Prednisone

[kitkatz]

I am currently on 20 mg of Prednisone for Pylo-fibromyalgia-rhuematica.
I have had weight gain, serious weight gain from this med.  Help!  How do I stop this gaining? 
Seems like all I had to do was take this med and I gain weight. 
I can also eat like I mean it now.  Hard the change when the brain has things in it saying eat, eat, eat.

Good thing my BP is up even at dialysis.  Makes the center happy.

I also have red spots on my hands and arms from this med. 
Doctor says six months at this dose and monthly blood work.  Then maybe reduce it.

At least the all over body pain has pretty much gone away, just down to the regular aches and pains of a body on 18 years of dialysis.

[Charlie B53]

Prednisone was such a wonder, how it put an end to the extreme pain of gout in most all my joints.  I was amazed as none of the traditional pain meds did much to help other than make me even stupider than I normally am.

But what a price to pay for that relief.  I had done so well, changing what and how I ate and losing a little over 100 pounds in the last two years.  I was down to 202 WITH 2 liters in me for PD.  This was less than me usual 220 all through High School and my years in the Army.

While on prednisone I gained. 40 pounds until I was allowed to taper down and quit taking it.

I am still trying to lose the remaining 30 pounds.

I well understand.  Even knowing that it is the med driving the hunger we still eat.  Even knowing which foods carry more calories we eat what we want.  Hungar will cause you to break any and all dietary rules you have made for yourself.

It is very difficult to remain in control when prednisone is driving.

Even once I was down to as little as 5 MG a day I was eating wrong.  Fortunately taking the anti-gout med made sufficient change in my labs Dr allowed me to stop taking the prednisone.

I hope there is another med your Dr will find which will allow you to stop taking the prednisone soon.

Try to stay strong, but hunger will make us eat most anything within reach, whether we want it or not.

[kristina]

Dear Kitkatz, I am very sorry, but Prednisone is known as the culprit which induces people to eat and eat and eat again
whilst at the same time it assists perfectly to reduce unbearable joint-pains ...
On one hand it is perfect to reduce unbearable pain, at the other hand it has it's price...
Unfortunately there is not much you can do except ask the doctor to try another immunosuppressant...
... Being on dialysis makes it impossible to eat too many veggies or too many different fruits because of the potassium
and by eating veggies or fruits Prednisone-weight-gain could possibly be kept to a minimum.
I keep my fingers crossed for you and hope your doctor prescribes another immunosuppressant for you.
Good luck wishes from Kristina.

[Simon Dog]

whilst at the same time it assists perfectly to reduce unbearable joint-pains ...

Unless is induces avascular necrosis, in which case you will get hip pain.

[Jean]

I am not trying to be funny, but, seriously have you tried raw hemp for body and joint pain? My Dr. and my Pastor both recommended it and as of tomorrow, I will stop taking the Norco I have taken for about 22 years.

[kristina]

whilst at the same time it assists perfectly to reduce unbearable joint-pains ...

Unless is induces avascular necrosis, in which case you will get hip pain.

Hello Simon, do side-effects like brittle bones, avascular necrosis, heart trouble etc. not occur after long-time-taking of Prednisone?
Many thanks from Kristina.

[kristina]

I am not trying to be funny, but, seriously have you tried raw hemp for body and joint pain? My Dr. and my Pastor both recommended it and as of tomorrow, I will stop taking the Norco I have taken for about 22 years.

Hello Jean, please tell me what sort of raw hemp you mean and how is it applied/taken and what is known about it in the context of fibromyalgia etc.?
Many thanks from Kristina.

[Simon Dog]

Hello Simon, do side-effects like brittle bones, avascular necrosis, heart trouble etc. not occur after long-time-taking of Prednisone?
Many thanks from Kristina.

I can only speak to avascular necrosis.  In my case 3 months of prednisone resulted in AVN about a year later.  Never expected to get a hip transplant, but at least now I know I will never be an unidentified body (serial number on the hip joint)

[PrimeTimer]

When I had to be on it (for the same reasons) my doc told me to avoid having bowlfuls of fruit. She said many think that a healthy bowl of fruit is better than junk food and it is but, fruit is also loaded with sugar/calories. I feel for you. I take Cymbalta for pain control. Will always have pain but without a serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, life can be unbearable for me, not to mention those around me.   

[Charlie B53]

I've been prescribed most every narc there is in attempt to control the chronic pain from damaged joints, muscles,, and nerves.  They ALL make me 'fuzzy' and I usually refuse to take them until it becomes absolutely unbearable.  Then I end up flat in bad sometime for days.

Fentenyal was a big help, no fuzziness, but still there was that tolerance thing.  It eventually needed to be increased.  I was very surprised when my Dr switched me to Methadone as I thought it only was for those in withdrawal from Heroin.  Wrong, it was initially developed as a pain med.  and it WORKS!  At least it works for me.  NO Fuzziness.  No constipation.  And so far, no tolerance needing an increasing dose..

I feel half Normal. Although this kidney thing still has me with No energy.  If only the Dr would prescribe those old 'diet' pills.

[Jean]

Kristina, I dont know if marijuana is legal where you live or not. It is legal in the US.That is where the raw hemp comes in, it is the base so to speak of the plant and it has no thc in it. Thc is the stuff that makes you get high. I am not interested in getting high, just some pain relief. Here they have what they call dispensaries and that is where you go to get it, after you have a Drs. note, saying what you are using it for.The raw Hemp comes in liquid form, and when you feel discomfort ( or severe pain) you put 2 or 5 drops of it on your tongue.The marijuana comes in so many forms it would take many more posts to tell you all of them. It also comes in a vape appearing cigarette and has no odor, unlike the regular marijuana which has its own odor. I also have a marijuana cream I rub on my back, hip, knees, etc, also free of THC. I am not yet completely pain free, but they say it takes about 25 days to fully work. However, I no longer need to use a walker.

[Simon Dog]

It is legal at the state but not federal level in some parts of the US

FIFTY.








EDITED:Removed red color, fixed spelling-kitkatz,Admin

[kristina]

Hello Simon, do side-effects like brittle bones, avascular necrosis, heart trouble etc. not occur after long-time-taking of Prednisone?
Many thanks from Kristina.

I can only speak to avascular necrosis.  In my case 3 months of prednisone resulted in AVN about a year later.  Never expected to get a hip transplant, but at least now I know I will never be an unidentified body (serial number on the hip joint)

Hello Simon, I admire your dry humour and your description about not ever to become an unidentified body etc. and I can well imagine that it takes lots of strengths to take such a situation as dry-humoured as you possibly can
and I take off my hat to your determination and send you my best wishes from Kristina.

[kristina]

Kristina, I dont know if marijuana is legal where you live or not. It is legal in the US.That is where the raw hemp comes in, it is the base so to speak of the plant and it has no thc in it. Thc is the stuff that makes you get high. I am not interested in getting high, just some pain relief. Here they have what they call dispensaries and that is where you go to get it, after you have a Drs. note, saying what you are using it for.The raw Hemp comes in liquid form, and when you feel discomfort ( or severe pain) you put 2 or 5 drops of it on your tongue.The marijuana comes in so many forms it would take many more posts to tell you all of them. It also comes in a vape appearing cigarette and has no odor, unlike the regular marijuana which has its own odor. I also have a marijuana cream I rub on my back, hip, knees, etc, also free of THC. I am not yet completely pain free, but they say it takes about 25 days to fully work. However, I no longer need to use a walker.

Thank you Jean for your kind explanation and it is good and reassuring to know about it.
Hopefully I won't need "it" for a long time to come, because, to be honest, such "heavies" sound a bit frightful
as we don't really know what "they" can "do" to our "grey cells" and how they may affect our clear thinking?
Best wishes and thanks again from Kristina.

[Charlie B53]

I can testify as to the stability of brain function after long term high dose THC exposure.  It is just fine.

Far different from the long term effects of high dose alcohol which does cause measurable impairment of brain function, marijuana does not.

Here comes the disclaimer.

HOWEVER.............................

This does depend on the mental stability of the individual BEFORE using any THC as those 'un-stabile' individuals may be further unstabilized as the THC can enhance any existing condition.

I can say much the same thing about LSD.

Your results may vary.


ALL drug use should be approached with caution.  Even those prescribed by a Dr.

[kristina]

Many thanks, Charlie, for your comprehensive explanation.
And how are you doing kitkatz?  Are you still on 20 mg Prednisone and how is it going?
What does your doctor say? Did he change your medication?
And how is your weight gain, have you found a way to avoid further weight gain? 
Is your dialysis center still happy about your BP?
Take great care of yourself and kind regards from Kristina.

[kitkatz]

My blood work has shown improvement, but not down to normal levels .
Doctor says six months at 20 mg, with blood work every month.
I am still gaining some weight, but slowing it down, I hope.
The BP is still good with the prednisone.

[Charlie B53]

When I still had teeth I found the crunchy veggies had far more satisfaction in curbing appetite than eating a sandwich, and held far less calories.  Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc., all WITHOUT dip.

I really should give in, have the torri(Sp) removed from my inner jaw bone so I can have a plate made.  It would be nice, wonderful even, to have teeth again.

Good Luck with that drug induced appetite. It was easier to quit using dope in 81.

[smartcookie]

Prednisone at that high of a dose makes me nauseous.  Having back problems and being allergic to dye, I have had some pretty intense steroid doses.  I usually have to take a pack or two of prednisone a year for sinus infections, too.  I hate the stuff and always gain weight on it (if I am not nauseous, that is).  I get the classic moon face and it takes several months for it to go away.  If you find anything to help with the weight gain or any tips, please share!!

[Riki]

I had cataract surgery on Monday, and I was given drops to put in my eye.. I laughed when I saw that one of them was prednisone based.. it doesn't seem to have any of the weird side effects that prednisone usually has, but it has been helping with any pain from the surgery.... what I also find funny... it was prednisone use as an antirejection med as a teenager that caused the cataracts in the first place..

[Charlie B53]

Wife has serious diabetic eye problems, MULTIPLE eye procedures MANY MANY times over, BOTH sides. How she manages to sit still and have a NEEDLE stuck directly INTO her eye I Hope I never have to know. (Huge spine shudder).

I too noticed that one of the eye drops contains prednisone and asked her Dr about it.  He told me the eye is sensitive it takes very little of the drug, there is NO effect on the rest of the body unless the patient were to be very highly allergic/reactive.

[Riki]

Wife has serious diabetic eye problems, MULTIPLE eye procedures MANY MANY times over, BOTH sides. How she manages to sit still and have a NEEDLE stuck directly INTO her eye I Hope I never have to know. (Huge spine shudder).

I thought I'd have to be awake for that procedure, and I wasn't looking forward to it.. you may not be able to see what they're doing, but you can hear everything.. and I don't think I could have sat still... I have my first cataract surgery when I was 23 years old, and I remember having to argue with them then for a general anesthetic.. but I got it... I figured I'd have to argue this time, especially since I had a bad episode with low blood pressure the week before that landed me in the ER... but the anesthesiologist came to me while I was waiting to go in and said, "do you want to go to sleep?" and before he could change his mind or take the question back, I said, "yes."  He said, "Ok.  I'll go get the hammer."  I discovered how good he was at his job when we were in the OR.. because of my fistula, the IV and BP cuff had to both be on the right arm... the nurse was trying to give me the medication to put me to sleep through the IV, when she started to freak a bit because the IV wasn't working.. he just told her to stop the med and wait a minute.. the BP cuff had inflated.. *L*  once the BP was taken, the IV started working, no problem...

[smartcookie]

That is awesome, Riki!  I don't think I could be awake for that procedure, either.  When I was having back problems the first time, I went through several spinal injections with no sedation.  My second time I went to a different doctor and he sedated me.  I didn't even get the option to not be sedated, but man, the procedures were much smoother than when I was awake.  All that anxiety was gone and I woke up, went home and slept the rest of the day.  Much, much better!!

[PrimeTimer]

For those living with chronic pain or who are just simply looking to make life a little easier on themselves, I recommend the Hurricane Spin Scrubber. It is a lifesaver for me. I use it to scrub the shower/tub. My arms often feel like they are going to fall out of their sockets and my back feels like it could snap in two. Small tasks like brushing my hair or my teeth has become something to dread. Even showering is a chore now. Housework can be a nitemare but I've learned to get clever. The Spin Scrubber is my weapon of choice for the bathroom. It is practically painless. It's a good product! 

[Charlie B53]

Is the Spin Scrubber like the Spin Mop?

Wife bought one to take to work in the school cafeteria, last year.  It is still in the garage, still in the box.  Sometimes I think she procrastinates more than I do!

Since losing approx 80% vision in her right eye and I cannot take her to work every day while sitting in the Dialysis chair, she has been forced to retire and stay home.  She ain't to happy with me.

I've been in trouble before.  I'll be in trouble again.  Such is the way of life for a man.

Whatever happens, it's always our fault.