Do I or Don't I?

dreamdaisy

As some of you may be aware I am facing a pretty stressful month or maybe six weeks as we plan to be moving house. This will necessitate my doing packing at this house and, later, similar unpacking at the new abode. Life is particularly rough at the moment with aches and pains but I have realised that there is a way to boost my limited energies (and yes, I will consult with the relevant authority first). This is purely an exercise in gathering your varied and valuable thoughts and opinions, I have not yet decided whether I will do this.

I am not totally anti-pred but I felt it was not the right way for me to go, hence my spending 2011 weaning myself off. I never think of it as an option nowadays, because I am used to life without, but I think a burst of two months or so maybe a good way to get me through the forthcoming stresses. I know I can get off it again because I have done so before. My thinking would be to start at 5mgs per day, then boost it to 10 the week before the move, maybe 15 on the two days either side of the move, then back to 10 and then the gradual withdrawal of 1mg per fortnight or three weeks as before. So, do I or don't I?

villier

Sorry DD cant help you out, as you know it is OA I have and know nothing about your meds. Good luck for whatever road you go down, I am sure there will be plenty of others that will give sound advice...............Marie xx

Mat48

For what its worth I'm minded that occasional short spells of time on Pred are okay - for me at least. As I think you know I'm currently tapering so as to be off it a week before seeing my rheumy - from tomorrow I get down to three days on 1mg and then off. This is all being done with my GP's support of course. I'm not struggling anymore than I expected - its not nice returning to RA but this had to be ballanced by the need to get inflammation levels down while I'm off the meds. The thing that would always put me off steroids is the week of bipolar symptoms I get initially. The side of things that would tempt me back onto it is the few weeks of heavenly respite from RA I get at 10mgs.

I don't know if the insomnia or heart pounding wired issues I have also affect you too DD? If so that should be factored into your pros bad cons because you may find it impossible to pace yourself with all that needs to be done during the house flit - and then pay too high a price afterwards (when you will also need your energy for settling into a new environment) for masking your problems over this physically and mentally demanding house flit?

So I'm not advising or laying bets either way - just putting in my shilling's worth from a personal Pred perspective. Good luck with your decision :?: :? Mat x

As5567

Maybe IV steroids would be an option? The main benefits of receiving them this is that they work almost instantly and there is no tapering process. You just go in for how ever many sessions your doctor prescribes, which is normally 3.

The down side is 3x visits to the hospital over 1 week and of course the typical side effects from steroids.

mig

Only you will know the right decision for you,given the year you have just had I know which way I would go. Mig

chookgate

dreamdaisy wrote:

I know I can get off it again because I have done so before.

I don't know anything about this med, and nothing much about you either, or whether you ARE talking about an addiction of any sort, but I just wanted to throw in my two pennies worth to say, that just because someone has broken an addiction once, does not mean they can do it again.

On the other hand, if you know you need to do something that is going to cause pain, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking something to prevent or reduce that pain before it starts.

dreamdaisy

Right, I should offer some clarification and I apologise for not doing so in my original post. :oops:

I was given pred in late February 2007 during a spell off all meds. I never went above 20mgs, and even then that dosage was only for a few days at a time. I knew that it masked matters but I rather enjoyed the sensation of not having much wrong. After a stern-but-gentle lecture in late 2010 from the rheumatology nurse I trust the most I decided that it was not to be continued, hence the long tapering period.

I have no concerns viz addiction, I am aware that it could become an issue but it's been so far so good on that front. This spell (if I decide to go down this route) will only be brief, and at relatively low doses, because I know from experience that it does help me better cope with things.

I will ring my Helpline tomorrow and hopefully someone will ring me back by Wednesday. My GP will not prescribe steroids so I have to go through the hospital, which is sensible. DD

Starburst

Ah, a tough decision. I can't remember - was it a short course that you struggled to come off or had it planned to be a longer term use? I've come off prednisolone more easily when I had a planned taper of a certain number of weeks, rather than "we'll give you X mg and see how it goes". I don't know if it's a psychological thing for me to. Would IV or IM steroids be of any use to you? Just throwing it out there.

jillyb1

If a short spell helps you to cope with all your upheavals then ; for your sanity ( and that of Mr DD ) , go for it . I'm a great believer of using any means available to assist you through the many trials and tribulations .
Jillyb

Boomer13

DD, Because you are only using prednisone for such a short-time, I think it's entirely sensible for you to consider going on it. You have to think that you will likely flare during your upcoming busy time and if the pred helps to tone down the effects of this, I think you will benefit.

Also, we do all need a break from the intense symptoms sometimes. However, I guess it won't help your fibromyalgia pain, but if it lessens your flares then I would say go for it

I'm currently tapering off pred and the intense aching is returning even without being in flare-mode. This was easily forgotten in the previous months and I don't welcome it's return.

Don't forget: you must not push yourself and overdo things with the use of pred, or I will retract the above recommendation! Good luck, I hope you and your rheum will come up with a plan.

xxAnna

dreamdaisy

Hello starburst, it's lovely to hear from you when you are having a tough time, thank you. I was on pred for a total of four years, it was during the fourth year when I steadily dwindled and stopped. I freely admit I have got out of the habit of thinking 'Ooooh, a quick blast would help!' and took myself by surprise this morning when I though of it.

jilly? You make a very good point about the 'sanity' aspect of things: he is stressed but in a different way to me. Both of us are showing signs of it - I'm doing the totally girly thing of crying every now and again, he's doing the boy thing of watching the Mafia on a boxed set of stuff.

Hello Boomer, wise words indeed my lovely, thank you. DD

ichabod6

Go to the pub and pay someone to pack.
Go to the new pub and pay someone to unpack.
Then go to the pub again.

Boomer13

Of course, going on pred will turn your inner thermostat up even further....Don't pack your fan or towels!

dreamdaisy

Ichabod? As usual you are succinct and to the point. I think I love you. :oops: That is the best laugh I have had this weekend, thank you.

I apologise for 'ignoring' As5567 and anyone else that has not had a 'personal' acknowledgement, I am not having that good a day which I know is not a good reason, I am very tired is all. I have never had IV steroids and, truth be told, I don't fancy them. To anyone else that I have forgotten I sincerely apologise. :oops: DD

daffy2

Blimey DD, can't help feeling you've just made things a bit more complicated for yourself - otherwise you wouldn't be asking the question!
I have no experience of the drug in question - although I have an 'emergency' pack in my cupboard as a result of developing allergy problems in recent months, but I hope I never need to use it - so can only offer a couple of thoughts.
Given all that's happened since you came off it do you think you will have the same benefits taking it this time, or might it /you react differently?
Ichabod's suggestion has much to recommend it. There may be consequences - stuff not done as you would wish - but that's not the same as side effects....
Is it a case of better the devil you know...? At the moment you work within your limits and accept(possibly?!) you aren't Superwoman. If you take the pred and it works do you risk doing too much?
Wish I could wave a magic wand for you DD and move you away from this devil and the deep blue sea(or grey in view of where you live) scenario.

Mormodook

Good as a blast if going on holiday

salamander

Couldn't you just have a depo medrone jab? No tapering etc.

applerose

I don't know anything about pred. Just wanted to say that whichever way you go, it'll be what you think is best for you at the time. Hope the move goes as smoothly as it can.

dibdab

Sorry DD, I haven't long term steroid experiences to add to the discussion, but I feel myself leaning towards Ichabod's corner, followed by sort it out slowly afterwards. Take the OH with you and get quietly merry then the mess wont look so bad when you get home.

Seriously though, sometimes we need to take extra "stuff" to tide us over the peaks of impossibility. Hope you get good advice and understanding when you talk to the rheumy folks.

Seems to me your life has lurched through some fairly horrible stuff in the last year, maybe house moving is a step too far without some extra scaffolding to keep you upright, and only you know how your body responds to meds. And in my head sometimes the "good cry" helps to get stuff into perspective.

Take really good care of yourself.

Deb x

thistlegirl

Hmm, as someone who is rather used to steroids at the moment I think If your brain brought it up it was for a reason. For once you have a warning of a hurdle coming and you are trying to prepare for it.
Have you thought about a inter muscular steroid injection if you are not sure about tablets? I would be happy with taking either if you think they will help.
I had sleep issues, if you think this will be an issue with you I would get a tablet if needed as it is no use to have a working body if your brain is gone....trust me!

Listen to your body, you know it best.

Jenny

Susiesoo

What you have ahead of you in the next few weeks or months would be challenging for a fit, healthy, energetic and able-bodied person. Moving house is hard emotionally and physically and I think you should grab any help available, including packers and steroids. I have just been hit with fatigue again and I know if I were moving I would only be packing very personal and very precious things myself. During our last move we used packers and I decided to hold onto a delicate light fitting myself and had it on my lap in the car. Arrived at our new house, undid my seatbelt and smash. The only thing broken in the whole move.

You have been feeling rough for some time now and I think you need to take as much care of your precious self as you possibly can. And I definitely agree with jilly about the sanity aspect. You are only human, DD!!!

(Now the embarrassing bit.....try as hard as I can, I cannot find where to cast my vote of "yes" :roll: Have tried and tried...sorry).

Susie

Susiesoo

:oops: :oops: :oops: :roll:

And now it is there, right at the top of the page. Perhaps I needed to comment before I could vote. First time I have voted... I will try to remember for next time.

Susie

salamander

btw, I am with whoever said to pay for someone to pack and move for you. Well worth the money.

barbara12

I'm with Sal..could you have a depo injections to get you through.. then go to the pub...x

dachshund

Hello DD
i'm sorry DD I don't take that so I don't know anything about it and I could tell you something and you would end up on the roof.
you know best.
joan xx

stickywicket

I'm going to spoil my ballot paper on the grounds that this is for you and your rheumatologist to decide, all the more so because you have, as I recall, two blood tests to be repeated. I don't think it matters what we think. I'm not even sure it matters what you think though that may be because I'm very tired tonight and the grey matter is already tucked up in bed :roll: What matters most is what your rheumatologist thinks. Talk it over with her.