Pain meds vs. Prednisone (long)

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I have been struggling with the decision I made several months ago

to get off prednisone. I was only on 17.5 mg a day, but I was very

concerned about the side effects and was also gaining weight

(something I had just sent a year losing) and just felt like my

moods were swinging right along with my 16 year olds. I did a slow

taper of dropping 2.5 every 2-3 weeks and then once I got to 10 mg I

went down by 1 mg every 2 weeks. I got to 5 mg.

I also had tremendous pain. I was used to the first week at a new

dose being bad, but I was bad all the time. I had no energy at all

and hurt to the point where I couldn't function (I'm a mom, wife and

full-time educator).

So I began taking the pain meds the docs kept telling me to take.

Ultram, Darvocet, Vicodin and another one I can't remember. Not all

at once! I would end up taking something almost every evening though

I never took as much as they perscribed. (Along with the neurotin I

take for nerve pain in my back)I must admit I began to look forward

to the evening of being slightly detached and not feeling the

frustration of trying to do things that hurt too much and sitting in

a messy house with no energy or pain tolerance to do anything about

it.

After about 6 weeks of this, I was getting low on Darvocet which

seems to work the best and trying to decide if I really wanted to

get it refilled (a call to the doc) or what to do. I called

yesterday and she said why don't we go back to 15mg of prednisone.

Well, I decided to do it and am now riding the initial " high " of no

pain and boundless energy and optomism that comes when I first raise

the dose by that much. It is so wonderful to feel like myself again.

The heavy depression is gone (something I realized came especially

with the Vicodin for me).

I also have the guilt of knowing I am choosing to feel better now (I

know it will level out) knowing I may have damage later. (I had a

history of vertebral fractures and osteoporosis even before

steroids).

How do you make the decision? Short term vs. long term is something

I am trying to get through my 16 year olds head now. Work towards

the long term not just what feels good now. On the other hand, if

I'm too depressed and detached to really participate in life, well I

just don't know.

in St.Louis (Taking Remicade, methotrexate, folic acid,

prednisone, asthma meds and prozac)