that I have rather than the pain that they are going to add

to it. I don't go back until the 11th of June and I think that is

going to be too long to wait. As I have said I have been dealing with

the condition for two years, and nto sure what the Dr has in mind for

me, but I am hoping to be able to get the IV drug that I have been

hearing about. Does any one know of this...take it....would be curious

as to responses on this...Also I have noticed that most people with RA

also have a thryroid problem...is that going on with you folks? That

was what I was diagnoised with first, and then when I didn't get any

better...they did more tests and Ta-Da...well we all know the rest of

that story....

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hello All...

I thought I might share my experience with Tylox with you. I was percribed it

after a cyst was removed from my breast. The first time I took it I was totally

paralyzed. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. I couldn't even move to tell my

husband what was going on. I decided to take it the next night thinking it was

just a fluke, but not a chance the same thing happened. When talking with the

Dr just before another surgery she said that was normal. Needless to say, I

didn't take it again...

Bridgette

Tess_St_Pierre@... wrote: Dear Kathy...I had major surgery for a

football sized benign ovarian

mass. They sent me home with the pain med Tylox. I took it exactly as

prescribed, but oh brother! I started babbling and laughing and my eyes

rolled around weird! Thankfully, two friends were with me. They were

scared and wanted to get me to the hospital but I just thought

EVERYTHING was so silly & funny. They finally got me to the ER and I

must have been quite the site. They gave e a shot of Narcan, and within

minutes I was my sweet, polite self. : )

I have taken lots of different pain meds that are related to Tylox, but

for whatever reason that one gave me a very strange reaction!

Hugs & Love...Tess

[Guest guest]

Well, since the METHOTREXATE, , my lungs are still shot. The

Pneumonia I had in December hung on severely for over 3 months. I

literally was with fever and too sick to hardly go to bathroom during

this whole time. I was going 3 times a week for Antibiotic Injections,

plus taking antibiotics by mouth for 3 months.

They commented they had never seen lungs quite like this ever! I

explained to them about the METHOTREXATE. But it was a small out in the

boonies ER and no one knew about that. But they said that it must

explain why they looked like they did.

If you remember, I had asked my RA doctor BEFORE he started me on the

MTX if he thought I should have a BASELINE x-ray...and he said, " WHY? "

And every visit I would tell him my lungs " felt funny " ... and All he

would do is listen to them and say, " Nope! Clear as a bell! Let's up the

injection... "

TWO WEEKS before I came down with the Pneumonia I again complained about

how my husband said I sounded like a Freight Train coming down the

tracks, my breathing had gotten so bad. That I was also " hurting " in my

lungs now. So I requested he take an x-ray that day. He said,

" Here...let me listen... NOPE! Clear as a bell! No need for extra time

and expense for x-rays! " And he upped the MTX again...to about 8cc this

time, I believe.

After I got back from the ER 2 weeks later, my husband got on phone with

them, and let them know MORE than they wanted to hear! And he ended the

conversation by FIRING the Doctor. (Then my husband went TO the office

and MADE them get my med. records. They said to go home and they would

mail... he said " you have been telling me this since Sept. No, I will

WAIT!) So I have my medical records, at least.

I noticed on the blood work they did every three months, that the Lab

had always marked PLATELETS tests...even before I started the MTX! They

were EXTREMELY high! And got even higher when I was on the MTX. I

haven't looked this up yet to see what them being " HIGH " means. I will

get around to it eventually, however.

So... I was hopeless durning this time I had Pneumonia... I was so sick

I didn't care if the pneumonia killed me or not. So, I SWORE I would not

go to another Doctor for the arthritis and bones. That ALL doctors were

jerks and no compassion.

But since the pneumonia is gone... now I still struggle to breathe, and

my lungs still hurt.

So also, has the Arthritis has really struck back with an angry

vengeance.

And the Psoriasis is so bad, I feel like I need to go to a Colony to

live!

So last week my sister who teaches at a Hospital in the next County,

found me the sweetest, most concerned doctor she had met. He agreed to

see me within days of her talking to him!

My other doctor would never x-ray my bones. THis doctor did. The other

doctor said he could not tell I had " swelling and inflammation " in my

hands, knees, ankles, etc. and that it was just in my " head " (the pain

and swelling)

Well... this NEW DOCTOR Showed me on film how much DAMAGE the arthritis

has done, and also showed me the high amount of INFLAMATION and

swelling.

He said, that we would address his first concern... MY PAIN and the

INFLAMATION, etc. So, he gave me a dose pack of the MEDROL (to get a

handle on things) and a NARCOTIC (finally! after 5 doctors!).

Then in TWO WEEKS (note: not THREE MONTHS like the other Doctor!!) he

wants we see me again, and we will form a plan from there.

This doctor was like a breath of fresh air.

He noted the Psorisis arthritis right off. He said, " You mean no other

doctor would look at your feet (nails) and Fingernails? " Then he was

amazed the " other " doctor had not even looked at my scalp, etc.!

He said, " We've got to do something about this! " He said that he can't

treat certain things. But he can get things under control and get me to

the ones who can. He is going to be mainly my KNEE and FEET doctor. He

is going to see how far we may have to go with my knees.

By the way. I had a big scare with Breast cancer possible. Finally

checked out ok.

BUT, they found " mass " on my ovary. And since I have gone through

menapause, they were concerned.

Before the Doctor did a WOMB BIOPSY last month, she said, " We will give

you a drip for pain to sedate you... " I said, " WHY? Is it any worse than

giving birth?! " Then I told them, just do the BIOPSY and forget the

drip... Because I have such depressed reaction to them.

Well, the Doctor (OBGYN) said, that since I did have FMS, that it means

that I am much more sensitive to pain... and I should get the drip.

I said... I don't have FMS then... because believe I have a " normal "

tolerance for pain... I just have MORE PAIN than most people! So it just

" appears " I have low tolerance.

She laughed.

She did the biopsy without sedation. She was amazed I did not flinch

but once. Took about 15 minutes. She asked later, " didn't it hurt? " I

said, " It hurt like HELL! "

She looked at my records again, and said... " well, you must have a HIGH

tolerance for pain! "

Sorry this was so long.

Susie

wrote:

> Susie, how are you? We haven't heard from you in such a long time.

> I've

> been wondering how you've been doing.

>

>

>

>

> [ ] MEDROL

>

>

> > Could all of you who have taken the MEDROL dose pak, tell me about

> it?

> > The reasons NOT to take it... the reasons TO take it. The side

> effects,

> > etc.

> > Also... weight gain. What to expect?

> > My knees and hips and ankles are so bad, I surely don't want weight

> to

> > add to their stress.

> > Susie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Susie....THANK GOD you got to a GOOD doctor. I'm so sorry you have

gone through SO much. I pray things start on an upswing for you in

every way.

With Hope...

Tess

[Guest guest]

susie, i know how it is to look for dr's and have them tell you it's in your

head. or make you feel that way. i am glad your sister was able to find what

sounds like a good one. now my dr tells me it's not in my head. it's a relief

to hear that. although sometimes i wish it was in my head, then i could maybe

have it go away sometime!! i hope you find some relief soon. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Hi Bridgette -

I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I too am familiar with that type

of pain. I'd talk to your doctor about a DMARD and some prednisone while

you wait for it to start working. I've found that the prednisone makes all

the difference in the world. I take a fairly low-dose (10mg), and have no

real negative side effects. The Methotrexate, on the other hand, is

problematic for me. However, it really seems to be the way to go. A

pharmacist friend of mine just sent me an article that indicates that it

significantly lowers the risk of heart disease in RA patients.

Also, I've recently been reading several books on RA and they all say that

even range-of-motion type exercises may be contraindicated for joints with

active inflammation. So be careful.

I do have thyroid disease - Hashimoto's (autoimmune) thyroiditis. I also

have pernicious anemia (B12 problem), psoriasis, and (of course) RA. My

doctor told me that people with autoimmune diseases are more likelyy to

develop other autoimmune diseases.

Hope you're feeling better today. Take care -

>From: bridgette quintal <bridgette1959@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] MEDROL

>Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 11:35:33 -0700 (PDT)

>

>

> Hi Kathi...

> I understand the dig a hole and crawl into it pain. Am having it right

>now. I have been sitting here crying cause I know that it isn't going to

>away, and I hate to admit defeat. I have called the Dr and he is telling me

>to use heat, or physical therapy. Well I have done that route before on

>various parts of my body and would rather deal with the pain that I have

>rather than the pain that they are going to add to it. I don't go back

>until the 11th of June and I think that is going to be too long to wait. As

>I have said I have been dealing with the condition for two years, and nto

>sure what the Dr has in mind for me, but I am hoping to be able to get the

>IV drug that I have been hearing about. Does any one know of this...take

>it....would be curious as to responses on this...Also I have noticed that

>most people with RA also have a thryroid problem...is that going on with

>you folks? That was what I was diagnoised with first, and then when I

>didn't get any better...they did more tests and Ta-Da...well we all know

>the rest of that story....Will be waiting to hear from you all....

>Bridgette....Maine

> Kathi Ragaglia <iamladybird@...> wrote:

>http://www.naturalessentials.com/medrol.htm.....Susie

>here is some info on Medrol....I have been refusing

>any steroid use for 6 years because I believe from

>everything I have read that the drug is as bad as the

>disease process....last week I finished my dose pac of

>Medrol...I have been in a major flare...the pain was

>the: dig a hole and climb into it type....my husband

>said ENOUGH and off to the doctor we went he said OK

>medrol dose pac is what we have got to do, seeing how

>the hard head refuses long term steroid use...it did

>work, I was happy because I didnt have to compromise

>my believes and he was happy because it worked...I

>didnt notice any side effects except it messed up my

>monthly cycle....it bought me some more time to keep

>waiting on THE WONDER DRUG>>>ENBREL(been on the

>waiting list 8 months)anyway...it worked for me until

>the next flare and like I said I didnt see any major

>side effect....hope it works for you as everyone

>reacts differently to drugs...Kathi in OK

>--- Elf <sheadley@...> wrote:

> > Could all of you who have taken the MEDROL dose pak,

> > tell me about it?

> > The reasons NOT to take it... the reasons TO take

> > it. The side effects,

> > etc.

> > Also... weight gain. What to expect?

> > My knees and hips and ankles are so bad, I surely

> > don't want weight to

> > add to their stress.

> > Susie

> >

> >

>

>

>__________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Kelli,

When my PCP was trying to figure out what was wrong w/ me, he had put

me on high doses of predisone. I became an insomniac, crying mess.

I hated it. I refuse to be put on predisone (except for the

occiasional medrol dose pak when I have a really, really bad flare).

I am not a nurse, but my career was in healthcare administration. I

don't think there is an occupational link, I just think it's that

most of us are women.

>

> Finally received the RA diagnoses last week - a diagnoses that I

knew

> all along, for almost three years now. Have been treated for

Lyme,

> Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - Its a bittersweet ending to a long

three

> years.....My Rheumy put me on Medrol to start while we are awaiting

> some other test. My question to all of you more experienced RA

> sufferers is...have any of you had significant difficulty sleeping

> while on steroids? I haven't slept more than two hours a night in

the

> past three nights. Its magnifying all of my physical symptoms and

I am

> miserable !!!!

> P.S. I also am a nurse of 17 years....what is the commonality

here?!?!?!

>

> Kelli

>