Prednisone - To Regulate My Autoimmune System

I seem to be experiencing more numbness than most people have reported here.   My neuro has persuaded me to begin a two week treatment of prednisone to help return my autoimmune system to a more normal state.     He had me do more blood work two weeks ago to confirm that no active co-infections are present.   Everything came back normal except my lyme which has been positive since last July.

I started the medication today and other than a bad taste in my mouth and some stomach pain, no other side effects.

Has anyone in a similar situation and benefitted from prednisone?

 

Do you have an LLMD? Have you asked him/her about this? I took steroid shots back in May of last year and almost died. The steroids almost completely shut down my immune system and made me sicker than I've ever been in my whole 56 years of living. I lost about 75 pounds in six months and could hardly eat anything. For one month all I could eat were saltine crackers and I had dry heaves for two months.

If you're going to take the risk of taking a steroid, at least do it with your LLMD's knowledge and approval. It's a BIG risk to take, and if your neuro is like most neuro's, he/she knows next to nothing about lyme disease or how steroids could affect you.

I pray you get some good advice and make the right decision based on what your LLMD suggests. That's the person who really should be advising you about this, not us here on the forum, not your neuro, but your LLMD.

Gary

Yikes.... I had voiced my concerns about this to my neuro. I only agreed to it because of the continuing neuropathy that I experience. We agreed to do the blood work first and do the prednisone only if everything came back okay.

My script calls for:
60mg X 6 days
40mg X 4 days
20mg X 2 days

I do not have a LLMD and have been working with the ID and Neuro. I went to see a doc recommended by a friend who didn't turn out to be a LLMD. I have been trying to get in to see another well know LLMD in the area but I get an answering machine every time I call the office and they haven't returned my calls. It seems like a real hit and miss process in finding a good LLMD that you can trust.

My lumbar puncture did show positive for MS, but I show no lesions on my MRI's. I have another MRI scheduled in May at my six month interval. So, I'm not sure what to do now.... Just started day two of the prednisone. Guess, I should have submitted this post a few weeks back, although I knew that this topic would draw a strong caution from most.

Might this be the kind of thing that I can just tapper off or stop the dose if I start to notice ill effects?

I really appreciate all of your comments.

Gary,

Just curious as to why you had prednisone shots last year. Was this prior to your lyme diagnosis or seeing a LLMD?

Thanks... And I will take your advice and contact the neuro immediately if any strange side effects appear.

betterhealth,

Never stop steroids cold turkey. It is VERY dangerous. You should always let your doctor know what symptoms you have first, then per your doctor's request, taper off. I'd do like GWB said and watch for symptoms since you already started them. Most doctor's do not know about the terrible symptoms Lyme patients can get while on steroids, that's why it's best to have a LLMD available. My primary wanted to put me on a high dose too and I refused. Always research everything before taking it. Doctor's are not God's and make mistakes too.

JYW, Thanks so much for the BurrGuide2008, I found it very informative. It also supports my decision to step down and get off the prednisone immediately. The guide will help me ask the right questions when I see my new LLMD.

I appreciate your response!