BOY DO i FEEL LIKE A FOOL

June 29, 2004

Hello Group,

Boy .....do I feel like a fool....I called today to find out the results of my bloodtests I had done last week to find out why I was having such pain,and cramping in my legs.....The nurse said that my tests came back absolutely normal, except that My creatinine level was a little high, but it was the same as it has been for the last several months...( 1.7) .. So what I want to know now is why my legs still hurt !

Do any of you think it may because I am decreasing my prednisone? I am taking 71/2 mgs. a day now. ......That is down from 10 mgs.. I have never been able to go below 10mg. before.....but the reason I could not get below 10mg. before was because I would always get a rash......Now that we know that the rash was caused by Plaquenil....and I have stopped taking Plaquenil. And the rash is doing okay .....just a little rashy area on my throat.( I can live with that).

I have heard many of you say that when you are decreasing prednisone you experience pain.....but if you can be brave and tolerate the pain.....it will get better......so now I'm wondering if that is the case with me.. I would like any feedback that anyone of you can give me..

......I know that a B. had to go back on Prednisone.....She was so terribly ill with all her illnesses flaring, she hated to give in and go back on it, but she just had no choice. but now that she is decreasing again she has gotten backdown to 35mgs. and it in terrible pain......but is trying to tough it out .in order to get off it again.

What a devious drug this is ......I t can save your life.....then make you wish that you were dead.

I saw my shrink today and she has added another antidepressant, Trazodone., to the Remeron I am taking already. She has started me out at 50mgs.....and said that if I am not feeling better in a week, to increase the dose to 100 mg. a day.

I have been reading the posts .....but just not up to putting my 2 cents worth in most of the time...... Mike , I am so glad that you are doing better, and I hope that ulcer heals soon so that you can build up your blood and keep the fluid from returning.

.....I am so proud of you and the way you are handling your break up with Jim.....I am glad that you have not gone into another flare, and realize that you are actually feeling physically better since the breakup. There had to have been some tension there that you just didn't see. .......and being alone is not so bad once you get past the grieving. I have been alone for 18 years now....and actually prefer it that way.......I actually miss my dogs more than I miss my ex-husband..

To the Newbies . I am glad you found us .....we will be there when no one else understands and you are scared and depressed..

June 30, 2004

Hi

Right now, I can totally sympathize with you. For aout a week or two

now my legs have been killing me...major cramping and aching that

seems to be unrelenting. Add insomnia and all the other junk and it

makes for a very miserable time!! In my case, I suspect the cramping

is from low potassium, I dont know if anyone else suffers from this?

It doesnt ever seem to regulate. I called my MD to see if they'd RX

something for pain so that at least I could hopefully get comfy and

fall asleep. I really hope you feel better soon, if it helps...know

that I am sitting here trying to type and massage my legs at the same

time!

Take Care.

Meg

June 30, 2004