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The only thing I was told about prednisolone when I started on it was that I would need to very slowly reduce the dose because it suppressed adrenal function and the adrenal glands needed time to "wake up" as I reduced. When I got the script I was shocked to see the reduction schedule would have me on it for well over a year at best and possibly two years...if the reduction went to plan. Now I know it often doesn't.
The PMR pain was so disabling that I couldn't use the computer to research it properly till I was already on prednisolone and the pain was reduced. I did tell the doctor at the time that the pain was so bad and I'd slept so little in the two months prior that I was prepared to take anything that wouldn't kill me. So she prescribed and I grabbed it gratefully. Afterwards I found out about skin thinning, bone effects, etc. I don't blame the doctor for anything. She helped me regain functionality by prescribing it.
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I was told by the rheumatologist that I would have some jitteriness, a "little" weight gain (20 pounds now and counting), and possible mood swings. I asked if it would affect my Afib. She said not. It has. I've also had headache, vertigo, and a general feeling of "crummy" most days all days. I wasn't told about the diabetes possibility until I did my own research and talked to my PCP, who said "oh yeah, we should test for that." So far my A1C is normal. I know we have to advocate for ourselves and I do my own research but it seems fairly simple for the prescribing physician to give us a simple handout of prednisone side effects. It's not like they are a secret. I've also learned there are supplements, like chromium picolate, that can help with blood sugar and cravings. Of course, I do not expect allopathic docs to know about those.
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"I was prepared to take anything that wouldn't kill me."
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That was my excuse for taking Prednisone like I did. I would say things like the pain was torture and the only thing I knew that might make the torture stop was to take Prednisone. Some of the time the reason for taking prednisone wasn't for PMR. I didn't really care as long as the pain stopped.
I remember sitting smugly at one of my rheumatology visits after I had upped my Prednisone dose to 60 mg. My rheumatologist was focused on my MRI results and all the details of my recent emergency room visit. She finally turned to me and said I had severe spinal stenosis and it wasn't PMR. She wanted to know why I took so much Prednisone.
I told her they wanted to do an emergency lumbar fusion except Prednisone made surgery too risky. The radiating leg pain was so severe I would have signed any surgical consent form ... even a leg amputation! I figured that I was in way over my head already so more Prednisone was all I knew to do. Prednisone stopped the pain. My rheumatologist was glad the pain stopped but said it wasn't what she would have recommended.
Now that I'm off Prednisone the spine surgeon says I can do surgery whenever I'm ready. I don't have the pain anymore so I'm not ready for surgery. I don't intend to do the lumbar fusion anytime soon but my legs are weak and somewhat numb.
Pain might change my mind regarding surgery. The spine surgeon says pain should not be the only factor to consider. When I was taking Prednisone and faced a greater risk of doing the surgery ... the spine surgeon said pain should be the "deciding factor" for doing surgery.