Lower dose of prednisone not helping as much!

[SandyRN]

I am so disappointed. Since I've cut my dose back from 60mg per day to 40 mg per day I'm not having the same relief I was having. I felt like I could almost conquer the world for those few days. Now that the dose is lower my body knows it, and is starting to hurt again. I feel it mostly in my joints, and in my bladder. I knew this would happen, but I had hoped it would last til I ran the entire 10 day course of the med. :(

I AM still better than I was, there was only one way for that to go, and it was up! I felt so bad before, and then having that taste of feeling good with little to no pain was amazing. I just see the end of that coming like a freight train! :(

[pingpong]

Sorry you're starting to feel bad again, especially since you've been feeling so great. It's a real shame that prednisone has so many side effects, because you get this false sense of well-being when you're on a high dose, and then you crash when you have to wean yourself off the stuff. It's a real bummer, I know.:(

[Sarojini]

I'm so sorry Sandy :grouphug:

[SharonA]

Sandy...I am sending you some hugs. :grouphug:

[traceann]

Oh Geesh Sandy, have you mentioned it to your doctor? When I was on it for my colitis, in the beginning of being on it, the first time I stepped down, I had a return of symptoms, so she had me go back up for a bit then step down - but not so far. Like I was on 20 mg say, and then I was to drop to 10, well, I had a return of symptoms so I had to go back to 20 for a day or two, then step down to 15, etc. Eventually I weaned to 5mg as my last step down. I must have been resistant to it, lol, as I didn't get the "yippy!" feelings until I had been on it for few weeks!! Dang! *giggle*

Hope you feel better soon!!!!!!!!!

XOXO

[ICNDonna]

Have you let your doctor know? It may be, as Tracey suggested, that you need to reduce your dosage slower.

:grouphug:
Donna

[SandyRN]

I have a call into the doctor now. They were supposed to call me with my labs days ago, and I still need the referral to the rheumatologist. I am losing my patience with them, but slowed the tapering down a little bit myself by adding 10 extra mg a day until they call me back. I know he's going to say yes, but I need to have another rx called in.

It's just a slap in the face...I felt great, and today I'm feeling that downhill slide, BUT, it is a bit better since I took it upon myself to increase my dose. Guess I'll make another phone call to their office!

[waterflow]

Sorry your happy days didn't last longer. That slapped in the face feeling is no fun at all. Hope you get something so you can conquer the world again. :grouphug:

[traceann]

Hey Sandy, I know how you feel! I remember when I stepped down and my symptoms from the colitis came back, I was so defeated feeling, lol. Thank goodness it was just that my body needed the med a little bit longer....

XOXO

[SharonA]

Sandy...How are you doing today?

[SandyRN]

Sandy...How are you doing today?

Not too bad because I took it upon myself to up my dose to a happy medium of 50mg per day. I still have not heard from my doctor and I'm really quite angry. I have enough to last the weekend taking 50 mg per day then I'll have to have a refill on Monday to either ween back or continue at this dose. He's supposed to have a nurse set me up with the rheumatologist too, and I've heard NOTHING from them. I do, however, have a head CT of my sinuses on Monday. At least they didn't sit on everything. Guess it's flu season or something?!

Thanks so much for asking! Now, if I could just quit eating.........

[traceann]

Mmmmmm, eating, reminds me - almost dinner time! ;) Oh thanks Sandy, you have now reminded me of the sinful cupcakes I made Jer for Valentine's Day...they are calling my name...... Traaaaaaaaaaceeeeeeeeeeeeey.....

[pingpong]

Sandy, just make sure you don't run out - you will feel absolutely horrible if you have to quit cold turkey.