Guest guest Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Hi Tawny - Everybody's different but I've been prescribed as much as 60mgs of pred ,twice in the past several years......I couldn't handle that much emotionally! So, it wasn't for very long. What is the pain from? It should resolve very quickly with that high of dosage. And then he plans to taper you down over time? I hope so -- IAN [ ] Prednisone ? > My doctor has put me on 40mg of Prednisone for 5 days, because I have > been in so much pain. Is this normal? Thanks Tawny > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Hi IAN, I am in a major flare right now from the RA. I have been taking Plaquenil, and it seems to not be working anymore. I see the rheumy June 4th, so I'm sure he will find me something new. The Prednisone is only for 5 days. I notice when I take a high dose of it, I get very agitated, along with headaches. Not a good thing:) I hope to start feeling better soon. Thanks so much for your post, it helps so much, hugs Tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Hi Tawny, when I had such a bad flare he wanted to put me in the hospital, he gave me 80mg Prednisone for a week then tapered me down to 5mg. Unfortunately, I just can't off the 5 mg although I have tried many times. Hugs June ----- Original Message ----- From: tdianaok My doctor has put me on 40mg of Prednisone for 5 days, because I have been in so much pain. Is this normal? Thanks Tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 I've taken a lot of prednisone over the years. If your prescription tells you to take 40 mg prednisone for 5 days and then stop, please call your doctor. Prednisone must be " stepped down " otherwise you will have horrible withdrawal symptoms, been there. Prednisone is the best medication for swelling / inflamation and is prescribed in major RA flare ups. It helped me to eliminate all caffeine and any other stimulants during the prednisone " cure " . I also cleaned out a lot of closets :-) " Been There " > > Hi Tawny - > Everybody's different but I've been prescribed as much as 60mgs of pred > ,twice in the past several years......I couldn't handle that much > emotionally! So, it wasn't for very long. > What is the pain from? It should resolve very quickly with that high of > dosage. > And then he plans to taper you down over time? I hope so -- > > IAN > [ ] Prednisone ? > > > > My doctor has put me on 40mg of Prednisone for 5 days, because I have > > been in so much pain. Is this normal? Thanks Tawny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Tawny, I hope you feel better soon. I have never taken that much. You are always in my prayers. Beth in AR --- Ian <ianchicago@...> wrote: > Hi Tawny - > Everybody's different but I've been prescribed as > much as 60mgs of pred > ,twice in the past several years......I couldn't > handle that much > emotionally! So, it wasn't for very long. > What is the pain from? It should resolve very > quickly with that high of > dosage. > And then he plans to taper you down over time? I > hope so -- > > IAN > [ ] Prednisone ? > > > > My doctor has put me on 40mg of Prednisone for 5 > days, because I have > > been in so much pain. Is this normal? Thanks > Tawny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 June, The Prednisone really helps, 5mg isn't too much. I pray that your feeling OK, Tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 I could only take it for three days. It did help so much with the pain and swelling. I sure got a lot done over the weekend:) Tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Thanks Beth, I am feeling better now:) Good to you see you posting, Tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Hi Tawny, I have found the Prednisone helps buuuttt. As I said, I have been on 5mg daily for about 4 years. I discovered that although it sounds like a very small dose. I am sure this contributed to what happened yesterday. I started going down the stairs, put my foot sideways as usual and in a freak accident, lost my balance sideways, banged the inside of my leg on the metal trim. Horrible pain for two minutes and I sat down, rolled my pant leg up. Blood was spurting out on the wall, the stairs and filled my shoe. I have 27 stitches and seeing the doc today to see if the stitches held in my prednisone type skin. Hugs June [ ] Re: Prednisone ? June, The Prednisone really helps, 5mg isn't too much. I pray that your feeling OK, Tawny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Oh, Lord! June, that is terrible. I hope you aren't in a lot of pain and that you heal very quickly. Please let us know what your doctor says. Not an MD I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org Re: [ ] Re: Prednisone ? > Hi Tawny, I have found the Prednisone helps buuuttt. As I said, I have > been on 5mg daily for about 4 years. I discovered that although it sounds > like a very small dose. I am sure this contributed to what happened > yesterday. > I started going down the stairs, put my foot sideways as usual and in a > freak accident, lost my balance sideways, banged the inside of my leg on > the metal trim. Horrible pain for two minutes and I sat down, rolled my > pant leg up. Blood was spurting out on the wall, the stairs and filled my > shoe. I have 27 stitches and seeing the doc today to see if the stitches > held in my prednisone type skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 June, I sure hope you are doing okay, my lord! 27 stiches is awful, but it could have been a lot worse! best wishes and keep us updated when you can. ' __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 ((((June))) I am so sorry!!! That is a lot of stitches. Please take care, and just know I'm thinking about you, and keeping you in my prayers, T > > Hi Tawny, I have found the Prednisone helps buuuttt. As I said, I have been on 5mg daily for about 4 years. I discovered that although it sounds like a very small dose. I am sure this contributed to what happened yesterday. > I started going down the stairs, put my foot sideways as usual and in a freak accident, lost my balance sideways, banged the inside of my leg on the metal trim. Horrible pain for two minutes and I sat down, rolled my pant leg up. Blood was spurting out on the wall, the stairs and filled my shoe. I have 27 stitches and seeing the doc today to see if the stitches held in my prednisone type skin. > > Hugs > June > [ ] Re: Prednisone ? > > > June, > > The Prednisone really helps, 5mg isn't too much. I pray that your > feeling OK, Tawny > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 That's what I remembered. Since my body hasn't had to produce any for 20 years, how long may it take to 're-learn' reproducing it? Dennis in eastexas On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 10:08 PM, marysue <marysue@...> wrote: > > > Dennis, a doctor told me that the body produces cortisol equivalent to > 5mg of prednisone. As I understand it, taking prednisone causes the > production to stop, and it takes a while after stopping the prednisone > for the body to resume its production of cortisol. Or something like > that, LOL. > > I know that you've tried hard to wean yourself off before without > success. Maybe this time will be different. I will keep you in my > thoughts and prayers. > > Sue > > > On Aug 3, 2010, at 10:29 PM, Dennis W wrote: > > > My ex-Rummy and my present one want me off Prednisone, like every > > other > > doctor I talk to. I've been told that my RA is in remission, too. > > Hooray!! > > > > Why, if I am in remission, does my Rheumy want to put me on a > > Biologic to > > wean me off Prednisone? As I understand it, the body normally produces > > cortisone and weaning off Prednisone means that the body needs to > > produce > > more, thus the 'lag-time' between reducing the dose and the comfort > > level of > > said body. What might I be missing? BTW, I'm going to try again to > > get off > > it, starting with 7.5mg one day and 5 the next, alternating for a > > while, > > then stay on 5. Is that a good olan or not? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 This can be a tricky switch, but there's some really strong reasons to do so if you've been on pred. that long. Prednisone shuts down your renal glands, which results in your body not producing it's own cortisol, as we all know. If you take pred for too long, sometimes those glands do not kick back in and your body does not make cortisol on it's own. In a perfect world, your body will bounce back within a few weeks, and you'll be making your own cortisol. Although you may feel that your RA is in remission, because you have no symptoms now, not having symptoms while you're on a medication is not a true remission. A lack of symptoms plus negative blood tests after you have weaned off your anti-inflammatory meds, for a continuous perioud of time, is what will define a true remission. Your doc would not put you on a biologic if your RA was in true remission, partly because it would not be warranted if you're not having symptoms, but also because your insurance will not pay for it if you're not having symptoms PLUS positive blood work. If you are having symptoms, and need a strong anti-inflammatory such as prednisone, the biologics are a great choice, especially since you've been on it so long. Even if you haven't had adverse reactionsn to pred. yet, long term use can lead to liver and kidney damage, to the point of needing a transplant. In some people it causes anxiety or psychiatric symptoms. The biologs are a class of medications known as a tumor necrosis factor antagonist. TNF is one of many blood markers that can be very high in patients with inflammatory conditions, and high levels of TNF can cause a large host of other problems. The biologics use a bioengineered protein (of different sources, depending on the rx) that modifies this level, bringing it down to normal, with the result being that your body does not go into an inflammatory " flare " , so you don't need traditional 'anti-inflammatories' to relieve your inflammation, because you won't have inflammation. Anywhere! Joints, muscle, GI tract, lungs, you name it. If you have a type of inflammation which is a result of high levels of TNF, than these new medications can literally transform your life, and bring you from dozens of pills a day, down to none, or maybe 1 or 2 a day, at most. Your flexibility will improve, your mood, mental clarity, sleep, morning stiffness, pain, and overalll energy level and feeling of well being. There are potential, uncommon risks you should be aware of, but if you listen to your body, and do as your doctor tells you, you can use these medications with astounding results! Jules > > My ex-Rummy and my present one want me off Prednisone, like every other > doctor I talk to. I've been told that my RA is in remission, too. Hooray!! > > Why, if I am in remission, does my Rheumy want to put me on a Biologic to > wean me off Prednisone? As I understand it, the body normally produces > cortisone and weaning off Prednisone means that the body needs to produce > more, thus the 'lag-time' between reducing the dose and the comfort level of > said body. What might I be missing? BTW, I'm going to try again to get off > it, starting with 7.5mg one day and 5 the next, alternating for a while, > then stay on 5. Is that a good olan or not? > > Dennis in eastexas > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 Dennis, I found one answer: " A complete recovery of your normal adrenal gland performance after taking steroids can take a week to several months. While on prednisone, you may be instructed to follow a special dietthat is: • low in salt • high in calcium • high in potassium Calcium and potassium supplements to your diet may be recommended to ensure ingestion of additional requirements. It is crucial to a healthy outcome that you follow any and all instructions given specifically. " Good luck! Sue On Aug 4, 2010, at 11:39 AM, Dennis W wrote: > That's what I remembered. Since my body hasn't had to produce any > for 20 > years, how long may it take to 're-learn' reproducing it? > > Dennis in eastexas > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 This is interesting. My ex-Rheumy tried to force me off Prednisone by prescribing smaller amounts, not caring about my ability to stand it. That's the reason I fired him. Apparently he doesn't know enough to even be a doctor, huh? And nobody has said one thing about cutting down on slat, even the heart people after my bypasses. I'm still going to try, and armed with more ammo than before. Maybe it can be a success going slower than usual. The info that Jules gave also helps me understand what I have to do to have a better chance of weaning myself. Unfortunately, the cost of Biologics is going to play a big role in my overall success. I simply can't afford them. Since I do have prescription coverage, I don't qualify for manufacturer programs. I might try Rituximab since it's the cheapest. I'll see what the Doc says in 2 weeks. Dennis in eastexas On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 6:49 PM, marysue <marysue@...> wrote: > Dennis, I found one answer: > > " A complete recovery of your normal adrenal gland performance after > taking steroids can take a week to several months. > While on prednisone, you may be instructed to follow a special > diet that is: > • low in salt > • high in calcium > • high in potassium > Calcium and potassium supplements to your diet may be recommended to > ensure ingestion of additional requirements. > It is crucial to a healthy outcome that you follow any and all > instructions given specifically. " > > Good luck! > > Sue > > On Aug 4, 2010, at 11:39 AM, Dennis W wrote: > > > That's what I remembered. Since my body hasn't had to produce any > > for 20 > > years, how long may it take to 're-learn' reproducing it? > > > > Dennis in eastexas > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.