Trying again to wean off Pred

[Guest guest]

When I went to the Rheumy on Tuesday, I mentioned tearing more of my left

bicep and there's no evidence of improvement. One of my questions was that

if the Prednisone is making my skin tear so easily, maybe it could have this

effect on my muscles. The only answer was to drop off Prednisone and see

what happens. I went through this same thing a couple of years ago with no

success.

I've been taking 10-15mg per day for about 19 years and only made it down to

7mg/day and couldn't stand the pain any more, so I went back to the 10mg/day

and am functioning again. So, is there a chance that it may cause muscles

that were in pretty good tone to tear? I really can't see it, so is it worth

trying to get off one more med?

Dennis in eastexas

[Guest guest]

That is a long time to be on that amount of prednisone. My Dr has

been/is weening me off of it currently. I went from 15 down to 10

for 4 mos, than 9 for 2 mos, 8 for 2 mos, currently at 7. Aren't you

on something else for the pain, like enbrel, humira, remicade or

somehting? It sounds like you need something else to help you.

>

> When I went to the Rheumy on Tuesday, I mentioned tearing more of

my left

> bicep and there's no evidence of improvement. One of my questions

was that

> if the Prednisone is making my skin tear so easily, maybe it could

have this

> effect on my muscles. The only answer was to drop off Prednisone

and see

> what happens. I went through this same thing a couple of years ago

with no

> success.

>

> I've been taking 10-15mg per day for about 19 years and only made

it down to

> 7mg/day and couldn't stand the pain any more, so I went back to the

10mg/day

> and am functioning again. So, is there a chance that it may cause

muscles

> that were in pretty good tone to tear? I really can't see it, so is

it worth

> trying to get off one more med?

>

> Dennis in eastexas

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The longest my doctor has left me on Prednisone due to the damage that it causes

is about a month or 2. I've only had it a few times because she is worried at

my age that I don't need bone and other issues along with what I already have.

It's a last resort for me. I was given it once to see if I would respond to it,

since my RA and ANA is seronegative but my ESR, CRP, and Westegren are all

elevated. When I couldn't stand up due to my knee I was given it again. The

pain did come back almost immediately after weaning off, but I always have pain.

We just upped a DMARD and the NSAID and added a pain medication along with some

more physical therapy. I know its very trying when we have to stop a medication

or wean off. My thoughts are with you.

Jeanette <jhkerch@...> wrote: That is a long

time to be on that amount of prednisone. My Dr has

been/is weening me off of it currently. I went from 15 down to 10

for 4 mos, than 9 for 2 mos, 8 for 2 mos, currently at 7. Aren't you

on something else for the pain, like enbrel, humira, remicade or

somehting? It sounds like you need something else to help you.

>

> When I went to the Rheumy on Tuesday, I mentioned tearing more of

my left

> bicep and there's no evidence of improvement. One of my questions

was that

> if the Prednisone is making my skin tear so easily, maybe it could

have this

> effect on my muscles. The only answer was to drop off Prednisone

and see

> what happens. I went through this same thing a couple of years ago

with no

> success.

>

> I've been taking 10-15mg per day for about 19 years and only made

it down to

> 7mg/day and couldn't stand the pain any more, so I went back to the

10mg/day

> and am functioning again. So, is there a chance that it may cause

muscles

> that were in pretty good tone to tear? I really can't see it, so is

it worth

> trying to get off one more med?

>

> Dennis in eastexas

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've had a few occasions when I didn't take the Pred accidentally and I

don't want to go through that again! The schedule given to me at the Dr's

office is for a 2 week stepdown, one mg each time. That's too soon, so I'm

going to try to stay with that for the time being and will be on some one's

back when it gets to be too much.

I'm taking Lodine, MTX, and Morphine, otherwise I'm on my own. What do I

really need to get through this more easily? I also have to put up with

Fibro and Sjogrens, which is a real problem the last week. I wake up at

night with such a dry mouth and throat that I can't talk until I rehydrate.

Maybe this is my birthday present, the Sjogrens started about 3 weeks ago

and hasn't let up since. We just celebrated my 64th birthday, then this

started again. Sometimes it's hard to keep the chin up with these cruel

diseases.

Dennis in eastexas

On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 4:36 PM, stephanie <stephieann2@...> wrote:

> The longest my doctor has left me on Prednisone due to the damage that

> it causes is about a month or 2. I've only had it a few times because she is

> worried at my age that I don't need bone and other issues along with what I

> already have. It's a last resort for me. I was given it once to see if I

> would respond to it, since my RA and ANA is seronegative but my ESR, CRP,

> and Westegren are all elevated. When I couldn't stand up due to my knee I

> was given it again. The pain did come back almost immediately after weaning

> off, but I always have pain. We just upped a DMARD and the NSAID and added a

> pain medication along with some more physical therapy. I know its very

> trying when we have to stop a medication or wean off. My thoughts are with

> you.

>

> Jeanette <jhkerch@... <jhkerch%40>> wrote: That is a long

> time to be on that amount of prednisone. My Dr has

> been/is weening me off of it currently. I went from 15 down to 10

> for 4 mos, than 9 for 2 mos, 8 for 2 mos, currently at 7. Aren't you

> on something else for the pain, like enbrel, humira, remicade or

> somehting? It sounds like you need something else to help you.

>

> >

> > When I went to the Rheumy on Tuesday, I mentioned tearing more of

> my left

> > bicep and there's no evidence of improvement. One of my questions

> was that

> > if the Prednisone is making my skin tear so easily, maybe it could

> have this

> > effect on my muscles. The only answer was to drop off Prednisone

> and see

> > what happens. I went through this same thing a couple of years ago

> with no

> > success.

> >

> > I've been taking 10-15mg per day for about 19 years and only made

> it down to

> > 7mg/day and couldn't stand the pain any more, so I went back to the

> 10mg/day

> > and am functioning again. So, is there a chance that it may cause

> muscles

> > that were in pretty good tone to tear? I really can't see it, so is

> it worth

> > trying to get off one more med?

> >

> > Dennis in eastexas

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dennis please use biotene toothpaste and mouthwash. and orajel spray.  with a

cool mist humidifier at night.  keep the orajel spary at your bedside and chair

table.  i didn't strat with all the toothpastes, etc. until i had to have 18

teeth inlayed. i would find pieces each a.m. in my mouth.  also i take a pill

each day 3 times called exovac (hope correct spelling) or salagean. this is a

serious problem.  sometimes my tongue is so inflammed it bleeds at least a 1/4

cup when i brush and even soup burns like jalapenos.  rita

Re: [ ] Re: Trying again to wean off Pred

I've had a few occasions when I didn't take the Pred accidentally and I

don't want to go through that again! The schedule given to me at the Dr's

office is for a 2 week stepdown, one mg each time. That's too soon, so I'm

going to try to stay with that for the time being and will be on some one's

back when it gets to be too much.

I'm taking Lodine, MTX, and Morphine, otherwise I'm on my own. What do I

really need to get through this more easily? I also have to put up with

Fibro and Sjogrens, which is a real problem the last week. I wake up at

night with such a dry mouth and throat that I can't talk until I rehydrate.

Maybe this is my birthday present, the Sjogrens started about 3 weeks ago

and hasn't let up since. We just celebrated my 64th birthday, then this

started again. Sometimes it's hard to keep the chin up with these cruel

diseases.

Dennis in eastexas

On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 4:36 PM, stephanie <stephieann2> wrote:

> The longest my doctor has left me on Prednisone due to the damage that

> it causes is about a month or 2. I've only had it a few times because she is

> worried at my age that I don't need bone and other issues along with what I

> already have. It's a last resort for me.. I was given it once to see if I

> would respond to it, since my RA and ANA is seronegative but my ESR, CRP,

> and Westegren are all elevated. When I couldn't stand up due to my knee I

> was given it again. The pain did come back almost immediately after weaning

> off, but I always have pain. We just upped a DMARD and the NSAID and added a

> pain medication along with some more physical therapy. I know its very

> trying when we have to stop a medication or wean off. My thoughts are with

> you.

>

> Jeanette <jhkerch (DOT) com <jhkerch%40. com>> wrote: That is a long

> time to be on that amount of prednisone. My Dr has

> been/is weening me off of it currently. I went from 15 down to 10

> for 4 mos, than 9 for 2 mos, 8 for 2 mos, currently at 7. Aren't you

> on something else for the pain, like enbrel, humira, remicade or

> somehting? It sounds like you need something else to help you.

>

> >

> > When I went to the Rheumy on Tuesday, I mentioned tearing more of

> my left

> > bicep and there's no evidence of improvement. One of my questions

> was that

> > if the Prednisone is making my skin tear so easily, maybe it could

> have this

> > effect on my muscles. The only answer was to drop off Prednisone

> and see

> > what happens. I went through this same thing a couple of years ago

> with no

> > success.

> >

> > I've been taking 10-15mg per day for about 19 years and only made

> it down to

> > 7mg/day and couldn't stand the pain any more, so I went back to the

> 10mg/day

> > and am functioning again. So, is there a chance that it may cause

> muscles

> > that were in pretty good tone to tear? I really can't see it, so is

> it worth

> > trying to get off one more med?

> >

> > Dennis in eastexas

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

The Biotene products really seem to help with dry mouth.

Cheryl

Re: [ ] Re: Trying again to wean off Pred

> I've had a few occasions when I didn't take the Pred accidentally and I

> don't want to go through that again! The schedule given to me at the Dr's

> office is for a 2 week stepdown, one mg each time. That's too soon, so I'm

> going to try to stay with that for the time being and will be on some

> one's

> back when it gets to be too much.

>

> I'm taking Lodine, MTX, and Morphine, otherwise I'm on my own. What do I

> really need to get through this more easily? I also have to put up with

> Fibro and Sjogrens, which is a real problem the last week. I wake up at

> night with such a dry mouth and throat that I can't talk until I

> rehydrate.

> Maybe this is my birthday present, the Sjogrens started about 3 weeks ago

> and hasn't let up since. We just celebrated my 64th birthday, then this

> started again. Sometimes it's hard to keep the chin up with these cruel

> diseases.

>

> Dennis in eastexas

>

> On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 4:36 PM, stephanie <stephieann2@...> wrote:

>

>> The longest my doctor has left me on Prednisone due to the damage that

>> it causes is about a month or 2. I've only had it a few times because she

>> is

>> worried at my age that I don't need bone and other issues along with what

>> I

>> already have. It's a last resort for me. I was given it once to see if I

>> would respond to it, since my RA and ANA is seronegative but my ESR, CRP,

>> and Westegren are all elevated. When I couldn't stand up due to my knee I

>> was given it again. The pain did come back almost immediately after

>> weaning

>> off, but I always have pain. We just upped a DMARD and the NSAID and

>> added a

>> pain medication along with some more physical therapy. I know its very

>> trying when we have to stop a medication or wean off. My thoughts are

>> with

>> you.

>>

>> Jeanette <jhkerch@... <jhkerch%40>> wrote: That is a long

>> time to be on that amount of prednisone. My Dr has

>> been/is weening me off of it currently. I went from 15 down to 10

>> for 4 mos, than 9 for 2 mos, 8 for 2 mos, currently at 7. Aren't you

>> on something else for the pain, like enbrel, humira, remicade or

>> somehting? It sounds like you need something else to help you.

>>

>> >

>> > When I went to the Rheumy on Tuesday, I mentioned tearing more of

>> my left

>> > bicep and there's no evidence of improvement. One of my questions

>> was that

>> > if the Prednisone is making my skin tear so easily, maybe it could

>> have this

>> > effect on my muscles. The only answer was to drop off Prednisone

>> and see

>> > what happens. I went through this same thing a couple of years ago

>> with no

>> > success.

>> >

>> > I've been taking 10-15mg per day for about 19 years and only made

>> it down to

>> > 7mg/day and couldn't stand the pain any more, so I went back to the

>> 10mg/day

>> > and am functioning again. So, is there a chance that it may cause

>> muscles

>> > that were in pretty good tone to tear? I really can't see it, so is

>> it worth

>> > trying to get off one more med?

>> >

>> > Dennis in eastexas

>> >

>> >

>> >