Steroids

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky,

My doctor suggested taking prednisolone for 2 weeks. The initial dose is

large and decreases incrementally over the 2 week period. The first time he

suggested it, I declined. The pain increased to an intolerable level and I

broke down. The doctor said that this may not work at all or could last up to

2 years. After 2 weeks, the pain, isolated mostly in my mid to upper spine is

gone, barring muscle/tendon pain. I am nearing the 2 month marker and the

pain is not back. I went to a physiotherapist for the muscle/tendon pain in

my neck. He is sending me to physical therapy and wrote a prescription for a

home traction unit. Hopefully, this will help. Good luck.

[Guest guest]

Dear Shanti:

My son, Carrick (aged 10 with poly), has received injections of Aristospan and Kenalog: steroids with different chemical composition than Depomedrol. He received knee injections in July with no visible effect of the steroid. He received 9 injections of the Kenalog in small joints of the hands and feet in September. He showed signs of effect within 3 days. He developed a moon face and he evidenced increased appetite. I am sure there are other effects of which we are not aware. For example, I believe that it impairs growth, if the child is in a growth cycle. The injections are specifically used to reduce the systemic impact of oral form of steroids.

M. J. O'Connor

President

Rail Systems, Inc.

22 North Greenwood Ave.

Hopewell, NJ 08525

609-466-4114

[Guest guest]

Dear Shanti,

My son 4 systemic has not been quite as fortunate.He has a long list of meds he takes everyday.He has had a very stubborn left ankle,no matter what we did the swelling and pain would not go away.One day I asked about injecting it and was kind of blown off.The next visit I brought it up,but not so much as a question,more of a demand.Two weeks later, had it done.He was supposed to stay off of it for 4-5 days unless he wore his brace,basically a walking cast that would limit any movement of his ankle.He felt so good that he turned into a wild boy,he got very stubborn and refused to wear the brace.The next month we where having it done again.This time he had to wear a hard cast for 2 weeks and his brace for half a day for three weeks.It has worked like a charm,he has no swelling or pain,its been about 2 months now and he is doing great.Our ortho used Depo-Medrol both times.He had no side effects and the ortho said he could do it over and over ,but it will never work if did not rest it like he was supposed to do.As far as I know it does not cause system wide side effects like oral steroids.There is a small risk of the drug crystalizing,post injection flair,that resolves after a couple weeks,and skin discoloration where the needle goes in. had none of those.s procedure was done in the Emergancy Department and Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital under concious sedation,he felt nothing and he remembers nothing.He had no idea anything was done,the drainage of fluid and the injection of steroids caused him no pain or discomfort.Its a personal choice,but I would do the injections long before the oral steroids if at all possible.

Becki and 4systemic

[Guest guest]

Hi Shanti,

steroids do have side effects, and that is why oral steroids are not

very popular, at least in Finland where I live and work with jra kids

(I also have two jra boys myself). We prefer to use injections if

possible, and I myself have positive experience of injecting joints.

But there's things to consider if it's done regurlarly. If the child

is treated with injections once, I can't believe that it could have

any serious side effects, (growth etc.) but it can happen that once

isn't enough. Anyway, I rather let my child be injected than let him

have oral steroids. But I know some people feel differently.

Hope this helps.

Soili, Juho & Juha (7 and 6 yo, pauci)

[Guest guest]

Jan,

I haven't had surgery but everytime I've had a bleed they increased the steroids. I was told the same thing about increasing due to stress.

.

[Guest guest]

>

> In addition to candida, I have asthma. Whenever I get a cold - much

> less often now that I have the candida under control, it settles in

> my chest & my asthma kicks in. The only way to clear it up is to

> take a small dose of steroids - prednisone.

>

> How bad is this to do 1x a year or so? Should I expect my candida

> symptoms to come back because of this?

>

> Thanks,

> Ellen

Ellen, I've helped people with asthma with only foods.

Cold processed whey will help reduce inflammation and mucus, and will

help you detox. Take it with selenium and an antioxidant program.

An overactive immune response, which increases histamine swelling in the

lungs, can be reduced with Ambrotose. This is useful for any unusual

immune response including autoimmunes.

Of course, a detox program such as a series of liver flushes and getting

rid of toxin sources including the candida and incorrect bowel culture

will help too. I can't do much from here, but people get results pretty

quickly with ozone therapy.

Duncan Crow

[Guest guest]

Karl,

Wow! That’s a lot. Is there some

hope that this large dose will reduce your polyps more ? I think the largest

dose I’ve ever had is 60mg and that made me too fidgety to sleep as well

as breaking out in acne on my back.

Jim Brown

From: Wuensch,

Karl L [mailto:WuenschK@...]

Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004

11:31 AM

'samters '

Subject: Steroids

I recently went

through three days of intravenous steroids, a gram a day. Can you imagine

what I was like then? 60 mg was the highest dose I had done before that.

Karl W.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you lisa. I

am sitting up feeling lost tonight. 40mg of steroids and can't sleep a wink.

I know there is hope but when the world sleeps and you don't it is

boring.

val

[Guest guest]

I wish it was to treat polyps, but in this case it was an attempt to get back vision in my left eye. I seem to have suffered a ischemic event (roughly similar to a stroke) in my left eye. The steroids did not do the trick, however. I have been having all sorts of tests done to try to isolate the cause of the event so I can try to avoid having the same thing happen to my right eye. The only thing that has turned up suspicious so far is one blood test, for Lupus Anticoagulant Antibody. This is associated with an autoimmune disorder which puts one at risk for the problem I have had in the one eye. On the bright side, it has provided an opportunity for me to create a new web page: http://personal.ecu.edu/wuenschk/AION.htm . The steroids did really open up my sinuses, and you know how that lets all sorts of disgusting garbage out, but now I am back to being congested again. Right now I have only one polyp actually in the nose that can be easily seen, but I have air-fluid levels in my sinuses, so it is nasty in there.

Karl W.

-----Original Message-----From: Jim [mailto:jim747@...] Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 2:19 PMsamters Subject: RE: Steroids

Karl,

Wow! That’s a lot. Is there some hope that this large dose will reduce your polyps more ? I think the largest dose I’ve ever had is 60mg and that made me too fidgety to sleep as well as breaking out in acne on my back.

Jim Brown

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Karl. Sounds like you have really

been through the mill. Hope you can get your vision back or at least keep it

from getting worse.

The Prednisone – eye connection interested

me. The last time I took a 4mg dosepak, my vision deteriorated for several

days. It was almost like my glasses (near-sighted) weren’t working. That’s

the first time I have ever reacted that way. I’m told that prednisone can

have that side effect.

Yes, I think we all have some pretty

disgusting sinuses. It’s a shame it is so hard and painful to clear them

out.

Thanks again.

Jim B

From: Wuensch,

Karl L [mailto:WuenschK@...]

Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004

1:46 PM

'samters '

Subject: RE: Steroids

I wish it was to treat

polyps, but in this case it was an attempt to get back vision in my left

eye. I seem to have suffered a ischemic event (roughly similar to a

stroke) in my left eye. The steroids did not do the trick, however.

I have been having all sorts of tests done to try to isolate the cause of the

event so I can try to avoid having the same thing happen to my right eye.

The only thing that has turned up suspicious so far is one blood test, for

Lupus Anticoagulant Antibody. This

is associated with an autoimmune disorder which puts one at risk for the

problem I have had in the one eye. On the bright side, it has provided an

opportunity for me to create a new web page: http://personal.ecu.edu/wuenschk/AION.htm .

The steroids did really open up my sinuses, and you know how that lets all

sorts of disgusting garbage out, but now I am back to being congested

again. Right now I have only one polyp actually in the nose that can be

easily seen, but I have air-fluid levels in my sinuses, so it is nasty in

there.

Karl W.

RE: Steroids

Karl,

Wow! That’s a lot. Is there some

hope that this large dose will reduce your polyps more ? I think the largest

dose I’ve ever had is 60mg and that made me too fidgety to sleep as well

as breaking out in acne on my back.

Jim Brown

[Guest guest]

> From: " Jim " <jim747@...>

> Subject: RE: Steroids

> . . . snip . . .

>

> The Prednisone ­ eye connection interested me. The last time I took a 4mg

> dosepak, my vision deteriorated for several days. It was almost like my

> glasses (near-sighted) weren¹t working. That¹s the first time I have ever

> reacted that way. I¹m told that prednisone can have that side effect.

>

I have also had " funny " vision after being on Prednisone for a couple of weeks.

It's pretty alarming, but has always straightened out afterwards.

Ken West

[Guest guest]

I talked to a friend that has worked for an Ophthalmologist for a number of years. She said that it is fairly common, but seems to be erratic. Just because it happens once doesn't mean it will happen again. I have considered going to the eye doctor myself, but since my vision totally recovered after a week or so, I have procrastinated. What was odd was that I had been on two recent months of prednisone - each starting with 40mg/day for a week and nothing happened. Then a couple of months later, a 4mg dosepak made me more near-sighted. I have looked it up on the web several times, but haven't found any definitive discussion - only that "vision problems" is always listed as one of the side-effects.

Jim

RE: Steroids

> . . . snip . . .> > The Prednisone ­ eye connection interested me. The last time I took a 4mg > dosepak, my vision deteriorated for several days. It was almost like my > glasses (near-sighted) weren¹t working. That¹s the first time I have ever > reacted that way. I¹m told that prednisone can have that side effect. > I have also had "funny" vision after being on Prednisone for a couple of weeks.It's pretty alarming, but has always straightened out afterwards.Ken West

[Guest guest]

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Elly)))))))))))))))))))))))))

Wisconsin,

Tricia

-- steroids

Thanks to those who responded to my question.what would i do without your input? I have been on 60mg.since the 27th of jan. in feb my doc reduced it by 5mg. a week,then 2 weeks later by 10.as of tues. i am down to 25 and on next tues 15.i am in so much pain in my back and neck and knees i just want to cry.i also am having abdominal pain once or twice a day.unfortunately i am also having many side affects from being on the prednisone,including my mouth which is so sore i cant eat,so i guess it's a double edged sword i'm darned if i do and darned if i don't!I will try to put up with the pain as long as possible so i can continue to go off the steroids and hopefully get rid of the dreaded side affects.i just wish everything wasn't so darn complicated.thanks again for your help,you have no idea how much this group means to me,many times i would have just given up if not for you. love elly

[Guest guest]

Dearest Elly;

It sounds like your doctor has it under control. I'm really sorry it has to be so painful though. Are you able to take medication for pain? I know since I have been of my Sulfasalazine these past weeks that I'm doing well but after time have more pain and some swelling in knees.

We love you too and value you so much. Biggest hugs and thoughts of love. melt

steroids

Thanks to those who responded to my question.what would i do without your input? love elly

[Guest guest]

,

The safest dosing with steroids is to use as little as possible for the

shortest possible amount of time. That said, there are many systemic

children who simply have to remain on steroids for much longer and at higher

doses than would normally be acceptable. Physicians and parents have to

weigh the risk of steroids against what uncontrolled systemic disease can

do. Often the side effects of the steroids are truly the lesser of two

evils.

There are some parents here who've had to keep their kids on steroids, some

for many years, and I'm sure that one of them will be able to better answer

this for you.

Liz

Steroids

Hi All

What is a safe length of time to be on steroids for systemic JRA?

[Guest guest]

--

Hi ,

I think it would completely depend on your doctor to decide what is

the right amount of time for your child to continue taking steroid

medication. It would most likely depend also on how well the child

is responding to other meds and how the lab results come out. My son

was on a heavy dose of sterioids for 5 months before we began

tapering him slowly off of them. I know some kids must stay on them

much longer, even years, because it is the only medication that

helps them.

Jodi, Bronson, age 9, systemic

- In , " asokol5 " <asokol5@y...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi All

>

> What is a safe length of time to be on steroids for systemic JRA?

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Bee,

>

> I was reading what you wrote to Kerry about steroids and was

wondering something about them... I think they make can candida

overgrow in the body, but I can't remember... can you advise me on

this? Obviously any drug, stresses the system, and isn't at all help,

but detrimental.

==>Steroids definitely contribute to candida overgrowth, along with

oral contraceptives, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), antiacids, over-

the-counter drugs, and any other medical drugs. Some drugs like

steroids & antibiotics directly increase candida growth, and also cause

it. While other depress the immune system which sets a person up for

acquiring candida overgrowth. Here's a photo of canida in the

esophagus from inhaled steroids:

http://www.gastrolab.net/pa-047.htm

==>Medical drugs only suppress symptoms which will create consequences

in future, which the body may or may not be able to deal with, i.e.

cancer. In fact there is a direct connection between candida and

cancer - see the Folder on it in the files.

Bee

[Guest guest]

PT has helped me a great deal. I don't know yet if it will allow me to not

have a TTT, but I am better. I go to PT twice a week and it takes

about 1.5hours. I do a slightly different workout at home on the days

I do not go to

PT. I NEVER skip a day. I will be at Cozumel Mexico this weekend, but I

will still do my PT routine. The way I figure it, it will either relieve

the knee pain to the point that I can live with it, or it will make me

better prepared for surgery.

The bottom line is: PT has been the most helpful thing so far.

The best weapon I use: My EMPI 300 PV muscle stimulator has greatly helped

me to increase the strength in my quads. I fire the muscle, but the

stimulator make it fire harder than I could do on my own. I use that 5 days

per week.

Don

On 5/2/06, redphys <redphys@...> wrote:

>

> I got my steroid injection last week. Hurt like heck the first few

> days. Finally went back to exercise 3 days ago. Now my knee is hurting

> again. Will this ever get better? My ortho says to call him back in 2

> weeks if it's still hurting. Do I bother? What's next? Surgery? PT?

> None of that seems to help any of you.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Takings prednisone for hives is what got Jane ey into the psychiatric

mousewheel. The steroids made her depressed, so they doped her with an SSRI

which made her manic and then they labeled her with bi-polar and stuck her in a

nutbin for 6 weeks while they tweaked her meds. UGH!

[Guest guest]

Never mind. It would take your researching the issue because you had

one or more of the autoimmune diseases for you to understand. Just

suffice it to say there are 2 different types of steroids.

>

> Takings prednisone for hives is what got Jane ey into the

psychiatric

> mousewheel. The steroids made her depressed, so they doped her

with an SSRI

> which made her manic and then they labeled her with bi-polar and

stuck her in a

> nutbin for 6 weeks while they tweaked her meds. UGH!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> do steroids inhibit LDN or does LDN inhibit steroids?

>

------

There have been a few instances where both drugs canceled each other out at the

same time. Happened to my former neighbor. There are others who've done okay

and there was no problem.

[Guest guest]

The very nature of steroids lowers the immune system...the nature of

LDN heightens the immune system. I was prescribed a six day run of

steriods for my inflamed foot....but so far I have refused to take

them. I asked the parmacists about steroids and LDN and he said it

hadn't been proven as of yet that they wash each other out and told me

not to stop the LDN when I took the steroids. I am just not

convinced. I am not taking the steroids and am following a homeopathic

method for my foot as of now. After all of my studying on LDN I can't

believe I have been told this. hmmmmmm?

Am a bit confused. Donna

www.freewebs.com/lovelaugh/

> >

> > do steroids inhibit LDN or does LDN inhibit steroids?

> >

> ------

>

> There have been a few instances where both drugs canceled each other

out at the same time. Happened to my former neighbor. There are

others who've done okay and there was no problem.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jerome

I have never been on steroids in my life and have two

implants so the answer to your question for me is no.

Connie

--- Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@...> wrote:

> Hi...

>

> I've another question, to those with cochlear

> implants, is steroids required

> for the body not to reject the implant?

>

> Thanks.

>

> Regards,

> Jerome

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

" The Miracle at Ohio State "

aka Nucleus Freedom

Implanted 10/04/2005

Activated 11/1/2005

Surgery: Ohio State University

Surgeon: Dr. Bradley Welling

http://internalmedicine.osu.edu/article.cfm?ID=2021

[Guest guest]

Jerome,

No. The body does not see the cochlear implant as an invader as it

would with donated body parts.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Mermaid mathematicians wear algae-bras.

--Anonymous

& Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

Newport, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

Jane,

There is a higher risk for complications in the immunocompromised.

Not an MD

[ ] Steroids

> Does anyone know what the effect of chicken pox has for someone on

> steroids? I know you have to contact a Dr ASAP but don't actually

> know the reason.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Keanna,

I believe there is a list of Prednisone side effects

on the website for this group.

After experiencing this first hand with our son who

has , combined with my knowledge as an RN

(cardiology, which has included heart transplants, who

often get prednisone), here's what I think so far.

Bottom line, it is a personal decision. When

prednisone works so well, it is hard to not give that

magic pill that makes the fever go away. The

specialist we have seen reassures us that one dose of

prednisone every few weeks should have no long term

side effects. Our pediatrician reassures us that

lots of kids are on lots of higher doses of pred. long

term, and do fine. None of this is perfect

reassurance for you and I, of course.

If pred. does not make your child's fevers come closer

together, than that makes it easier to justify it's

use. Unfortunately for us, and many others, steroids

make Eli's fevers come about every 11-12 days, instead

of 21 days. That makes for a lot of prednisone,

especially considering that we need to do a 2nd dosing

during some episodes. Some doctors will explain that

although fever episodes may initially come closer

together, they often start lengthening out. After 3

months, this did not happen for us.

I felt that prednisone was effecting Eli's behavior.

I really can't be 100% sure, but the last couple

episodes we have returned to using good old ibuprofen

& Tylenol, and not only is his behavior better, so is

his color (can't really explain that one). Also,

even though his fever was gone, he would often act

" not well " for several days.

That being said, Eli's last fever episode was

horrible. It lasted 4 days, and medicating with

Tylenol & ibuprofen didn't keep the fever down much at

all. After 4 days of fever, it took him several more

days to fully recover. I think we will use

prednisone next time to re-evaluate how he handles it.

It's so hard dealing with a diagnosis that doesn't

have much research to support a universal treatment

plan. In another decade, we might know exactly what

causes it, as well as the best treatment. But for

now, we have to do our best with the limited

information in front of us. Know that whatever you

choose to do, you are doing your very best for your

child.

Jen Harvey