@noosat1 - I hope the pain lessens for you , its so hard with reducing the meds. My Doctor told me that they have found the slower you reduce the better it is and that is why they have recommended every 4 weeks for me, but like I said sometimes I know that it is not time and leave it around 6 weeks till it settles...my symptoms do not settle within 2 weeks of dropping so I know it would not be beneficial for me to try, patients is the name of the game. 🙂 but, in saying that each of us is different and may heal quicker. I too feed birds and love watching them especially when they have young ones, mostly sparrows, finches,blackbirds and thrush. Would love to see hummingbirds and woodpeckers in my garden but alas we do not have them here in New Zealand. I am into photography and that also helps me as I get lost in it and time is not relevant to me. Keep well 🙂