Re: Lesser of Two Evils

April 9, 2009

hi nicole,

how much pred are you on?

i was self medicating and taking 20mgs 2 x a day and it never made me gain

weight or moon face. i need to see my pcp soon to get a different steroid or

start enbrel.

some meds do tell our brain to eat, so i just try to argue with my brain not to

eat, it's tough.

take care,

marg

>

> I don't know whats worse right now...the pain I wake up with every morning

that lasts half the day or the weight gain from going on Prednisone again.

UGH! I see my primary care doctor again next week and am half tempted to ask

for more Prednisone so I can feel half human again, but my last round made me

gain weight. UGH!! What to do, what to do? My appointment with the rhuemy is

slowly coming. Just over 5 weeks to go. Not sure what to do. Can't wait till

this is all over. The weeks between the probable cause and actually getting

into the rheumy are killing me. At least we are down to 5 weeks now and not 3

months. We are slowly getting there. Ok, just venting. I better go. Thanks

for listening.

>

> Texas

>

April 9, 2009

Hi ,

I know that nobody wants to gain extra weight, but maybe you can consider a

short course of prednisone to try to kick the flare out of you? A week or two

on it shouldn't cause that much weight gain and you may get some much needed

relief. If you are worried about the extra gain, you could make sure that you

are eating low calorie foods to mitigate that as much as possible.

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

April 9, 2009

Thanks for the replies. I was on a short course last time, two weeks and gained

5 pounds in two weeks. UGH!! The weight has come off, but unfortunately I

never lost the round face look (or the belly). I am afraid that if I do two

more weeks, which is all the primary care doctor might let me have, that I will

not be able to fit any of my clothes. I am debating back and forth in my brain

on what to do. Thanks again all.

Texas

>

> Hi ,

> I know that nobody wants to gain extra weight, but maybe you can consider a

short course of prednisone to try to kick the flare out of you? A week or two

on it shouldn't cause that much weight gain and you may get some much needed

relief. If you are worried about the extra gain, you could make sure that you

are eating low calorie foods to mitigate that as much as possible.

> Lori

> http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

> http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

>

April 9, 2009

Hi :

I know what you mean about the Pred. I have made up my mind to forget

about the weight gain, take my Pred. daily, and be pain free. Each time

I am almost off the Pred. the pain and swelling come back. I can't take

all that pain and suffering. I am leading a fairly good life with my

RA. My flares are shorter, and much longer in between. I am thankful

for that.

I am waiting to have my total knee replacement in 12 days, and I can't

wait. I am using either my cane or walker for stability.

I wish you pain free days ahead. For me the Pred. is a wonder drug. I

say, " stuff the weight gain, and stay on the Pred " . You will be pain

free, and have a much better quality life.

Hugs,

Barbara

--- In , " franticteacher " <franticteacher@...>

wrote:

>

> I don't know whats worse right now...the pain I wake up with every

morning that lasts half the day or the weight gain from going on

Prednisone again. UGH! I see my primary care doctor again next week and

am half tempted to ask for more Prednisone so I can feel half human

again, but my last round made me gain weight. UGH!! What to do, what to

do? My appointment with the rhuemy is slowly coming. Just over 5 weeks

to go. Not sure what to do. Can't wait till this is all over. The weeks

between the probable cause and actually getting into the rheumy are

killing me. At least we are down to 5 weeks now and not 3 months. We are

slowly getting there. Ok, just venting. I better go. Thanks for

listening.

>

> Texas

>

April 9, 2009

LOL!! I am about to agree. Hope my doc does too.

>

> Hi :

>

> I know what you mean about the Pred. I have made up my mind to forget

> about the weight gain, take my Pred. daily, and be pain free. Each time

> I am almost off the Pred. the pain and swelling come back. I can't take

> all that pain and suffering. I am leading a fairly good life with my

> RA. My flares are shorter, and much longer in between. I am thankful

> for that.

>

> I am waiting to have my total knee replacement in 12 days, and I can't

> wait. I am using either my cane or walker for stability.

>

> I wish you pain free days ahead. For me the Pred. is a wonder drug. I

> say, " stuff the weight gain, and stay on the Pred " . You will be pain

> free, and have a much better quality life.

>

> Hugs,

>

> Barbara

April 9, 2009

,

I've been trying to 'suck it up' and not go back up on the prednisone. I've

been on 3 mg for months now. But the pain of the RA going from one joint to

another, and the remicade not working as well as I hoped it would. I'm back up

to 10 mg until I see my doctor in two weeks. I have very frank discussions with

my Rheumy, and let him know that the vicodin wasn't helping with the pain

either. I'm one of the really lucky ones, who has a Rheumy who really

understands the pain RA causes, and tries to keep the pain at bay. I'm still

achy, and the higher dose of perdnisone is at least taking the major pain away.

I couldn't sleep, and when I did, I woke up in pain. I was starting to lose

some of the moon face, and I lost 5 pounds! I want to cry because I know people

will want to take photos at Easter, and I am back to a swollen body and moonface

just in time for Easter.

Ugh!

April 9, 2009

One of those dose packs might be good to request. You start off at a

high dose, then take fewer pills each day. If you do go on prednisone,

try to eat fewer carbs, because it knows when you eat carbs and will

make your blood sugar go higher than normal. And, as Lori says, try to

eat low calorie foods and try to eat less than usual.

Sue

On Apr 9, 2009, at 11:51 AM, Stitching Queen wrote:

> Hi ,

> I know that nobody wants to gain extra weight, but maybe you can

> consider a short course of prednisone to try to kick the flare out

> of you? A week or two on it shouldn't cause that much weight gain

> and you may get some much needed relief. If you are worried about

> the extra gain, you could make sure that you are eating low calorie

> foods to mitigate that as much as possible.

> Lori

April 9, 2009

, you might also try calling the rheumatologist's office and

tell them to put you on a cancellation list.

When I was waiting for my first rheumy appointment, I googled him and

found an email address. I sent him an email asking what I could do

while waiting for my appointment with him. The next day, he called me

and told me that he was going to get me in to see him much sooner.

What a man! I wish all were like him.

Sue

On Apr 9, 2009, at 12:46 PM, franticteacher wrote:

> Thanks for the replies. I was on a short course last time, two weeks

> and gained 5 pounds in two weeks. UGH!! The weight has come off,

> but unfortunately I never lost the round face look (or the belly).

> I am afraid that if I do two more weeks, which is all the primary

> care doctor might let me have, that I will not be able to fit any of

> my clothes. I am debating back and forth in my brain on what to

> do. Thanks again all.

>

> Texas

April 9, 2009

Hi ,

The prednisone causes so many different side effects, and that can be

one of them, for sure. I don't take prednisone, unless I have too.

When I take it, everyone around me knows I'm desperate. I tend to munch

on veggies, crackers, boiled eggs,etc. I don't really eat sweets, so

that helps a lot. I buy junk food for my daughter and hubby sometimes,

and I always buy stuff that I don't eat.

I do understand though, so vent all you want. I hope the weeks sail on

by for you, and get you on something else. Don't stop the prednisone

all at once, you have to wean off it.

Good luck, and keep us posted, Tawny