At 15mg Prednisone, still alive and sleepy...

Folks I am at post surgery #1 of 3 - day 29. Still sore, back hurts but much improved. Left the hospital at 40mg pred... dropped 10mg a week. Now at 15mg Prednisone... at doctors orders now tapering at 5mg a week. This is a big deal for me as I have basically become steroid dependent over the last 5 years. So far the usual taper symptoms, extreme fatigue, hard to concentrate, depression, still having joint pains. Hope and pray I get through this I have been in Adrenal crisis 2x prior before they removed my colon. GI doc ordered blood work to make sure Im ok. Surgeon says my body will be ok without Pred this round as the organ causing the primary inflammation is now gone. Today we meet for a follow up and to discuss time frame for surgery #2...

So glad your recovery from the surgery is heading in the right direction.

My husband is really struggling with the steroid withdrawal too (in remission thanks to meds at this point). Had same symptoms you described and was pretty disoriented, so went back to GI and we are now trying a new tapering strategy. For two days each -- 10mg / 7.5 mg , then 10 / 5, then 10 / 2.5, then 10/0 etc..

We are wondering, however, whether it may be worthwhile to just go straight to an endocrinologist at this point. Or you ultimately have to suffer thru until the adrenals kick in? I appreciate hearing people's experience with this, especially for somebody who has been on steroids for years (almost three years in our case).

Apologies for the late reply - I have really been busy. I think I have figured out what retired folks that are sick do with all the free time they have. They simply go to the doctor all the time. :) Last week I saw 5 doctors and did lab work- really takes all your time. Thanks all for the advice and kind words. I am now at 5mg prednisone; I thought about lowering the taper but I am so sick of being on Prednisone I just want it to be gone. So far I am doing ok; I think I have grown use to the effects of Pred taper - I have to remind myself daily its just a temporary situation; the tiredness - feels like batteries are gone all you want to do is sleep, depression - feels like someone stole your last cookie and or sent you to a small dark room - locked the door and through away the room. I have a floating date around the first week of August now for surgery #2. Surgeon has to have the Urologist with him this time as they messed up my folley on #1 so they have to sync their available time to do the surgery. Hope you all are doing ok...