Question about Prednisone -- Fran

[Guest guest]

Thank you Fran and Lori for your responses to my question about the

Prednisone.

Fran -- Thank you so much for the info. on the Prednisone ... but now I

have another question. If the Prednisone doesn't take down the WBC, sed

rate or CRP ... than how does it take down the fever and symptoms of

.... or does it just mask it all? Just curious about it all and how the

Prednisone truly works in these kids as I'm really trying to get educated

on how this stuff all works.

I was a bit upset when I read your post ... because I thought " Oh my gosh,

I gave him the Prednisone and he may not have had a episode " , but

then I read Lori's post about how the Prednisone actually worsens her

son's fever episodes and wonder if the same happened with Mason. The

reason I keep questioning it is because no one else in my family had

anything viral when Mason was sick two weeks ago. But would you believe

yesterday my entire family (including Mason) now has viral diarrhea ...

which makes me truly believe even more so now that two weeks ago, he was

not viral at all. Even the Doctors in the hospital weren't sure what he

had ... but just mainly hydrated him again.

But I do want to " Thank you " both whole heartedly for your responses. You

know, I was also wondering why NIH doesn't tell parents how important it

is to know without a doubt the child is having a episode before

administering the Prednisone if it can cause such horrible things to

happen as you mentioned with the endocarditis ... that is something a

parent can't possibly be aware of when administering it.

My husband and I talk about what my son is going through all the time

(whenever we don't have our kids listening in on us that is) and in our

hearts we know he doesn't have ... but what he has, we don't know.

And at this point in time, I don't think NIH knows either. Our son's

gastroenterologist doesn't believe he has and thankfully he is now

going to keep in constant contact with Mason's Doctor at NIH to try and

get a handle of things.

Anyways, thanks again for the responses. I'm glad I have all of you to

ask questions of and learn from.

Heidi

Mommy of Mason