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Checking in: AIH Prednisone withdrawl

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Posted 3/24/2007 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

This will be short. I'm so tired all the time. I don't know if it is the disease or withhdrawl, but I'm exhausted. My house has gone to pot, but I can't muster enough energy to do much of anything.

I'm down to 81/2 pred. My Hepa doc. wants me to stop at 71/2. I see him in April. I'm having lab tests every 2 weeks, so far so good. My life and body are just feeling really unmanagable.

I have HORRIBLE leg and ankle cramps, but I have Psoriatic arthritis too and the inflammatio is kicking back in. I do take injections for that every 2 weeks (Humira), but am feeling like most of the pain is from w/drawl.

Sorry I'm pouting and complaining. That's just the way things are.

Judy

Posted 3/24/2007 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Judy, don't you be sorry at all. Everyone has days when it is so hard to handle everything that is going on in their life. My house is a disaster master and I should be cleaning now. But like you I am exhausted so it's going to have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep tonight. My husband also gets those awfull leg and ankle cramps.........Are you on any water pills. Whenever they up his water pills on comes the cramps. His fluids start flushing out too rapidly. They finally gave him some quanine to help with his cramps. They work enough so the cramps either go away or lessen in severity. Hope you start feeling better soon. :-) Pink Grandma
Posted 3/24/2007 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for writing back. I take magnisium for the leg cramps. I need to get it refilled. I am just so overwhelmed, one day runs into another. My youngest daughter moved back hom. She is having very serious personal problems. I can't even be supportive to her most days.
Anyway, Thanks for writing.

Judy
Posted 3/24/2007 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Judy

Try not to worry about the house. I think I have just given up on mine. The exhaustion sometimes is just overwheliming itself without having to worry about other things. The leg cramps are the worst. I rememer the worst ones prior to me starting the pred, where you would want to lay and just cry. Don't feel bad for complaining. We are all here to listen and understand. Will keep you in my thoughts that this gets better for you.

Lucy
Posted 3/25/2007 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Lucy,
It helps to know that others understand. I cannot believe my legs could cramp like this, and my hip joints, ankles. It just all moves around. Will I ever get off this prednisoen. Thank God my MD is giving me Voltairn for pain. It's supposed to be better than aleive. Nothing seems to be working though.
Again, I appeciate the support. Sorry I have not been able to be here for anyone.
This has been the worst time in my life, for sure.
I do have a good hepatologist now though. and maybe will be going on somethng else and getting off the pred. I feel like I have aged 20 years.

Judy
Posted 3/25/2007 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Judy,
So Sorry your Prednisone taper is causing such bad side effects. My advice about the housework is the same as everyone else. It can wait for another day when you feel better. Could you perhaps pay someone to clean it now and the task of keeping it maintained may not seem so daunting. I am so fortunate that my semi retired husband iss very houseproud, and does almost all the chores. Sometimes I wish he wouldn't, when some good item of my clothing is washed with the towels, but then I realise I shouldn't complain. He's doing his best.

I have not had leg cramps as my Prednisone comes down. I'm on 9mg now. I have been feeling incredibly tired this week. I was thinking it was work or personal issues. It's coming to the end of our first school term and things are pretty hectic. This week we had two nights with school involvement as well as the normal days teaching. My mother-in-law is very low at the moment. She is refusing to eat or drink, has pulled out the tubes for medication and sustenance. The doctors have decided to keep her comfortable (pain free) but nothing else. We spent all day yesterday with her. She's sedated, but wouldn't know us anyway because of her advanced dementia. Greg has gone back today. They feel she may have only a day or two left. This has also been hard for us. It has made me think of my sister lying in hospital just over a year ago, in a state of induced coma, just waiting to die.

I'm wondering though if the fatigue is related to my lowering Prednisone dose. Why do we become fatigued as we come off it?

That felt so good to write what was bothering me. I also must admit that I have eaten almost a packet of Tim Tams this morning. And I wonder why I'm not losing weight!!

Thanks you for being there. I really appreciate being able to discuss these issues with those in a similar position.

Take care.
Marg
Posted 3/26/2007 12:01 AM (GMT 0)

Dear Sweet Marge and all of you,

Thanks for coming to my rescue with your kind and supportive words. I don't know why we feel so tired when we come off the prednisone, but I plan to do some research on it. I am to 8.5. It's nothing for me to stay in bed for 12-16 hours a stretch, just gettting up to go to the bathroon and eat a bite. I have depression and that does not make things easier, plus we are having

I'm sorry your family is going through losing a loved one. It's got to be very difficut. I really do feel for you. And I know every one of you are suffering and struggling with illness, as well as  possibly mental and emotional problems.

My 23 year old physically challenged daughter has come to live with us. She is having serious personal  problems, and that stresses me. She has lived away from home for 5 years and is back now. It's a long stor, and doesn't seem to be getting any better.

I will close now.

Again, thanks for your love and support.

I'll write more later.

Judy 

Posted 3/27/2007 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Judy, I am so sorry your going through such a rough time,,,,,,maybe your dr can put you on another anti D,,,,different ones work on different parts of the brain,so it is possible to keep on the one your on,and start another,,,,,,,,ask your dr about this,,,,,,,I only know about AIH from this forum,,,,but the depression I deal with daily with my husband,,,,,,,keep your chin up hon,,,,,,,you can get through this....take care
Posted 4/10/2007 11:18 AM (GMT 0)

Trish, I'm sorry I am just now gettting back to you. I've had some presonal situations going on and that along with my health, both mental and physical, have rendered me practically mindless.

First, sorry to hear about your hubby suffering from depression. I know only too well what that is like. I have batteled it for over 25 years, off and on and it seems like more on than off.

I do see a regular psychiatrist and he has been working with me on medication dosages.The antidepressants I am taking do not seem to be working. I just wonder if anything will work with this withdraw or if I just have to go through it and get on the other side of it.

I sleep a lot, am fatiqued a lot, leg cramps, confusion, any lack or desire to go out, bath, etc.

IT's clinical depression. Iknow all the signs well. I worked in menal healh for year.

I just cannot seem to help myself. I just wish I could go to bed and not wake up. My fear is that this will not get better. I am down to 8mg of pred. about to drop to 71/2. I am supposed to stay there untill I see the hep. doctor later this month.

So much for my doom and gloom.  I hope this finds eveyone certaintly better than Me. I'll beep lifting my head up. I know where my help comes from.

Love,

JUdy

Posted 4/11/2007 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
Judy

Your right it is clinical depression and you cannot help what the chemicals are doing to your mind and body. Have you talked to your psychiatrist about the change in your pred dosage, maybe he could adjust your anti-depressants until this process is over. Are you still working in the mental health profession. I too work in mental health as a therapist and the stress can sure get to you in that job.
Hope things get better for you soon. Please keep us updated and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lucy
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