Prendisone, Weight changes and Typing

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I have been reading posts for quite some time have learned a lot from

all of you already. I was diagnosed about a year ago with RA (age 44)

although I do not have a positive RA factor. I have been on

prednisone since July of 2005 and REALLY want to get off of it

because I am concerned about damage I have heard it does. Most of

what I read talks about " high dose steroids " being the really bad

thing. How much is considered " high dose " ? I also take methatrexate

20 mg a week, but have no problems with that.

I have been trying to wean myself off the steroids. My rheumatologist

says I can drop the dose 2.5 mg every 3 weeks. I feel like it will

take forever. Just before starting it I lost 95 pounds (much needed)

but have gained all of it back and just feel horrible. I doc says

some of it is the appetite increase and water retention from the

prendisone, but I know a lot of it is the pain I feel when I

exercise. My doctor syas I will have a lot less pain in my knee (one

is replaced already and the other needs it) if I lost weight. I just

feel horrible using those scotters and handicapped parking pass when

I thinbk people see me and think if I only took better care of myself

I'd be so much healthier. Sorry, got to rambling on.

My last question is has anyone found a keyboard that works well for

you when your hands are painful? I work from home for 85% of my job

and am on the computer most of the time. My hands are so painful. My

doc says up the prednisone. I was looking for a better option. :-)