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Posted 4/11/2007 2:04 PM (GMT 0)

Hey everyone,

Well my first rheuny appt.went alright. She put me on Prednisone 10mg a day for 30 days. She says to come back in 2 weeks and was talking about MTX. So tell me, is 10mg a day,for 30 days  of prednisone enough to give me the puffy moon face i hear so much about? Just want to be prepared for it. And how bout the MTX? What should i expect?

You guys are just the best here. I come every morning to read posts, to find out whats new with everyone, and just to know i'm not alone.

The rheumy did alot more blood tests,what, i don't know, but yesterday i got a message from my GP saying they want me to call. I have no idea what thats about,beings i haven't seen him in over 3 weeks. I guess i'm reading more into it than i need to ,but i'm scared it may have something to do with the blood work at the rheumy.appt. Please say a prayer or two for me this am. All take care,and thanks for being here. Kibbles

Posted 4/11/2007 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
I am finishing week 2 of 10mg. Prednisone. I am having a puffy face right now. I don't know if its the Prednisone or if its my allergies which are very bad from the trees right now. I would like to share info with you. I feel kind of jittery and have had some muscle twitching. I know that it is working because within a few days my joint pain went away and my SED rate already went down. I am having a brain fog this morning so I hope this makes sense. Hope you feel better as quickly as I did when I started Prednisone.
NanMac
Posted 4/11/2007 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks nanmac, all this new stuff is scarey for me. I'm the one who doesn't even like to take ibuprophin,yet alone some RX i don't know much about. I do want the pain to go away,but i do not look forward to looking puffy in my face! I can hide my chubbiness everywhere else,but the face is hard to hide lol.
It's only like my 2nd day,so all is well. I was on pred. for 5 days, but again, that wasn't very long.No side effects at all. Thanks for filling me in on the muscle twitching too, in case it happens, i won't be as shocked. Kibbles
Posted 4/11/2007 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kibbles,
I have been on a maintenance dose of 10mg pred for my Crohns disease and my Ankylosing Spondilitis for over 2years now (am on 30mg pred at moment due to hospital stay) I found I didnt get a moon face but more a pred tummy! I think everyone gets different side affects from the pred, I know Ive had them all. I also take MTX 25mg once a week this helps with both the CD and AS.
Hope you get relief soon
Take care
Jo
Posted 4/12/2007 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there kibbles.. Jo is right, everyone reacts differently to the Pred.. I was on it for a few months and I got the moon face and buffalo hump within the first months I was on it.. but I know people who've been on it for a year, and don't have any type of puffyness or anything.. I wish I could give you a definite answer, but it just all depends on you... have you ever been on it before?
Posted 4/12/2007 2:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Ducky,   Buffalo hump??? What?? And a puffy face? Thanks for filling me in, lol ! 

No i was only on it for 5 days before this bout. Now am to take it for 30 days. How long after you quit taking them does it take for the puffy to go away? And have you been on MTX? How about side effects from that? Let ne know. And Thanks.

Posted 4/12/2007 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there.. Uhm, not to discourage you, but my moon face and buffalo hump never went away.. I know others though that once they went off the pred, within the first couple weeks, their puffyness went away... I know it sounds scary, but I've had a lot of medical issues, so I think the pred compounded with everything else is the reason why my side effects stayed..

I have never been on MTX.. sorry.. But there are a bunch of people on here that have, I'm sure they'll be along shortly..
Posted 4/12/2007 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Ducky - I forgot to mention my hump and I was worried because I have had it so long now, I guess its here to stay.

Kibbles - I take 25mg MTX orally once a week and Im not sure if it or the pred or malnutrition is causing my hair loss, some other MTX have complained of hair loss too so it may be that but taking folic acid is supposed to help. Good luck
Posted 4/12/2007 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
I will try and answer some of your questions.When i was first diagnosed with crohns i was put on 60mg of pred and i was on this does for a year and then another six months of winging.I got a moon face about a month after I start it.I had a moon face for a good long time but once I was winged my mood face finally went away.the pred also blew the rest of me up as well.I'm not trying to scare you either but I put on a 100 pounds because of this drug I have taken 44 pounds off but it has been very hard loosing it.Now for the methotrexate I use to be on it and I took the shot form because with having crohns and I have a hard time asobing (sp)pills we went with the shot i took this once a week.My Father has Ra and OA and he started out on the pill form but it made him terrabley sick so they put him on the sot form as well.It is a good med it did help.So when you and your Doc are discussing the best meds get him to talk to you in more detail abouth the methotrexate.I agree with Jo every one is different and every one reacts differentley to meds.
Posted 4/12/2007 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
Joy, hi hun.

 

oh boy...yeah, we all hate Pred. you're doc wants your pain, inflammation and joint issues to ease fast...that's why he's put you on Pred for a 30 day trial. that and to see if you improve on it as well.

i have, for the past 5 years...been on & off Prednisone (DepMedro steroid buttshots, IV steroids and Solumedrol packs as well).  i never got the typical long term pred effect "moonface" or the "Buffalo Hump".

recently i have been on Prednisone 60mg gradually going down to 10mg to 5mg back and forth going up & back tapering since October due tot he RA progression and pain.

 

so here's my experience! :-) at first during the more consistant ped use daily....i actually LOST a lot of weight.  pred makes me lose my appetite & it also makes me naseous.  it works beautiflly & will provide relief....so take that as being something good to look at.

what i hate the most about pred is that i get wicked INSOMNIA! (hello...like right NOW at 4am! LOL); a racing heart; a lil' trouble breathing; dizzy in the hot shower; ACNE here and there...ugh! swelling all in the legs (awful) and YEAH me too...like below mentions...A PRED TUMMY!  my abs which you can bounce a quarter off of...boy, it got smushy tongue i got a little pooch-pouch (so yeah i guess increased abdominal fat).

 

my face got a little fuller...but everyone said it looked BETTER than normal! lol. that went down in about 4 weeks. 

i eventually started gaining weight.  i was 79 pounds at 5"5...gained to 100lbs pretty quick & was as high as 116lbs after a few weeks of being on it.  and then?...i started to  lose again and am now down to 103lbs in a matter of 4 weeks.

 

it does need some strong coping skills...when it screws with what we're comfy at looking like...it's difficult for everyone.

 

everyone is correct, no one person will be the same on Pred.

 

a month is not a "long term" time frame...so times on your side in this one.

 

remember, if things get to be to much for you & you don't feel right on the pred...contact your doc and tell him/her.

 

with RA and AI diseases...prednisone is an essential med, needing to go on & off of it every now n' then.

 

Prednisone as it works, it's byproduct is swelling. what a sucky byproduct! LOL...but that's what it does in oreder to work.

 

take good care

Posted 4/12/2007 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Erin,
Today is my first day back at work after 2 weeks off. i feel pretty good right now, we'll see what the day brings. Dr. said that the RA brought on carpal tunnel in my right hand,so i'm anxious to see if that will stay calmed down now that i'm on the prednisone. Beings i can't draw blood, all i can do is type all day. Left hand still in cast. But wish me luck. Take care, i hope you can get some sleep in today. That sucks having insomnia.
Posted 4/12/2007 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, how I hate the insomnia. I can go a few days with poor sleep but on the third I usually take an Ambien. (sleeping pill) I work full time so I can't sleep in. The Prednisone makes my heart race and I feel jittery. I really notice it when I am sitting still or trying to sleep. I am proud of myself, last night my hubby found out that he owes the IRS much more money then he thought. What a grouch, trying to pick a fight with me, conplaining all night. I could have been just as upset but I was able to let it go and not go there with him. I guess the Prednisone hasn't effected my mood adversly. Hope you all have as pain free day as possible. Have a good day at work.
NanMac
Posted 4/12/2007 4:55 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,

As others have mentioned, everyone reacts differently to prednisone.  Last year I was on 60mg for a while, and am currently on 20mg (for UC).  Been on 20mg for two months now and I've never gotten moonface.  Only side effect I've ever gotten from the pred. is insomnia, which isn't bad at all anymore. 

--Nathan

Posted 4/12/2007 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
tongue  hah Nanmac...what a woman! tongue hmmmm? maybe your hubby is diggin' into your Pred stash!?!?! LOL, LOL.  tee hee...it's giving him the roid' rage! hah.

but crap...that stinks when you think you're in the clear & BAM.. skull TAXMAN skull hits ya.

:-)  hey Joy.  BEST WISHES at work today.  funny story....my rheummy broke his right hand (he fell down his front steps, lol, and had a cast on for a long while) and i go for my appointment to get my knees done (get steroids shot into them) and i'm like "are you OK to do this?"  i mean, devil OUCH! it hurts bad enough as is...but IN A CAST???? eyes he's like "Nah...it's fine"

eyes  ya know what? HE ACTUALLY DID IT BETTER WITH A CAST ON! it hurt less, actually not at all.

who woulda' thunk it?

Joy, are you able to use a butterfly phlebotomy set? can you get away with doing that? i liked that one best when the joints in my hands hurt & really could not open & close my hands or squeeze anything...and ya have one hand free thereafter.

well you take good care hon! :-) things are gonna' get better.  you hang on in there.

 

Posted 4/12/2007 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
cool  hey there Nathan! i see you have been on pred a long while...did you ever get sick (like pukey) sick from it? and also...i'm still trying to figure out a "right time of day" to chuck the pills down.  some say take em' as early in the a.m. as possible...others swear by taking them before bed.  what do you do that you don't get insomnia so bad anymore?

take care Nathan.

Posted 4/13/2007 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Erin, I am more than welcome to use the butterfly if i could, but see,my thumb is totally enclosed in this cast too,so i cant tie a tourni, or stretch the tissue taut, cant even use my fingers to pinch. So i just type with 6 fingers and my right thumb!lol Its the pits. No insomnia for me,thank god,notice i did not say YET. I refuse to get it. Joy
Posted 4/13/2007 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
I have jsut read all of you posts about pred as you all called it can't spell it right anyway. Well, My rhumy put me on it forn only six days tapering off the last two days. My knee was very swollen on Tuestday. It has seemed to help some. I don't like it.
Also she told me not to take the MTX until further notice. I have other issues other than the RA. I have heard it affects people differently. I see her again on Tuesday. Hope things are better by then. Thanks for all of your info. I don't need this on top of everything else but known of do. Does anyone know if eight weeks maybe not enough for remicade. I think I read some of your toughts on how often they have it. Take care all and God bless.
KodakPuppy
Posted 4/13/2007 4:35 AM (GMT 0)

hi all anne here from aussieland well just been to the ruemy i got in this morning after my gp phoned them and gave them a blast got all my xrays and blood done as well now they put me on prednisone and i had to take 10 tablets all at once today then 6 tablets for the next 7 days then 5/1/2 the next week and so on until i am only taken 1/2 tablet thne have another blood test i already feel the pain easing but what a day talk about friday 13th 1st at 7.45am daniel and I had to go to the skin clinic for checkup they then informed me i had a cancer lesion on my shoulder and it had to come out there and then so i thought what the h-ll i am in so much pain it wont make any difference lol so that got cut out 7 stitches then go for xrays and blood test then the ruemy daniel also had to get one cut out on his arm so we both had this done what a bl--dy day trying to bend my knees for the xrays was agony then trying to get up on the table was a circus lol i nearly fell off the other side lol but we finally managed it lol by the time wecame out i says right let go out for lunch i was starving so we had a nice luncch out now i am going to bed for a bl--dy rest i am st-ffed will email laterand tell you how the presidone wroks for me keep smiling through the pain it is all we can do

love and take care hugs to those not feeling the best

Posted 4/13/2007 6:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Katlynn

weather here is beaut lovely and hot we live on the sunshine coast which is near all the beaches and water so we get lovely and hot weather just about all year round all for now

love anne

Posted 4/13/2007 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow Anne...great that they caught the lesion & were able to excise it. Be careful hon.

KodakPuppy...for me, i have my Remicade infusions every 3 weeks....so every 3 mondays i'm there getting it. i have i believe 300 or 350mg of Remicade in the IV bag? mine is for severe RA plus Crohns disease.
it wouldn't hurt to talk about perhaps getting your infusions closer together. i know i almost wanted to throw myself out the window in pain when i had to wait for the 4 week interval with the Remicade in the begining. awful, completely awful. so my doc said never again would i go more than 3 weeks without a treatment.
best wishes to you.
erin
Posted 4/16/2007 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisone is very powerful medicine, but its ability for redistribution of body fat to places that are undesirable is very common side effect. I know people who were on Prednisone for several months and got puffy face. But this may be temporary and a lot depends on body constitution.
Posted 4/16/2007 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
Thanks for the advice about prednasone. I see the rhumy tomorrow and the list of questions ae getting longer. My husband see here, as well and she is very understanding and also very thero for whitch I am greatful. I only take remicade every eight weeks and this time I am going down the tunes after four. I guess she will do bllod work and then decide. The knee is shomewhat better but it still hurts sometimes like you know what!! I saw my primary care doc this morning and my blood pressure is down where it should be and it has not been there for a long time. I was so glad about that. I will let you know about the rhumy appointment.
KodakPuppyw
Posted 4/17/2007 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
hi all well seen the ruemy yesterday xrays showing very servere RA in hands ankles and knees he is keeping me on the prensidone until july then talking about getting those injections i have had no side effects at all from pred except lots of energy no pain whatsoever have done all my housework now going for a walk and i can go back dancing next week we will have to see what happens when i reduce the doses each week i have severe defincency in b12 dont know why so he is going to look into that but other than that i feel great beautiful and sunny here in aussie today so tanken kodak for his walk he will be so happy i have even hung the washing out which i could nt do so i feel great hope everyone else in pain gets some relief
love anne from aussie
Posted 4/17/2007 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
:-)  KodakPuppy!  best wishes at the doctors tomorrow.  yes, do let us know how your appointment goes.  i hope for you continued "good days". :-)

 

awe anne...bummer about the XRAYS.  but you keep upbeat!

what sort of injections?  just regular intra-muscular steroid shots (like in the bum or arm?) or will you be getting the steroids injected directly into your knee joints?

i get both@ the rheummy.  Friday i go for my knees. OUCH!  for certai it doesn't tickle tongue but it does work wonderfully for a good 2 months afterwards.

 

best wishes to you as well.

peace/love

erin

Posted 4/17/2007 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
:-)  hi all well as yet i think it is the ones in the bum lol they still have to drain more fluid out yet so that gets done next week but other that that i feel great

love anne aussieland

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