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Bad Flare. So Depressed

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Posted 9/28/2010 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
I am in one of the worst flares I have ever been in.  I had an injection of steroids on Tuesday last week.  Missed most of the week at work.  I am still really hoarse, fatigued and in pain.  I went to work today but only worked 5 out of 8 hours.  My boss told me to just work half days if I can until I get better.  She is an awesome boss.

Anyway, called Dr. and she put me on prednisone and said to call her in two days to let her know how I am feeling.  Then tonight I started having intermittent pain in my lower ribs on the left side.  It got so painful I had to take a vidodin.  I'm worried that I might be developing Pleurisy.

I have never had to take regular pred.  I've been on Medrol packs but not the straight stuff.  I know that it can weaken your immune system, plus I am already on Methotrexate also.  Should I expect to be totally wiped out and vulnerable to other illnesses now?  I work in a school, probably the worst place to work besides a hospital when you have an autoimmune disease.

Well, thanks for reading if you got this far.  Just moaning and feeling like poor me.  I know I will get better just have to take one day at a time.

In the meantime, I am crocheting Prayer Shawls for those who are sick or in need of encouragement.  That at least gets my mind off of myself.

Mary Ann

Posted 9/28/2010 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you aren't doing well. I have been on prednisone and Imuran for over 2 years now and yes you will be more vulnerable to infection if you take it long term. I have had 2 skin infections (yeast and not where you expect those) in the last few months. But I feel better when I am on both. The thing is you need to WASH YOUR HANDS CONSTANTLY it helps avoid illnesses and don't touch your face. Keep hand sanitizer around too but don't use antibacterial soap because it helps create antibiotic resistant bacteria according to 3 of my doctors. I think you will be fine as long as you are careful and practice common sense safety measures such as WASHING YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY. Use bleach to disinfect stuff if you are feeling really vulnerable because it kills most anything and doesn't breed antibiotic resistant bacteria. I could really use a prayer shawl lately as bad stuff keeps happening. I would type more but started shaking again.
Posted 9/28/2010 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Mary Ann, I am so sorry that you are feeling so badly. I went through a very similar flare in August and I wanted to offer you encouragement. One day at a time is absolutely correct. Little things completely wiped me out. It took about a month before I was somewhat back to normal. So, please pace yourself and as Redrose said, hand washing frequently is very important! Rest whenever you can and let your body recover.

Also, the crocheted Prayer Shawls sound wonderful. Thinking of others is always therapeutic for me. I crochet and quilt for various charities and that makes me feel better, too!

Take care,
Posted 9/28/2010 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies, girls.  I will definteley be washing my hands more frequently.  I still haven't seen any progress with the steroids.  But it probably takes more than one day to see any change.  :-0

Mary Ann

Posted 9/30/2010 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Mary Ann. Another thing to watch out for with the pred is weight gain. I don't know if it does it to everyone, but I get hungry and no matter how careful I am about what I eat or how much I eat, I gain weight. Also some people experience puffiness around their face but I haven't yet so I am guess that side affect vary. I hope that you feel better soon.
Posted 10/5/2010 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that. I can empathize at this time. I am at the beginning of a flare. So we all at some point have went through what you are going through.

But like you said one day at a time. just remember

" If God brings you to it, he can bring you through it"

And you know you have support on here whenever you feel like talking.

And yeah the weight gain is a bummer...but i know of a few who lost a little weight while on pred...so may1 u might b so lucky..lol
Posted 10/7/2010 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hey nanabee, just thinking about you and hope you are feeling better and this flare is passing! Please let us know how you are doing!
Posted 10/9/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hope that you are feeling better physically and even better emotionally. You are still in my prayers. And so are the rest of you. I am not why God brought us to this point but I am sure that there is a reason and I am sure that He will take care of each of us.
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