introduction + prednisone question

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I thought I'd introduce myself and ask a question while i'm at it.

First the background...

After a month of battling fevers, body aches, and fatigue, and getting all kinds

of tests and body scans, I was finally diagnosed with Stills disease just last

week.

I've been on anti-inflammatory drugs (Naproxen) since then. Thankfully, my

fevers have pretty much disappeared. On occassion i get some low grade fevers

(99-100), but they don't bother me at all...maybe because i've already

experienced the serious stuff at 104+ in the past!

I do have muscle/joint pains that I'd characterize as 4 on a scale of 1-10 (10

being worst).

And I have a rash that itches at times. I'd say a 5 on a scale of 1-10 (10

being worst).

And of course I still do experience fatigue.

My doctor has recommended that I go on prednisone, 40mg per day. Her

expectation would be to reduce to 30 mg after 1 month, and to 15-20 mg after 6

weeks, and then slowly reduce further over more time. She explained that

reduction tends to slow down as you get to lower and lower levels otherwise the

symptoms return.

Just wanted to get a sense of others' experiences with prednisone, as I've read

about the side effects, and that is a little bit scary.

Thanks, and glad to know that there is a support group out there like this.

-Mike