Steroid Reduction Plan update.

dreamdaisy

I realise that many of you are waiting with baited breath for the latest news from DD's boudoir and drugs tin, so here it is! (Yes, yes, I know you're not but I am going to type it anyway.)

I stalled at 7.5mgs for a while: I was in a bad place emotionally and decided not to put any extra pressure on myself by voluntarily making things worse than they need be. I reduced to 7 a couple of weeks ago then impatience got the better of me and I dropped to 6 yesterday. Can I feel the difference? Yes. :sad: Pain levels have risen over the past couple of weeks, so I have upped the quantity of dullers by one :sad: so I am averaging five cocos per day. There is, however, a spot of good news (well, for me anyway). The melts have gone. :shock: After years and years of them they have (for the time being) stopped. Mr DD is now longer coming in from work to find a nightie-clad fat, sodden, dripping wife, cooking and melting at the same time and frantically wiping herself down with an assortment of towels and cloths, now the nightie-clad fat wife is only cooking, and with some serenity. This has to be a good thing.

I am not looking forward to the next few weeks and months, I have to admit that. As I see it, life is not going to get easier, only considerably harder as I continue to withdraw from the only med I like (and I like it 'cos I can feel the difference) but I know the for the long-term sake of what I laughingly call 'my good health' this has to be the thing to do. What a twerp, DD. You utter pillock. :roll: Never mind, it has to be done and I will do it. No matter how strong the provocation I will not revert to oral steroids ever again. I hope to be through this by February 2012 at the latest, and when done whatever steroids I have left will be deposited with the pharmacist, out of temptations way.

Please don't remind me of the last two sentences of that last paragraph when my rheumatologist whacks me back up to 20 to cope with a flare! As we all know that is their answer to everything to do with this dross. DD

stickywicket

Oh for tuck's sake, Soggy! What am I supposed to call you now?

Giving up steroids is like giving up cigarettes. I did both twice & swore never again as I knew I wouldn't have the resolve to give up again. You doin' good girl. Keep at it.

jillyb1

Well done you , DD , it must be such a relief now you have stopped dripping around the house ! Sorry to hear that one advantage immediately brings a quick disadvantage to knock you straight back down again ; hope the extra pain isn't getting too unbearable . Keep at it , we're very proud of you . Jillyb

tjt6768

well done my dear DD. We are all here for moral support as you know...
I know it isn't easy & won't get any easier with the further reduction, but you are without doubt a stubborn so and so, and with that I have faith in you, lol....

Best wishes as per..

penny44

Well done DD,
The plan seems to be progressing nicely, Im glad the melts have dissappeared enjoy Penny x

dreamdaisy

Oh sticky, stick to Soggy, I like it! Perhaps I should have signed off for all that time as SD - SoggyDaisy, now it's DD - DryDaisy. (Maybe not, it sounds as tho I have only just mastered potty training.)

Thank you tjt, jillyb1 and Penny, every little bit of encouragement helps. That is one of the major strengths of this forum, the knowledge that one is not totally alone with coping with the bad times. I am off to don my nightie and fire up the oven. DryDaisy.

stickywicket

dreamdaisy wrote:

Oh sticky, stick to Soggy, I like it! Perhaps I should have signed off for all that time as SD - SoggyDaisy, now it's DD - DryDaisy. (Maybe not, it sounds as tho I have only just mastered potty training.)

Or gone TT. Not sure which sounds least likely.

dreamdaisy

Ye gods woman, never, ever that. Do you not know me by now? My ghasted has never been so flabbered. DD

remixmum

Just a thought DD, but could the melts have been because Mr DD was overcome with lust at the sight of you in your nightie

madwestie

DD i'm with sticky i thought DryDaisy meant you we going TT and i thought what DD surely not....
Nice to know that is staying the same and aslo good to hear no more soggy towel and soggy DD.
You are doing really well and it must take such a lot of willpower to not take the extra Steriods when you have them in the house.
(mine are injected every 3 months)
I hope things stay level for you and the pain dullers( i love that name) take up some of the slack.

Tracey

traluvie

Hi DD...

Just wanted to wish you well in your reduction of steroids...
Hope you don't get too bad and suffer too much..
You seem a very strong minded lady and i have every faith that you will do great, also with us as moral support behind you how can you fail lol

dreamdaisy

Oh remix, that made me roar with laughter! Those days are long, long gone, believe you me. The only thing Mr DD may be overcome by nowadays is exasperation as I mooch round, sniffling and feeling sorry for myself. (Going through a phase of that, no idea why. :roll: )

madwestie, I have a drawer full of meds and about a third of it is oral steroids in three strengths. The maths will soon get more complicated as I want to avoid taking the uncoated 1mg in any great quantity. I haven't had any problems so far with digestion etc and I hope to preserve that.

traluvie? Thank you for the encouragement. I am determined to stop taking them but I know enough about doing all of this, and reading about other people's experiences, to realise that the last bit is definitely the hardest to do. Never mind, I'm not quite there yet, got a good few weeks to go before that rot sets in! DD

julie47

Oh Dd remix made me laugh too.

Sorry I have missed this thread. I reckon I should wear them dam glasses I was pushed to buy.

Well I am glad that the sewats (see glasses needed) sweats have been better. And a big well done on getting down to 6mg. That is such a big reduction from your original 20mg. I think you are doing this sensibly, slow and steady.
I am proud of you,
Keep it up
Love Juliepf x

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, I feel quite overcome. :oops: Thank you, my lovely pink flamingo, thank you. DD

stickywicket

julie47 wrote:

Well I am glad that the sewats (see glasses needed) sweats have been better.

Julie - I love the idea of sewats. I think we should have more of them although I'm not sure what they should be.

DD - come on. help us out.

remixmum

Sorry bout that DD, but as a singly I have to get my thrills vicariously these days

Besides I have decided that my humour ( and the occasional party) is probably the one thing that will see me through this Horrible relationship with Arthur

suzygirl

Hi daisy, just seen this. You are a very strong minded person and I am sure that you will see this through.

I now I have mentioned this before, but when I am dropping and struggling, alternate days on the dose seems to help and then the drop isnt felt as much. Thats just my experience.

I am down to 5mg, and terrified as I know this last bit is going to be really hard. Shall we hold hands and leap into the unknown of steroid free??

dreamdaisy

From henceforth we shall be known as Thelma and Louise, suzy! I shall stick at six for at least three weeks and I understand what you are telling me about the alternating dose thing but at the moment I find that a challenge too far. :roll: Daft I know, and I do exasperate myself at times but I am currently going thro a resentful phase about it all at the moment - the tempation to flush all the tablets down the lavatory is very strong.

I like your humour, remix, you do make me giggle and yes, a good sense of humour definitely helps one cope with the dross and malarkey that arthritis chucks at one. I hope you are having as good a day as you can manage. DD

suzygirl

Daisy, I hope you have your sunglasses and headscarves at the ready, lets gooooooo lol

tjt6768

SEWATS:

See Everything With Awesome Tinted Spectacles

dreamdaisy

Twerp! I am one almighty FATBROAD this morning. Ye gods stuff hurts. I have to lurch to the bank then clatter round a supermarket and buy some fresh coriander and a lime for tonight's dinner extravaganza, then it's sofa surfing for me. :sad: Never mind, I have the belt of goodness that 6mg will bring due to kick in soon - not. DD

hileena111

Hi DD
What strength.....to come down do far and still keep going.
You'll do it if I know you......Me......I'm fining it hard to cut back on codeine
when I'm sor sore never mind anything else

Love
Hileena

remixmum

Lime and coriander for dinner :eek:
What are you having...cocktails? :shock:
If so I shall be there by 6pm...BTW where are ya

tjt6768

under the table :shock: :shock: :eek:

dreamdaisy

Excuse me, I have to chef before I slide with grace and elegance under the table. Cheeky boy.

Dinner is chilli chicken: garlic, red chillies, tin of tomatoes, tin of kidney beans and juice (they are in water) lumps of chicken breast and green beans, coriander leaves and stalks, chilli powder, a little cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder mixed in a little hot water, add after about 30 minutes, and a squirt of lime juice over before serving with rice. It's all done in one pot in about forty-five minutes (on the hob, longer in the oven). Simples.

julie47

DD that sounds delicious

I will be having spud u like as we have to nip to shopping centre with OH glasses grrrrrrrrrr.

Enjoy your meal.
Juliepf x