I finally had to do it!

[kellyt]

I had to break down and shave my FACE!!!!!          Did I mention how much I HATE Prednisone!    I'm at 17.5 mg and dropping every 2-3 weeks!  I should be at 10 mg the 2nd week in February!  The countdown begins!

I used our buzz clippers and took the peach fuzz off my face and neck.  It looks much better.

[Wenchie58]

Kelly  I feel your pain!  Between the extra facial hair and the hair on my head falling out in clumps....I should be a raving beauty soon.  BUT......I will be a PEEING raving beauty!  Keep smiling...we will get through this!  I was at 150 mg of prednisone for the first two weeks (rejection issues) just dropped to 10 mg.  My transplant was Oct 24th.

[Stacy Without An E]

Why oh why oh why do they still use steroid immunosuppressives?  They're incredibly dangerous and the side effects are murder.

I was on 20mg daily in college and I just had a little mini U.C. Davis reunion.  One of them was put on prednisone later in life and said they understand now why I was so crazy.

I'm looking forward to the day when they can take a few kidney cells, grow a new kidney in a lab and surgically insert it without medication.

That day may never come though because too many people are making boatloads of money off suffering Dialysis patients.

[Chris]

So kelly, did you ask your husband pointers on how to shave your face and neck?

Sorry, devil made me say it.

I'm glad I was never on that stuff, I might have had to shave twice a day , but wish I had the hair falling out problem like some do with Prograf, then I wouldn't have to shave.

Gotta love these side effects of meds

[okarol]

I don't know why some centers still use prednisone and others reserve it for rejection rescue only.

Jenna only had it for 3 days post-op, nothing since, so she had none of the side effects.

Kelly, have you heard of threading? Facial Threading is the best alternative to waxing and tweezing, especially for sensitive skin. Threading is by far the least invasive method of hair removal, leaving the skin clean and smooth.

It lasts 3 to 4 weeks. Not sure what they charge for it though.

Sorry Kelly - hope things settle down soon!

[Wattle]

 

[charee]

I hear you Kelly, I have a great looking mow at the moment just went out and got some hair removal cream . I'm down to 10mg  of prednisone oh and did i   mention i look like i have cheek implants but at least i can pee

[kellyt]

I understand about the cheek implants, as well!  If I smile too big I can't see!   

At 10 mg the side effects will start deminishing.  And at 5 mg there really should be no side effects at all.  My transplant doctor has said that he fully plans on weaning me off the Prednisone 100%, but obviously if that isn't possible I will stay at 5 mg baseline.  He said that there are hospitals that "advertise" "steroid free transplants".  The anti-rejection meds are apparently very good these days.

I feel guilty because it's total vanity!  I am truly grateful and can deal with whatever I must to keep this kidney, but I feel like a ballonn that's about to pop!  Other than sweats, I only have maybe 3 pair of pants that are comfortable.  Thankfully it's chilly outside and I can wear sweaters that hide my big tummy!

Thanks for the support!

[Rerun]

Stacy..... I worked in Davis, CA for 5 years on the corner of 5th and G.  Did you have a bike?  HA

I was on Prednisone 10mg for 17 years.  I could never recognize myself in photos.  OMG who is that pig?  I honestly looked like Miss Piggy with glasses.  I hated it but again I was peeing, traveling and loving the energy I felt.  If you get down to 5mg you should do well.  Just remember to go down slowly.  Very slowly.

[kitkatz]

Walmart for comfy pants.

[monrein]

After my transplant I went for electrolysis on my face but it was way too time consuming and even though it was paid for me by the government since it was a side effect of meds (cyclosporine is the worst culprit) I wasn't prepared to do it.  I bought myself a very nice Braun razor that can be used wet, irritates my skin way less, and have been shaving my chin and upper lip for the since 1985.  It has made my chin skin a little coarser but nothing dramatic and I don't sweat it at all.  I also shave my forearms because I looked at some canoe trip pictures once and thought I was seeing my brother's hairy arms but no, those were mine!  For the wilderness canoe tripping that we did for a number of years, my husband bought me a tiny battery powered razor and that was great because I found it tough getting down to the river early early to shave in freezing water and my pride never allowed me to just grow out my beard like the guys did.  Women don't seem to want to do these trips so it was always just men and me.  The very peach fuzzy look disappeared after about a year.

[donnia]

Gurl... you know I feel your pain!!! 

As far as comfy pants... go to Avenue and get the Yoga pants!  They are waaay comfy and can be used with tennis shoes or dress shoes.  My transplant dr said that in June he will start weaning me off of the drug from hell and I can't wait!  He did tell me also that the statistics show that 5% more kidneys survive the first year if they use the prednisone.  After the first year the stats aren't any different with or without the prednisone.

[Sunny]

I was on high doses of prednisone to treat Goodpasture's Disease, an auto-immune disease that caused my kidney problems.
I turned into an aggressive hellraiser not to mention the physical side effects that made me unrecognizable. I would have been a good football player (female and all).
True "roid rage" took hold and I could hardly help myself. I made sure my husband did all the disciplining after I grabbed my little daughter too violently one time.
I was so eager to get off the prednisone that I weaned myself too quickly and ended up with horrendous bone and muscle pain, so beware of that.Things get better on lower doses so hang in there. A 5 mg maintenance dosage will make all the difference, though I hope you can get off it completely some day. Keeping your transplant makes it worthwhile.

[kellyt]

Yes, slow weaning is the key.  I'm currently going down 2.5 mg every 2-3 weeks and once I hit 10 mg I think I go down 1 mg every month until 5 mg.  Once I hit 5 mg I'm not sure if that's where I'll stay or we'll continue at 1 mg or .5 mg or what.





For anyone who it interested in joining me - I'm going to start doing Weight Watchers at home starting tomorrow.  I wholeheartedly plan on joining and attending meetings, but I want to see if I can lose any weight in the first few weeks first.  I don't want to spend all that money just to "maintain" my weight while on the Prednisone, although maintaining would disappoint me.  I would just rather do it at home and not pay.  Once I start losing weight I'll join the meetings.

I have all the info on points, etc. so I'll be happy to share.

[nursewratchet]

Kelly,  one of my coowrkers did Weight Watchers.  She lost a lot of wieght, and has kept it off long term.  I think you'll be surprised how much weight you will lose after Pred.  Weight Watchers is supposed to be pretty easy.

[Slywalker]

Gee Kelly - tough break.  I guess I am one of the lucky ones - I didn't have to take predisone at all.  WHEW - however the Prograf did make me lose hair for a while - that was no fun.  I was getting pretty nervous as I lost all my hair when I did chemo and I didn't want that again.  The doc told me that in women a prograf side effect is to lose hair and in men it is to grow hair - another NO fair situation between genders.....

Hang tough - this too should pass

Sandyb

 

[Chris]

Gee Kelly - tough break.  I guess I am one of the lucky ones - I didn't have to take predisone at all.  WHEW - however the Prograf did make me lose hair for a while - that was no fun.  I was getting pretty nervous as I lost all my hair when I did chemo and I didn't want that again.  The doc told me that in women a prograf side effect is to lose hair and in men it is to grow hair - another NO fair situation between genders.....

Hang tough - this too should pass

Sandyb

 

That is one side effect I haven't had with Prograf. Not missing it either having excessive hair growth.

[kellyt]

Gee Kelly - tough break.  I guess I am one of the lucky ones - I didn't have to take predisone at all.  WHEW - however the Prograf did make me lose hair for a while - that was no fun.  I was getting pretty nervous as I lost all my hair when I did chemo and I didn't want that again.  The doc told me that in women a prograf side effect is to lose hair and in men it is to grow hair - another NO fair situation between genders.....

Hang tough - this too should pass

Sandyb

 

I have a lot of hair on my head (thick) and I usually lose a fair amount, even before Prograf.  I haven't noticed it being any more since being on Prograf.  How long does the side effect of of losing hair last?  I need to pay attention to this...

Thanks!

[Wenchie58]

Kelly
  The docs told me that my hair would "thin" using Prograf and they were right.  I have been taking it now for 9 weeks at above average levels due to rejection issues.  I see no bald spots and I also had thick hair so now its just thinner.  When it started to fall out more and more I cut it from waist length to just above my ears and donated it to Locks of Love, figured someone might as well get the use of it.
  Another sarcastic, but comical way I look at things....I have much much less hair growth on my legs....so I save the time shaving them to work on my chin!!    Gotta see the bright side of everything!

[pelagia]

My husband was losing some hair, but that seems to have slowed down.  Doesn't seem to be growing any extra hair... He is still eating like crazy and is also watching more football!    I think he's down to 7.5 mg prednisone/day at 7+ months.

[Wenchie58]

Ohhhhh no.....which drug is going to make me watch football??  I can't imagine!!  <snicker>

[kellyt]

I have noticed that the hair on my legs is much softer and doesn't grow back as fast!  I'm not complaining about that, but I didn't put that together with the Prograf!   Now that side effect I like!