Prednisone for the first time

I have been gone for awhile. Still reading posts and hoping the best for everyone. After my heart ablation I was feeling really good. (almost normal) It was soooo nice. Took a nice vacation and planted in my garden without fatigue. I was almost thinking that the Lupus was gone. THEN, a week ago I started feeling fatigued, fever, and horrible muscle aches. Today was the worst. I feel like I have a horrible flu. Every cell in my body aches and is feverish. My fever is 99- 100.5. Higher at night. And the worst part is sweating while everyone else is cold. I don't have any cold sypmtoms or stomach symptoms. (thank goodness). I went to the doctor and he put me on prednisone for the first time. I'm in a lupus flare. And he did blood work and a urine test. I'm taking  prednisone over the next six days. It's a prednisone pack. So far I just feel like I have had a cup of coffee. I have heard such awful and good stories about prednisone. I'm not sure of what to expect. I see my rheumy beginning of September and I'll see what he says too. Anything else I should expect with prednisone? Will I feel better fast? Will the side effects be bad? I would love your advice.

 

kitty

Hi, Kitty. We have all been expressing our prednisone woes here lately. You could probably just do a quick scan through the last week or so for more info., but I'm sure others will be by soon to share with you. Unfortunately, this is the only medicine I have found helpful in my bout with lupus; but once it's got you...it seems it's got you. Or that's how it's done for me. Those small dose packs were a life-saver for me before I was actually diagnosed. I did feel relief fairly quickly as I recall, but almost as soon as the pack ended; all the pain returned. I did not have the "tapering" problems then that I have now. I don't know if it was because those packs were in such small doses of prednisone and quickly took you on and then off or what. I just know since being diagnosed last year and having been started on the prednisone at a much higher dose, I have been finding it almost impossible to taper, much less come completely off. You can do a search and read of all the bad things prednisone can bring, but you have to weigh that against how bad you feel now without it. There are SO many possible side effects: weight gain, hair loss, possibly diabetes, confusion, don't sleep well, the list goes on and on; too long to list everything. But everyone may not have all side effects. After that dose pack, if your symptoms are at all tolerable, your doc could try something else for you that might take a few months to show hope. Other options are out there. They are just not as speedy as the prednisone. Please take care. I wish you well and hope you have relief soon. Keep us informed on how things go for you.

Hi Barbara, Lynnwood and Sharen,

Thankyou for talking to me. I really needed it. Barbara I think about you often. I hope you are doing well. I have been tested for Leukemia many times this last year. It's awful. I pray that your's goes away soon.

Today I have taken 24mg of prednisone and severe muscle aches are just about gone. And my fever is normal so far. It's amazing how fast it worked. I thought it would take a couple of days at least. I am still very fatigued but have this hyper feeling too. I want to do something busy but don't have the energy to really do it. I feel a little jittery. I am NOT sleepy and normally by now I would be in bed. I actually have finished 2 movies. I am amazed. I do feel strange though. Like I have drank too much coffee and cold medicine at the same time. But it's worth it so far. I was so  miserable today that I was crying. Now I'm not crying but I am talking a lot. This is a wonderfully bad medication. My mind is racing too. And I am drinking so much water. Hope I am making sense. LOL. I was nervous about taking the prednisone. Now I'm just a little nervous.

kitty

 

 

Hi Kitty,

   I have been on the dose packs in the past for a few days. I'm glad you are starting to get some relief already. It usually works pretty quick. As you taper down your pain may increase some, but hopefully not. Maybe this one dose pack will do the trick for awhile.

   From what I can remember from taking dose packs. I would just get a little bloating and gas. Maybe a little increase in appetite for a couple of days and a tiny jittery on the higher doses.

   Good luck and keep us updated. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                                    Babs

Hippimom, your not a big bruised sweaty pig!! Your a wonderful smart lady. Hugs.

kitty