Guest guest Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 I've been on prednisone so many time I lost count. I found that the urgent care doctor would put me on a higher dose than my allergy/asthma doctor. I got good had knowing how much I needed and would split pills if I had to, to taper off. But, I found that they gave me more energy not less. I think that's one of the issues listed as a side effect.KathyTo: asthma Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 1:22 PMSubject: extreme fatigue Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. I have adrenal insufficiency and have been doing well tapering off but its been a year and it lookes like it will take another year as long as I don't run into any major problems. I am on 4 mg. I recently developed bronchitis, my lungs were pretty noisy. They said possible early pneumonia but didn't call to confirm that so it was probably just bronchitis but really kicked up the asthma. I was put on antibiotics and prednisone taper usually I start at 50mg but I went to walk in and they gave me two days 30 two days2 two days 1 much to my surprise and delight my asthma is clearing up faster than I thought still wheezy but manageable , but the fatigue is crazy. I was wondering if others have this experience with prednisone. I am actually getting more prednisone than before so my body cant be short on cortisol. So you think its just that even though others can taper this quickly Im just more sensitive? I was so sick for seven years on and off prednisone and didn't know I was going through prednisone withdrawal. I am worried about going from the ten back to my normal 4 though I know if you take higher doses for shorter a time its ok to do and I talked with the end who is ok with this. I quess I ll just muster through. After laying on the couch for four days I just want to get up and do things get the house back in order but Im so exhausted. Thanks for listening I get frustrated sometimes. gonna go try to nap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 My fatigue usually comes from my illness rather than the Prednisone. I've taken the taper a couple of times and it actually prevented me from falling asleep, which can be one of the side effects. Maybe you need to listen to your body and rest more than you think you need to. I'm amazed at how long it takes to heal sometimes. Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. I have adrenal insufficiency and have been doing well tapering off but its been a year and it lookes like it will take another year as long as I don't run into any major problems. I am on 4 mg. I recently developed bronchitis, my lungs were pretty noisy. They said possible early pneumonia but didn't call to confirm that so it was probably just bronchitis but really kicked up the asthma. I was put on antibiotics and prednisone taper usually I start at 50mg but I went to walk in and they gave me two days 30 two days2 two days 1 much to my surprise and delight my asthma is clearing up faster than I thought still wheezy but manageable , but the fatigue is crazy. I was wondering if others have this experience with prednisone. I am actually getting more prednisone than before so my body cant be short on cortisol. So you think its just that even though others can taper this quickly Im just more sensitive? I was so sick for seven years on and off prednisone and didn't know I was going through prednisone withdrawal. I am worried about going from the ten back to my normal 4 though I know if you take higher doses for shorter a time its ok to do and I talked with the end who is ok with this. I quess I ll just muster through. After laying on the couch for four days I just want to get up and do things get the house back in order but Im so exhausted. Thanks for listening I get frustrated sometimes. gonna go try to nap -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Well just having asthma takes some of your energy. I know I have always been fighting a battle with tiredness since I fund out I had asthma, and before, so anytime it acts up, or I have a change of meds it is just harder to overcome. It takes time, and, with what you have been through, it seems like it will take time for your body to get back up on your feet. In the meantime, maybe talk to your pulmo, and regular Dr. and see what they have to say about it.To: asthma Sent: Thu, June 30, 2011 3:31:37 PMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue My fatigue usually comes from my illness rather than the Prednisone. I've taken the taper a couple of times and it actually prevented me from falling asleep, which can be one of the side effects. Maybe you need to listen to your body and rest more than you think you need to. I'm amazed at how long it takes to heal sometimes. Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. I have adrenal insufficiency and have been doing well tapering off but its been a year and it lookes like it will take another year as long as I don't run into any major problems. I am on 4 mg. I recently developed bronchitis, my lungs were pretty noisy. They said possible early pneumonia but didn't call to confirm that so it was probably just bronchitis but really kicked up the asthma. I was put on antibiotics and prednisone taper usually I start at 50mg but I went to walk in and they gave me two days 30 two days2 two days 1 much to my surprise and delight my asthma is clearing up faster than I thought still wheezy but manageable , but the fatigue is crazy. I was wondering if others have this experience with prednisone. I am actually getting more prednisone than before so my body cant be short on cortisol. So you think its just that even though others can taper this quickly Im just more sensitive? I was so sick for seven years on and off prednisone and didn't know I was going through prednisone withdrawal. I am worried about going from the ten back to my normal 4 though I know if you take higher doses for shorter a time its ok to do and I talked with the end who is ok with this. I quess I ll just muster through. After laying on the couch for four days I just want to get up and do things get the house back in order but Im so exhausted. Thanks for listening I get frustrated sometimes. gonna go try to nap -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 I'm glad you're feeling better.Take care,To: asthma Sent: Fri, July 1, 2011 9:09:16 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Nothing to be embarrassed about, it's good to know you figured it out.To: asthma Sent: Fri, July 1, 2011 11:32:14 AMSubject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue I'm glad you're feeling better.Take care,To: asthma Sent: Fri, July 1, 2011 9:09:16 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Glad you are feeling better. Sorry you had to go to the ER though. Sometimes even though we know our asthma it can play us and sneak up on us. Dont feel embarrassed...you knew something wasnt right. Ann Re: extreme fatigue Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 Hi , Madeline and all,I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test and my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital .....Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday.Take care,SharonFrom:" Wolf" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDTTo:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better. Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 Sharon - I am so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. I wish there was something they could to ease your pain and your symptoms. My brother was on Prednisone for many years growing up and he continues to deal with the negative impact on his body; he just had his second hip replacement and multiple other issues. The ER is about getting you in and if you are not dying, getting you out. I've had that experience and I continue to recover from it. I hope you get some relief and I hope you have a wonderful support system close to you. 2011/7/2 piaybyear Hi , Madeline and all,I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test and my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital ..... Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday.Take care,Sharon From: " Wolf " Subject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue Date:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDT To:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better.On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 6:09 AM, wrote: Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 Hi Sharon,So sorry for what you are going through. Having one illness is hard enough. Hopefully you will get some answers soon. Prednisone is a difficult drug to have to live with. So many side affects but without it where would we be? I literally feel like I am poisoning myself when I have to take higher doses for longer periods of time. Take care From: piaybyear To: asthma ; asthma Sent: Sat, July 2, 2011 1:23:27 PMSubject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue Hi , Madeline and all,I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test and my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital .....Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday.Take care,SharonFrom:" Wolf" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDTTo:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better. Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 first let me say thank you. The only thing I know that can reduce my pain is, I thought, to be exercise - but now am wondering if it is the exercise that caused what I have now since anything I do that includes exertion - lifting of weights - raising the arms, crunches or doing the bicycle on a mat -- anything where I would be crushing/crunching my chest might be causing this to happen. Meanwhile I have to fight the side effects of prednisone. Ummmm... what a fight it is!!! My next visit to my rheumy is when she will be doing the bone scan and without having exercised and being so unconditioned right now I have a feeling that the bone scan results will be awful. Wish the scan could be done a couple of weeks from now IF I am told to go back to exercising again. I'm sorry about your brother and how he has been paying the penalty for being on the drug. May I ask how long he has been on it and for what reason? Also, how old is he now? Also, is/was he heavy or lean to begin with and did the Prednisone cause him weight gain or weight loss? Now that he has had extensive damage due to Prednisone, have they reduced his dosage and/or substituted the pred for another drug? I just turned 64 and have been on the drug for 14 years - since I'm 51. The prednisone, I believe, has caused me to not lose weight on the scale but to look much thinner and I need to exercise and use hand weights more than ever but for now am told not to. It's amazing how prednisone effects all of us so differently. Yes .... I realize this now that the ER is about getting me in and out if I am not dying. What a waste of money and time! I don't have to tell you that there was no sleeping and I'm still so tired. Another thing: I would have expected the top nurses to know what Sjogren's or Lupus was. When I told them, they kept asking me what they were and none of them and I mean none ... heard of Sjogren's Syndrome. I was hoping to get some real medical information that I couldn't get from my doctors but it didn't work out that way. What a waste of time!!! , I came from a close family -- very close in fact and and I live(d) right across the street from my parents but they are now both gone and we miss them so much to this very day. We always did everything with them and spent all of our time with family when I was well enough to. They were always here for me through thick and thin. My sister & brother in law on the other hand are here for me but only when I'm well enough to be part of everything but if or when I am not, they don't want to know about it. Unfortunately that is the way it is and so when I went to the ER, was there morning, noon and night. I could write a book about family relations during time of need ...... Anyhow, thanks again for writing and take care and let me know about your brother.Sharon EnzerFrom:" Wolf" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 2, 2011 5:56:25 PM EDTTo:asthma Sharon - I am so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. I wish there was something they could to ease your pain and your symptoms. My brother was on Prednisone for many years growing up and he continues to deal with the negative impact on his body; he just had his second hip replacement and multiple other issues. The ER is about getting you in and if you are not dying, getting you out. I've had that experience and I continue to recover from it.I hope you get some relief and I hope you have a wonderful support system close to you.2011/7/2 piaybyear Hi , Madeline and all,I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test and my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital .....Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday.Take care,SharonFrom:" Wolf" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDTTo:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better. Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care,-- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 Hi ,I'm going to ask you the same questions I asked .... how many years are you on Prednisone ... what strength are you on .... how has the drug affected your muscles ... do you find yourself feeling weak from it or does it do the reverse for you? With me, I started using it at 60mg. for about 2 1/2 years until my lungs started to catch on - but in order for the drug to work my rheumy had to also add Methotrexate to it. It's a known fact that they both work well together as opposed to taking only one of those drugs by itself. I am not necessarily speak for asthma but am referring to lupus and sjogren's. Those prednisone side effects are doing a job on me. I always feel so weak -- it's like the drug is pulling all of my energy out of my body. Also, I am oh so hungry at all times. I eat well and yet I always have such a hunger. Try to read my e-mail that I just wrote to because I wrote alot about Prednisone. When I first started the drug I blew up and at the same time had more energy than I ever had and loved the feeling. But eventually once I started going down and have been stable on 5mg. all of these years, slowly ... very slowly I started to lose muscle mass, my energy/strength. It's a rotten feeling to say the least. Another thing is that the loss of muscle mass hasn't stopped. Another probable reason is that I'm getting older and with age one loses a certain percentage of muscle yearly. The strange thing is the constant hunger that I always have -- , we are poisoning ourselves with the prednisone and all the other drugs we're on but what can we do about it ... Wish there was another way around it .....Take care,SharonFrom:" Dempsey" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 3, 2011 8:58:42 AM EDTTo:asthma Hi Sharon,So sorry for what you are going through. Having one illness is hard enough. Hopefully you will get some answers soon. Prednisone is a difficult drug to have to live with. So many side affects but without it where would we be? I literally feel like I am poisoning myself when I have to take higher doses for longer periods of time. Take care To: asthma ; asthma Sent: Sat, July 2, 2011 1:23:27 PMSubject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue Hi , Madeline and all,I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test and my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital .....Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday.Take care,SharonFrom:" Wolf" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDTTo:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better. Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 , I may be wrong but then again I think I might be right about all the unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness: to me all of the above is caused ONLY by prednisone because that has been my on-going problem for years now. My pulm. doctor and rheumy have also told me the same thing ... in fact my pulm. who really doesn't know much about Sjogren's or Lupus suggested to my rheumy that I should try to go off the drug not realizing that I must be on it for life. I am ready to pull my hair out from the on-going fatigue and weakness caused by the drug. At times I feel like I want to jump out of my skin. That is why I make sure everyday to do hatha yoga and matwork and then weights when I am able to. Unfortunately after also being in the ER and then a semi private room until they ruled heart problems out of the picture, all the non-activity - staying in bed and not walking has weakened my muscles even more so. What are you doing about it? Did your doctor suggest any particular kind of exercise? I am positive that light gentle yoga is the way to go. Believe me, once you do all of that deep breathing and easy stretches you will be amazed at how much better you'll feel. You will find that you have more energy ... energy that will take you through the day. Let me know.SharonFrom:ANN Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 3:52:48 PM EDTTo:asthma Glad you are feeling better. Sorry you had to go to the ER though. Sometimes even though we know our asthma it can play us and sneak up on us. Dont feel embarrassed...you knew something wasnt right. Ann Re: extreme fatigue Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 Hi Sharon...sorry you had to go to the ER. Its possible they didnt send a rheumatologist because there may not have been one on duty at the time. The ERs main focus is going to be to stabilize you enough to alleviate the immediate crisis...once you are either ok to go home or be admitted they will do whichever is needed. Hopefully whatever was causing your pain will turn out to be not too serious. Ann Re: Re: extreme fatigue Hi , Madeline and all, I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test a nd my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital ..... Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday. Take care, Sharon From:"" Wolf" Subject :Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDTTo:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better. Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 Hi ,It is nice to have you join in discussion. I have not been on computer in several days. I have read the whole discussion, and I wanted to pipe in and share my experience. While it is true that the asthma itself will cause extreme amounts of fatigue, don't completely rule out the steroids. I have found that the longer I am on the steroids the more I experience some really weird side effects. One of those side effects is fatigue. Adrenal insuffiency causes fatigue as well. Any time I am bumped to higher doses, I get an initial bout of restlessness. Then about 24 hours later fatigue hits. Hard. I also get the shakes, sweats, and nausea when withdrawing from the higher doses. My daily dose is now at 8mg. Do be careful about dropping back down to your 4mg too quickly. My endocrinologist explained that with one large bump in the er that I can drop right back down the next day. However, if I am on then for more than 24 hours, I have to taper. I can drop 10mg or so every day or two (depending on the withdrawal symptoms), but once I get to 10mg I have to slow the withdrawal to one mg per week or even slower. It is maddening. MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 1:22 PMSubject: extreme fatigue Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. I have adrenal insufficiency and have been doing well tapering off but its been a year and it lookes like it will take another year as long as I don't run into any major problems. I am on 4 mg. I recently developed bronchitis, my lungs were pretty noisy. They said possible early pneumonia but didn't call to confirm that so it was probably just bronchitis but really kicked up the asthma. I was put on antibiotics and prednisone taper usually I start at 50mg but I went to walk in and they gave me two days 30 two days2 two days 1 much to my surprise and delight my asthma is clearing up faster than I thought still wheezy but manageable , but the fatigue is crazy. I was wondering if others have this experience with prednisone. I am actually getting more prednisone than before so my body cant be short on cortisol. So you think its just that even though others can taper this quickly Im just more sensitive? I was so sick for seven years on and off prednisone and didn't know I was going through prednisone withdrawal. I am worried about going from the ten back to my normal 4 though I know if you take higher doses for shorter a time its ok to do and I talked with the end who is ok with this. I quess I ll just muster through. After laying on the couch for four days I just want to get up and do things get the house back in order but Im so exhausted. Thanks for listening I get frustrated sometimes. gonna go try to nap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thank you . As for the Advair options....honestly I dont really know. Maybe the advair that comes in the HFA form might be different, but I dont know. The other option is to see if another similar drug would work for you without the side effects. Symbicort is another combination drug that is used. I would have to defer to Madeline or others who take it for info though...as I dont know a whole lot about it. Ann Re: Re: extreme fatigue Hi , Madeline and all, I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing t he meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhau stion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test a nd my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital ..... Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday. Take care, Sharon From: "" Wolf" Subject :Re: Re: extreme fatigue Date:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDT To:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better. On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 6:09 AM, < span class="Apple-converted-space"> wrote: Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!! > > Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thanks Madeline,I am experiencing the fatigue. They gave me 60mg orally of prednisone when i went to the er and I had already taken 20mg that morning. The next day although I was tired and shaky I had SOME energy. The day after the extreme fatigue and weakness hit me hard. I am always shaky on the higher doses. I am going down by 10 every three days and I happen to be seeing my endocrinologist this week. It has been almost exactly one year since starting prednisone for AI.(June 29th of 2010 to June 26th 2011) It took me an entire year to get to four mg. and now I'll be starting over. I wonder if being below 5mg left my immune system weaker. Im not sure if you have ever made it to a maintenance level of prednisone, would u consider staying there or always continue to try and get off prednisone? I originally thought I would give it one try and if it didn't work just stay on the 5mg. , however, now I don't know why not keep pushing for it although I think it unlikely. I will see what the endo. doc has to say.Have a very Happy Fourth of July everyone.!!!!!!!!!!!!To: "asthma " <asthma >Sent: Sun, July 3, 2011 7:57:21 PMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Hi ,It is nice to have you join in discussion. I have not been on computer in several days. I have read the whole discussion, and I wanted to pipe in and share my experience. While it is true that the asthma itself will cause extreme amounts of fatigue, don't completely rule out the steroids. I have found that the longer I am on the steroids the more I experience some really weird side effects. One of those side effects is fatigue. Adrenal insuffiency causes fatigue as well. Any time I am bumped to higher doses, I get an initial bout of restlessness. Then about 24 hours later fatigue hits. Hard. I also get the shakes, sweats, and nausea when withdrawing from the higher doses. My daily dose is now at 8mg. Do be careful about dropping back down to your 4mg too quickly. My endocrinologist explained that with one large bump in the er that I can drop right back down the next day. However, if I am on then for more than 24 hours, I have to taper. I can drop 10mg or so every day or two (depending on the withdrawal symptoms), but once I get to 10mg I have to slow the withdrawal to one mg per week or even slower. It is maddening. MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 1:22 PMSubject: extreme fatigue Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. I have adrenal insufficiency and have been doing well tapering off but its been a year and it lookes like it will take another year as long as I don't run into any major problems. I am on 4 mg. I recently developed bronchitis, my lungs were pretty noisy. They said possible early pneumonia but didn't call to confirm that so it was probably just bronchitis but really kicked up the asthma. I was put on antibiotics and prednisone taper usually I start at 50mg but I went to walk in and they gave me two days 30 two days2 two days 1 much to my surprise and delight my asthma is clearing up faster than I thought still wheezy but manageable , but the fatigue is crazy. I was wondering if others have this experience with prednisone. I am actually getting more prednisone than before so my body cant be short on cortisol. So you think its just that even though others can taper this quickly Im just more sensitive? I was so sick for seven years on and off prednisone and didn't know I was going through prednisone withdrawal. I am worried about going from the ten back to my normal 4 though I know if you take higher doses for shorter a time its ok to do and I talked with the end who is ok with this. I quess I ll just muster through. After laying on the couch for four days I just want to get up and do things get the house back in order but Im so exhausted. Thanks for listening I get frustrated sometimes. gonna go try to nap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thank you for the support everyone. Sharon I should give yoga another try. I have always enjoyed exercise and used to be in the gym 3to5 times a week for an hour and a half. Since being dx with adrenal insufficiency and being on prednisone for the past year I struggle constantly to get exercise but as you know I have to choose what I can get done in a day. Do I exercise or go food shopping or do I need to stay in the house to try and get some housework done, used to be able to do it all in one day. So I usually end up at the gym one day a week and try and walk my dog as often as I can. I keep setting a goal of three times a week. i think you are right exercise is key. I do have a yoga mat and several tapes one series has morning and evening yoga exercises. My doctors have never given me any suggestions really. Another layer to my fatigue is that I was dx with sleep apnea in 2007 tried to get used to the bipap and gave up. I have been using it for five weeks now and I do think it is helping. Have a very Happy Fourth of July!!!!To: asthma ; asthma Sent: Sun, July 3, 2011 2:08:59 PMSubject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue , I may be wrong but then again I think I might be right about all the unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness: to me all of the above is caused ONLY by prednisone because that has been my on-going problem for years now. My pulm. doctor and rheumy have also told me the same thing ... in fact my pulm. who really doesn't know much about Sjogren's or Lupus suggested to my rheumy that I should try to go off the drug not realizing that I must be on it for life. I am ready to pull my hair out from the on-going fatigue and weakness caused by the drug. At times I feel like I want to jump out of my skin. That is why I make sure everyday to do hatha yoga and matwork and then weights when I am able to. Unfortunately after also being in the ER and then a semi private room until they ruled heart problems out of the picture, all the non-activity - staying in bed and not walking has weakened my muscles even more so. What are you doing about it? Did your doctor suggest any particular kind of exercise? I am positive that light gentle yoga is the way to go. Believe me, once you do all of that deep breathing and easy stretches you will be amazed at how much better you'll feel. You will find that you have more energy ... energy that will take you through the day. Let me know.SharonFrom:ANN Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 3:52:48 PM EDTTo:asthma Glad you are feeling better. Sorry you had to go to the ER though. Sometimes even though we know our asthma it can play us and sneak up on us. Dont feel embarrassed...you knew something wasnt right. Ann Re: extreme fatigue Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Hi again Sharon,Wow that is a lot of prednisone that you have been on. I have been on and off depending on how my asthma is doing for the last eleven years. One time I was on for year. Then last June I was dx with adrenal insufficiency and have been on it for another year. my doses vary according to need, been on iv prednisone (120mg to 125mg solumedrol that has a conversation to prednisone but I don't know exactly what it is) in the hospital and I usually start with 50 to 60mg orally for a a week or more depending on how bad the asthma flare is and slowly taper from there. My leg muscles do atrophy , moon face, more abdomen fat, red red neck for some reason ( people always say," wow have you been out in the sun you've got quite the sunburn when in reality Ive been hiding in the house Lol) Never know how it will effect me emotionally. I get the initial burst of energy but it does not last long and sleep is always very difficult!!! So far all these things do reverse when I get down to doses below ten. Wish i had more answers though. All we can do is take care of ourselves. Eating right, getting sleep and rest, exercise. I don't usually take supplements but i know a lot of people who get relief from seeing homeopathic doctors, it may be an avenue to explore.To: asthma ; asthma Sent: Sun, July 3, 2011 12:12:42 PMSubject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue Hi ,I'm going to ask you the same questions I asked .... how many years are you on Prednisone ... what strength are you on .... how has the drug affected your muscles ... do you find yourself feeling weak from it or does it do the reverse for you? With me, I started using it at 60mg. for about 2 1/2 years until my lungs started to catch on - but in order for the drug to work my rheumy had to also add Methotrexate to it. It's a known fact that they both work well together as opposed to taking only one of those drugs by itself. I am not necessarily speak for asthma but am referring to lupus and sjogren's. Those prednisone side effects are doing a job on me. I always feel so weak -- it's like the drug is pulling all of my energy out of my body. Also, I am oh so hungry at all times. I eat well and yet I always have such a hunger. Try to read my e-mail that I just wrote to because I wrote alot about Prednisone. When I first started the drug I blew up and at the same time had more energy than I ever had and loved the feeling. But eventually once I started going down and have been stable on 5mg. all of these years, slowly ... very slowly I started to lose muscle mass, my energy/strength. It's a rotten feeling to say the least. Another thing is that the loss of muscle mass hasn't stopped. Another probable reason is that I'm getting older and with age one loses a certain percentage of muscle yearly. The strange thing is the constant hunger that I always have -- , we are poisoning ourselves with the prednisone and all the other drugs we're on but what can we do about it ... Wish there was another way around it .....Take care,SharonFrom:" Dempsey" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 3, 2011 8:58:42 AM EDTTo:asthma Hi Sharon,So sorry for what you are going through. Having one illness is hard enough. Hopefully you will get some answers soon. Prednisone is a difficult drug to have to live with. So many side affects but without it where would we be? I literally feel like I am poisoning myself when I have to take higher doses for longer periods of time. Take care To: asthma ; asthma Sent: Sat, July 2, 2011 1:23:27 PMSubject: Re: Re: extreme fatigue Hi , Madeline and all,I'm glad you raised the topic of Prednisone because I have been on it for 14 years and must remain on it for the rest of my life because I have Sjogren's & SLE Lupus in my lungs and liver; I also have asthma but unfortunately can never tell whether it's the asthma that is causing the constriction and/or pain. My problem has to do with the dryness in the alveoli which are the sacs surrounding the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis on bottom of lungs, etc. I will get severe pain a short while after I'd be exercising or doing any form of exertion. Even preparing dinner ... taking plates down, taking pots out, just bending in refrig for vegetables, etc., then cutting & preparing the meal. After that I must sit and wait until the pain subsides. Those are only a few lung issues that I have. Anyhow I started with 60mg. of prednisone until my breathing caught on and then it took another couple of years until she got me down to 5mg. which I have been on ever since but I am paying a price for being on the drug. Of course I have RA and Osteoporosis because of the drug and try to exercise everyday to fight it off. Before I was on the drug I used to go to business and then go to a health club almost everyday and so I was also in good condition but the damage that the prednisone has done is not reversible at this point. My muscles are atrophied and I can't begin to tell you how tired and exhausted I am all the time and never have enough energy to do anything. Yes, I realize that Sjogren's and Lupus play a part in the exhaustion as well but I blame most of it on what the prednisone does to me. I just came home from the ER yesterday -- they admitted me for testing because of what I thought may have been a heart attack. The pain was continuous until I would sit and relax and it felt like an elephant on my chest to use the expression from the Previcid commercial. As it turned out my heart is fine but will really find out what was found once I see my cardio doctor in a week. Anyhow I was good enough to be released and came home last night. My problem apparently has something to do with Sjogren's/Lupus since they both can affect the heart and my doctors will have to figure it out. They told me that the one to figure out what's wrong is my rheumatologist. We'll see.... I am so angry that they didn't send a rheumy to me while I was in the hospital because they could have done further testing but they didn't!!!! I guess it's because I was able to run and complete the treadmill test and my heart didn't show any problems .... Either way, my visit cost me a fortune. I don't know what it will cost until Medicare and my secondary start to send me bills. I know there will be deductibles to pay since this is my first visit as a patient to a hospital .....Everyone hope you're having a good Holiday.Take care,SharonFrom:" Wolf" Subject:Re: Re: extreme fatigueDate:July 1, 2011 4:03:30 PM EDTTo:asthma no need to be embarrassed. That's what we're here for. So glad you are feeling better.On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 6:09 AM, wrote: Hi thank you all for the responses. You were all right!! I am so embarrassed with all my ranting and raving bout the pred. making me so tired it WAS my asthma!!! This is the second time this has happened. I know that everyone has different symptoms when it come to asthma and I have been dealing with it for 25yrs. so u think I would know better. My lungs are usually VERY noisy when the asthma flares and they have been. My lungs weren't noisy anymore and did feel tighter but I wasn't alarmed. It was just this unbelievable fatigue and increasing weakness. finally decided to do another neb tx and realized I wasn't improving. went to er more nebs and more prednisone but I feel so so much better!!!! thanks for the support!!>> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. -- Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Don't know your age, but senior yoga is easier to do and you don't have to be of that age group to join. Might be hard to find, but you could ask a regular yoga group about one.--- > >> > >> Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly > >>reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 I was so tired, I couldn't even lift my arms up, every day was just awful. Well my Dr.'s did some blood tests, and found out I was both B-12 deficient, and Iron deficient, so I take both now, and I feel a lot better, took some time to get here but it worked, still have hard days because of the asthma, but, one heck of a lot better. Just and idea for you to kick around.To: asthma Sent: Mon, July 4, 2011 11:07:52 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Thanks Madeline,I am experiencing the fatigue. They gave me 60mg orally of prednisone when i went to the er and I had already taken 20mg that morning. The next day although I was tired and shaky I had SOME energy. The day after the extreme fatigue and weakness hit me hard. I am always shaky on the higher doses. I am going down by 10 every three days and I happen to be seeing my endocrinologist this week. It has been almost exactly one year since starting prednisone for AI.(June 29th of 2010 to June 26th 2011) It took me an entire year to get to four mg. and now I'll be starting over. I wonder if being below 5mg left my immune system weaker. Im not sure if you have ever made it to a maintenance level of prednisone, would u consider staying there or always continue to try and get off prednisone? I originally thought I would give it one try and if it didn't work just stay on the 5mg. , however, now I don't know why not keep pushing for it although I think it unlikely. I will see what the endo. doc has to say.Have a very Happy Fourth of July everyone.!!!!!!!!!!!!To: "asthma " <asthma >Sent: Sun, July 3, 2011 7:57:21 PMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Hi ,It is nice to have you join in discussion. I have not been on computer in several days. I have read the whole discussion, and I wanted to pipe in and share my experience. While it is true that the asthma itself will cause extreme amounts of fatigue, don't completely rule out the steroids. I have found that the longer I am on the steroids the more I experience some really weird side effects. One of those side effects is fatigue. Adrenal insuffiency causes fatigue as well. Any time I am bumped to higher doses, I get an initial bout of restlessness. Then about 24 hours later fatigue hits. Hard. I also get the shakes, sweats, and nausea when withdrawing from the higher doses. My daily dose is now at 8mg. Do be careful about dropping back down to your 4mg too quickly. My endocrinologist explained that with one large bump in the er that I can drop right back down the next day. However, if I am on then for more than 24 hours, I have to taper. I can drop 10mg or so every day or two (depending on the withdrawal symptoms), but once I get to 10mg I have to slow the withdrawal to one mg per week or even slower. It is maddening. MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 1:22 PMSubject: extreme fatigue Hi Madeline and everyone. I introduced myself awhile ago and I have been mostly reading others posts. I have a question about prednisone and fatigue. I have adrenal insufficiency and have been doing well tapering off but its been a year and it lookes like it will take another year as long as I don't run into any major problems. I am on 4 mg. I recently developed bronchitis, my lungs were pretty noisy. They said possible early pneumonia but didn't call to confirm that so it was probably just bronchitis but really kicked up the asthma. I was put on antibiotics and prednisone taper usually I start at 50mg but I went to walk in and they gave me two days 30 two days2 two days 1 much to my surprise and delight my asthma is clearing up faster than I thought still wheezy but manageable , but the fatigue is crazy. I was wondering if others have this experience with prednisone. I am actually getting more prednisone than before so my body cant be short on cortisol. So you think its just that even though others can taper this quickly Im just more sensitive? I was so sick for seven years on and off prednisone and didn't know I was going through prednisone withdrawal. I am worried about going from the ten back to my normal 4 though I know if you take higher doses for shorter a time its ok to do and I talked with the end who is ok with this. I quess I ll just muster through. After laying on the couch for four days I just want to get up and do things get the house back in order but Im so exhausted. Thanks for listening I get frustrated sometimes. gonna go try to nap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 I know your pain. I was on 65mg a day for almost a year. It then took another year to get down to 25mg. That was April 2010. I have been up and down like a yoyo since then. I am currently at my low of 8mg/day. I was told that a replacement dose was anywhere from 5 - 11mg/day. Their best guess for me is that my replacement dose is somewhere around the 8mg on a normal day as my lung conditions require more than the normal and your adrenals will produce extra to meet your needs up to the 11/12mg per day point and even more during extreme crisis. So, going by those guidelines you are already at or below your replacement doseage. I am continuing to work toward the 5mg/day goal. I am supposed to be at that dose for two weeks then they will do the stem testing to determine if my adrenals will kick back in. I would definitely not drop below that point without the stem testing and guidance from your endocrinologist. Adrenal crisis does not sound like a day at the park. As to your immune system, every one of my docs tell me that anything under 15mg/day will not effect it. However, the time you spent on higher doses would have had an effect on the immune system. Those effects can take a while for the body to reverse. Some of those changes could even be permanent. This whole prednisone (or cortisole or any other systemic steroid) issue is maddening. It has devastating effects on the body. I know that I have a host of issues that have been caused by the steroids. The weight gain, red neck, and moon face are just the tip of the iceburg. It now looks like I will be having surgery on my foot for tendon issues. I am putting it off until late fall or winter if I can. Congratulations on your 5mg/day. That takes a lot of work to get there.MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Monday, July 4, 2011 11:07 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Thanks Madeline,I am experiencing the fatigue. They gave me 60mg orally of prednisone when i went to the er and I had already taken 20mg that morning. The next day although I was tired and shaky I had SOME energy. The day after the extreme fatigue and weakness hit me hard. I am always shaky on the higher doses. I am going down by 10 every three days and I happen to be seeing my endocrinologist this week. It has been almost exactly one year since starting prednisone for AI.(June 29th of 2010 to June 26th 2011) It took me an entire year to get to four mg. and now I'll be starting over. I wonder if being below 5mg left my immune system weaker. Im not sure if you have ever made it to a maintenance level of prednisone, would u consider staying there or always continue to try and get off prednisone? I originally thought I would give it one try and if it didn't work just stay on the 5mg. , however, now I don't know why not keep pushing for it although I think it unlikely. I will see what the endo. doc has to say.Have a very Happy Fourth of July everyone.!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi Madeline, Sorry you've had such a hard timewith your health. I can't imagine being on 65mg for a whole year. It is such a powerful drug in what it does to improve our lives and all the unwanted side effects that come with it! I saw my endocrinologist yesterday and I will call him when I get to ten mg and start the slow taper again. I am actually kind of excited at this point to think I may have more energy for the summer. Once I was below six mg I was just dragging all the time. I would have withdrawal symptoms but never got to the vomiting stage. My asthma is also better just have to stay out of the heat. Thank you for sharing your insight, experience and support. Hope all is well with everyone today. Sent from my iPod > was anywhere from 5 - 11mg/day. Their best guess for me is that my replacement dose is somewhere around the 8mg on a normal day as my lung conditions require more than the normal and your adrenals will produce extra to meet your needs up to the 11/12mg per day point and even more during extreme crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Oh and good luck with your surgeryThe pulled tendon is a side effect from Prednisone? Sent from my iPod I know your pain. I was on 65mg a day for almost a year. It then took another year to get down to 25mg. That was April 2010. I have been up and down like a yoyo since then. I am currently at my low of 8mg/day. I was told that a replacement dose was anywhere from 5 - 11mg/day. Their best guess for me is that my replacement dose is somewhere around the 8mg on a normal day as my lung conditions require more than the normal and your adrenals will produce extra to meet your needs up to the 11/12mg per day point and even more during extreme crisis. So, going by those guidelines you are already at or below your replacement doseage. I am continuing to work toward the 5mg/day goal. I am supposed to be at that dose for two weeks then they will do the stem testing to determine if my adrenals will kick back in. I would definitely not drop below that point without the stem testing and guidance from your endocrinologist. Adrenal crisis does not sound like a day at the park. As to your immune system, every one of my docs tell me that anything under 15mg/day will not effect it. However, the time you spent on higher doses would have had an effect on the immune system. Those effects can take a while for the body to reverse. Some of those changes could even be permanent. This whole prednisone (or cortisole or any other systemic steroid) issue is maddening. It has devastating effects on the body. I know that I have a host of issues that have been caused by the steroids. The weight gain, red neck, and moon face are just the tip of the iceburg. It now looks like I will be having surgery on my foot for tendon issues. I am putting it off until late fall or winter if I can. Congratulations on your 5mg/day. That takes a lot of work to get there.MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Monday, July 4, 2011 11:07 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Thanks Madeline,I am experiencing the fatigue. They gave me 60mg orally of prednisone when i went to the er and I had already taken 20mg that morning. The next day although I was tired and shaky I had SOME energy. The day after the extreme fatigue and weakness hit me hard. I am always shaky on the higher doses. I am going down by 10 every three days and I happen to be seeing my endocrinologist this week. It has been almost exactly one year since starting prednisone for AI.(June 29th of 2010 to June 26th 2011) It took me an entire year to get to four mg. and now I'll be starting over. I wonder if being below 5mg left my immune system weaker. Im not sure if you have ever made it to a maintenance level of prednisone, would u consider staying there or always continue to try and get off prednisone? I originally thought I would give it one try and if it didn't work just stay on the 5mg. , however, now I don't know why not keep pushing for it although I think it unlikely. I will see what the endo. doc has to say.Have a very Happy Fourth of July everyone.!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 I am trying to put the surgery off. I keep hoping it will get better. Not likely I know. My reason for waiting is that I am not outside near as much in the late fall early winter months. So a wheelchair will not be as big a deal. They won't let me use the crutches because of the other lung issues, blah blah blah. It is not a pulled tendon. It started as tendonitis and the tendon has deteriorated from there. (Probably because I ignored it and didn't get treatment.) The prednisone is definitely the culprit. Woo hoo. Love prednisone.MadelineTo: "asthma " <asthma >Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2011 7:16 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Oh and good luck with your surgeryThe pulled tendon is a side effect from Prednisone? Sent from my iPod I know your pain. I was on 65mg a day for almost a year. It then took another year to get down to 25mg. That was April 2010. I have been up and down like a yoyo since then. I am currently at my low of 8mg/day. I was told that a replacement dose was anywhere from 5 - 11mg/day. Their best guess for me is that my replacement dose is somewhere around the 8mg on a normal day as my lung conditions require more than the normal and your adrenals will produce extra to meet your needs up to the 11/12mg per day point and even more during extreme crisis. So, going by those guidelines you are already at or below your replacement doseage. I am continuing to work toward the 5mg/day goal. I am supposed to be at that dose for two weeks then they will do the stem testing to determine if my adrenals will kick back in. I would definitely not drop below that point without the stem testing and guidance from your endocrinologist. Adrenal crisis does not sound like a day at the park. As to your immune system, every one of my docs tell me that anything under 15mg/day will not effect it. However, the time you spent on higher doses would have had an effect on the immune system. Those effects can take a while for the body to reverse. Some of those changes could even be permanent. This whole prednisone (or cortisole or any other systemic steroid) issue is maddening. It has devastating effects on the body. I know that I have a host of issues that have been caused by the steroids. The weight gain, red neck, and moon face are just the tip of the iceburg. It now looks like I will be having surgery on my foot for tendon issues. I am putting it off until late fall or winter if I can. Congratulations on your 5mg/day. That takes a lot of work to get there.MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Monday, July 4, 2011 11:07 AMSubject: Re: extreme fatigue Thanks Madeline,I am experiencing the fatigue. They gave me 60mg orally of prednisone when i went to the er and I had already taken 20mg that morning. The next day although I was tired and shaky I had SOME energy. The day after the extreme fatigue and weakness hit me hard. I am always shaky on the higher doses. I am going down by 10 every three days and I happen to be seeing my endocrinologist this week. It has been almost exactly one year since starting prednisone for AI.(June 29th of 2010 to June 26th 2011) It took me an entire year to get to four mg. and now I'll be starting over. I wonder if being below 5mg left my immune system weaker. Im not sure if you have ever made it to a maintenance level of prednisone, would u consider staying there or always continue to try and get off prednisone? I originally thought I would give it one try and if it didn't work just stay on the 5mg. , however, now I don't know why not keep pushing for it although I think it unlikely. I will see what the endo. doc has to say.Have a very Happy Fourth of July everyone.!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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