RE: Cimetidine or Prednisone?

[Guest guest]

Hi

My wife and I were personally against the use of prednisone, especially with a 3

year old little girl. We were told that cimetidine is a benign drug and there

is not many side effects. Live enzymes can elevate, but when stopping the use

they return to normal. There is no literature for the long -term use of a

steroid in a little child that I am aware of. In my opinion there are more

things that can go wrong using prednisone rather than cimetidine. We had our

daughter on cimetideine for 8 months and it was wonderful. Kylie used to get

fevers ever two weeks religously. She had two fevers the whole eight months on

the cimetidine. Whether it was actually the fevers, or just a bug, we don't

know, but either way we except it. Since kylie has been taken off the

cimetidine she has been doing great. Again to episodes, but really wasn't sure

if they were actual episodes. Really low grade if they were.

father to kylie 3 years old

Cimetidine or Prednisone?

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

[Guest guest]

,

We started using Cimetidine when our son was 2, he was on it just over year

then we decided to stop since he was not fevering anymore, we have not had any

fever episodes since. We stopped September 2006, he is now 4 and has not fevered

since.

It could be that he outgrew or the cimetidine really worked or maybe

both. We were given the option of Predinisone as well and opted not to use it

because of the steroid factor and we did not feel comfortable with it.

I hope this is helpful and good luck, as a parent you know you have to trust

your instincts and do what you feel is best.

Felicia

Blake 4

Alec 18 mos

Caitlin 11 yrs

, CO

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

Cheap Talk? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

,

I looked at both routes for 4 years. And, never wanted to go the predisone

route....just based on all of the research and postings from this site. However,

at the age of 7, she was fevering every 22 days and was miserable and missing a

lot of school. We recently saw our rhuematologist, again....and, decided to

give our daughter cimeditine. She has been on it 45 days and no fever. She says

her " arm joints feel better " and has not fevered. I have a friend that is a

pharmacologist. She said to me, the drug is a lot more mild than most drugs and

should not cause any changes in growth or puberity. And highly recommended for

my daughter. Our rheumotolgist told us that 80% of her patients have been

responding....and so far, my daughter has been healthier than she has been in a

year. So, we are hopeful this is the answer. Had I had, this info....3 years

ago. I would have put her on it sooner.....so, just my opinion....and I am SOOO

not a pill pusher (actually was doing an

alternative route for 3 years). I wouldn't hesitate. But, talk it over with

your doctor.

Good Luck!!

Fern, mom to (diagnosed at 3 and now 7 1/2)

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/27/2007 6:26:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

ferniespecial@... writes:

Spoke to soon........Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke up

with achyness and the look and Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke

up with achyness and the look and feels a little warm........<WBR>..it

appears we are getting ready for anotSpoke to soon........<WBR>......my

daughter

woke up with achyness and the look and

FYI, it took a couple of months for it to fully " kick in " for Sammy. She

stated taking it in late August, and had two milder/shorter episodes about 4

weeks apart (they had been coming every 2 weeks). It's now been 4 months since

her last episode.

--Lori

<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free

email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Spoke to soon..............my daughter woke up with achyness and the look and

feels a little warm..........it appears we are getting ready for another

episode. The doctor informed us that the cimetidine could take a couple of

months before it worked fully.............so, I am just keeping my fingers

crossed that this will not be a bad episode.

Fern.

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

,

I looked at both routes for 4 years. And, never wanted to go the predisone

route....just based on all of the research and postings from this site. However,

at the age of 7, she was fevering every 22 days and was miserable and missing a

lot of school. We recently saw our rhuematologist, again....and, decided to give

our daughter cimeditine. She has been on it 45 days and no fever. She says her

" arm joints feel better " and has not fevered. I have a friend that is a

pharmacologist. She said to me, the drug is a lot more mild than most drugs and

should not cause any changes in growth or puberity. And highly recommended for

my daughter. Our rheumotolgist told us that 80% of her patients have been

responding....and so far, my daughter has been healthier than she has been in a

year. So, we are hopeful this is the answer. Had I had, this info....3 years

ago. I would have put her on it sooner.....so, just my opinion....and I am SOOO

not a pill pusher (actually was doing an

alternative route for 3 years). I wouldn't hesitate. But, talk it over with your

doctor.

Good Luck!!

Fern, mom to (diagnosed at 3 and now 7 1/2)

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

Thanks. That gives me hope........feeling hopeless and sad today for my

daughter. Although, she now has Motrin in her and she acting completely normal.

But, that is usually what occurs on day one. I'll have to see how tomorrow goes.

Thanks for your insight. The doctor had told me it could take a couple of months

and they should be milder. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks, again for your support.

Fern.

LoriToomey@... wrote:

In a message dated 2/27/2007 6:26:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

ferniespecial@... writes:

Spoke to soon........Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke up

with achyness and the look and Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke

up with achyness and the look and feels a little warm........<WBR>..it

appears we are getting ready for anotSpoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter

woke up with achyness and the look and

FYI, it took a couple of months for it to fully " kick in " for Sammy. She

stated taking it in late August, and had two milder/shorter episodes about 4

weeks apart (they had been coming every 2 weeks). It's now been 4 months since

her last episode.

--Lori

<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free

email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Thanks. That gives me hope........feeling hopeless and sad today for my

daughter. Although, she now has Motrin in her and she acting completely normal.

But, that is usually what occurs on day one. I'll have to see how tomorrow goes.

Thanks for your insight. The doctor had told me it could take a couple of months

and they should be milder. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks, again for your support.

Fern.

LoriToomey@... wrote:

In a message dated 2/27/2007 6:26:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

ferniespecial@... writes:

Spoke to soon........Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke up

with achyness and the look and Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke

up with achyness and the look and feels a little warm........<WBR>..it

appears we are getting ready for anotSpoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter

woke up with achyness and the look and

FYI, it took a couple of months for it to fully " kick in " for Sammy. She

stated taking it in late August, and had two milder/shorter episodes about 4

weeks apart (they had been coming every 2 weeks). It's now been 4 months since

her last episode.

--Lori

<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free

email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Isn't it frustrating that you can dose your child with

Motrin or Advil and 20-30 minutes later he/she is

acting completely normal? As long as you are on

schedule with the Motrin, people wouldn't know that

he/she is sick.

My husband and I joke that we should buy stock in

Motrin. During one of my son's episodes, we can go

through two bottles of the stuff.

Thanks to everyone who wrote for the encouragement

about how to discuss this with my doctor. I feel that

I can go to the pediatrician " armed " with information.

Hopefully my doctor will be aware of and how to

help us. If not, at least I know where to go next.

Gillian

mother of Kai (3 1/2)

--- fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

> Thanks. That gives me hope........feeling hopeless

> and sad today for my daughter. Although, she now has

> Motrin in her and she acting completely normal. But,

> that is usually what occurs on day one. I'll have to

> see how tomorrow goes. Thanks for your insight. The

> doctor had told me it could take a couple of months

> and they should be milder. So, I am keeping my

> fingers crossed.

> Thanks, again for your support.

> Fern.

>

> LoriToomey@... wrote:

>

> In a message dated 2/27/2007 6:26:50 A.M. Pacific

> Standard Time,

> ferniespecial@... writes:

>

> Spoke to soon........Spoke to

> soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke up

> with achyness and the look and Spoke to

> soon........<WBR>......my daughter woke

> up with achyness and the look and feels a little

> warm........<WBR>..it

> appears we are getting ready for anotSpoke to

> soon........<WBR>......my daughter

> woke up with achyness and the look and

>

> FYI, it took a couple of months for it to fully

> " kick in " for Sammy. She

> stated taking it in late August, and had two

> milder/shorter episodes about 4

> weeks apart (they had been coming every 2 weeks).

> It's now been 4 months since

> her last episode.

>

> --Lori

>

<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR>

> AOL now offers free

> email to everyone. Find out more about what's free

> from AOL at

> http://www.aol.com.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Everyone is raving about the all-new

> beta.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go

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[Guest guest]

HI Fern

How is your daughter? I am hoping she has a mild episode and that in

the long run the cimetidine will work out. I think we will start our

daughter on it next month and see if this is an option.

Thank you to all who responded about my question, this is very helpful.

Best to everyone and good luck and lots of energy and strength, I know

we all need it.

>

> In a message dated 2/27/2007 6:26:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> ferniespecial@... writes:

>

> Spoke to soon........Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter

woke up

> with achyness and the look and Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my

daughter woke

> up with achyness and the look and feels a little warm........<WBR>..it

> appears we are getting ready for anotSpoke to

soon........<WBR>......my daughter

> woke up with achyness and the look and

>

> FYI, it took a couple of months for it to fully " kick in " for Sammy.

She

> stated taking it in late August, and had two milder/shorter episodes

about 4

> weeks apart (they had been coming every 2 weeks). It's now been 4

months since

> her last episode.

>

> --Lori

> <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now

offers free

> email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

> http://www.aol.com.

>

>

[Guest guest]

seems to be doing pretty much the same during this episode. Not horrible,

but not great. The doctor said she may still get one or two more. She did have a

43 day break. So, we are thankful for that. But, this whole illness just

exhausts me. It has just been so many years and so many false hopes.....So, I

am just praying this will be one of her last ones.

We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Fern.

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

HI Fern

How is your daughter? I am hoping she has a mild episode and that in

the long run the cimetidine will work out. I think we will start our

daughter on it next month and see if this is an option.

Thank you to all who responded about my question, this is very helpful.

Best to everyone and good luck and lots of energy and strength, I know

we all need it.

>

> In a message dated 2/27/2007 6:26:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> ferniespecial@... writes:

>

> Spoke to soon........Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my daughter

woke up

> with achyness and the look and Spoke to soon........<WBR>......my

daughter woke

> up with achyness and the look and feels a little warm........<WBR>..it

> appears we are getting ready for anotSpoke to

soon........<WBR>......my daughter

> woke up with achyness and the look and

>

> FYI, it took a couple of months for it to fully " kick in " for Sammy.

She

> stated taking it in late August, and had two milder/shorter episodes

about 4

> weeks apart (they had been coming every 2 weeks). It's now been 4

months since

> her last episode.

>

> --Lori

> <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now

offers free

> email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at

> http://www.aol.com.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fern,

I'm sorry to hear about . I know when started on cimetidine he

did great for the first few months then it came back bad and then again tapered

off. His episodes came but very light. We took him off in December. He is still

having episodes however, this last one was 25 days from the last. Prior to that

he was feeling bad every two weeks. This last one kept him down for 4 days

although his temp only registered 99.8. His throat hurt worse than ever but he

also had a canker sore on the back of his throat, he hasn't had them there

before and actually he hasn't been getting them. He was better by Sat. Today he

is complaining his ankle hurts. It's the one that has hurt in the past with his

fevers????? I'm seeing some change here and not sure if it's going to be good or

not. He seems a little blue to me too. Well I will check in later.

Take care,

Gretchen and 14 (?)

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

Spoke to soon..............my daughter woke up with achyness and the

look and feels a little warm..........it appears we are getting ready for

another episode. The doctor informed us that the cimetidine could take a couple

of months before it worked fully.............so, I am just keeping my fingers

crossed that this will not be a bad episode.

Fern.

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

,

I looked at both routes for 4 years. And, never wanted to go the predisone

route....just based on all of the research and postings from this site. However,

at the age of 7, she was fevering every 22 days and was miserable and missing a

lot of school. We recently saw our rhuematologist, again....and, decided to give

our daughter cimeditine. She has been on it 45 days and no fever. She says her

" arm joints feel better " and has not fevered. I have a friend that is a

pharmacologist. She said to me, the drug is a lot more mild than most drugs and

should not cause any changes in growth or puberity. And highly recommended for

my daughter. Our rheumotolgist told us that 80% of her patients have been

responding....and so far, my daughter has been healthier than she has been in a

year. So, we are hopeful this is the answer. Had I had, this info....3 years

ago. I would have put her on it sooner.....so, just my opinion....and I am SOOO

not a pill pusher (actually was doing an

alternative route for 3 years). I wouldn't hesitate. But, talk it over with your

doctor.

Good Luck!!

Fern, mom to (diagnosed at 3 and now 7 1/2)

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

How long was on cimetidine for? My rheumatologist is so optimistic

that this is really going help. I want to believe....it, will. I need something

to keep us going. Was he ever fever free for any amount of time?

Thanks for your support!!!!

Fern.

Gretchen Danson <gretchendanson@...> wrote:

Hi Fern,

I'm sorry to hear about . I know when started on cimetidine he did

great for the first few months then it came back bad and then again tapered off.

His episodes came but very light. We took him off in December. He is still

having episodes however, this last one was 25 days from the last. Prior to that

he was feeling bad every two weeks. This last one kept him down for 4 days

although his temp only registered 99.8. His throat hurt worse than ever but he

also had a canker sore on the back of his throat, he hasn't had them there

before and actually he hasn't been getting them. He was better by Sat. Today he

is complaining his ankle hurts. It's the one that has hurt in the past with his

fevers????? I'm seeing some change here and not sure if it's going to be good or

not. He seems a little blue to me too. Well I will check in later.

Take care,

Gretchen and 14 (?)

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

Spoke to soon..............my daughter woke up with achyness and the look and

feels a little warm..........it appears we are getting ready for another

episode. The doctor informed us that the cimetidine could take a couple of

months before it worked fully.............so, I am just keeping my fingers

crossed that this will not be a bad episode.

Fern.

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

,

I looked at both routes for 4 years. And, never wanted to go the predisone

route....just based on all of the research and postings from this site. However,

at the age of 7, she was fevering every 22 days and was miserable and missing a

lot of school. We recently saw our rhuematologist, again....and, decided to give

our daughter cimeditine. She has been on it 45 days and no fever. She says her

" arm joints feel better " and has not fevered. I have a friend that is a

pharmacologist. She said to me, the drug is a lot more mild than most drugs and

should not cause any changes in growth or puberity. And highly recommended for

my daughter. Our rheumotolgist told us that 80% of her patients have been

responding....and so far, my daughter has been healthier than she has been in a

year. So, we are hopeful this is the answer. Had I had, this info....3 years

ago. I would have put her on it sooner.....so, just my opinion....and I am SOOO

not a pill pusher (actually was doing an

alternative route for 3 years). I wouldn't hesitate. But, talk it over with your

doctor.

Good Luck!!

Fern, mom to (diagnosed at 3 and now 7 1/2)

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

Yes, he was fever free however, not symptom free. was on the cimetidine

for 9 months. We felt that it was a good trial. He was having insomnia so bad

that he would miss school and the episodes were shorter but he would still feel

bad enough to be down. I'm thinking I might talk to our pediatrician, who also

is a friend of mine, our boys go to school together, if we can try cholcolcine

(sp) I kinda feel that we need to try. I don't know, still thinking and of

course the tonsils too (still thinking).

Talk to you soon,

Gretchen

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

Gretchen,

How long was on cimetidine for? My rheumatologist is so optimistic that

this is really going help. I want to believe....it, will. I need something to

keep us going. Was he ever fever free for any amount of time?

Thanks for your support!!!!

Fern.

Gretchen Danson <gretchendanson@...> wrote:

Hi Fern,

I'm sorry to hear about . I know when started on cimetidine he did

great for the first few months then it came back bad and then again tapered off.

His episodes came but very light. We took him off in December. He is still

having episodes however, this last one was 25 days from the last. Prior to that

he was feeling bad every two weeks. This last one kept him down for 4 days

although his temp only registered 99.8. His throat hurt worse than ever but he

also had a canker sore on the back of his throat, he hasn't had them there

before and actually he hasn't been getting them. He was better by Sat. Today he

is complaining his ankle hurts. It's the one that has hurt in the past with his

fevers????? I'm seeing some change here and not sure if it's going to be good or

not. He seems a little blue to me too. Well I will check in later.

Take care,

Gretchen and 14 (?)

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

Spoke to soon..............my daughter woke up with achyness and the look and

feels a little warm..........it appears we are getting ready for another

episode. The doctor informed us that the cimetidine could take a couple of

months before it worked fully.............so, I am just keeping my fingers

crossed that this will not be a bad episode.

Fern.

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@...> wrote:

,

I looked at both routes for 4 years. And, never wanted to go the predisone

route....just based on all of the research and postings from this site. However,

at the age of 7, she was fevering every 22 days and was miserable and missing a

lot of school. We recently saw our rhuematologist, again....and, decided to give

our daughter cimeditine. She has been on it 45 days and no fever. She says her

" arm joints feel better " and has not fevered. I have a friend that is a

pharmacologist. She said to me, the drug is a lot more mild than most drugs and

should not cause any changes in growth or puberity. And highly recommended for

my daughter. Our rheumotolgist told us that 80% of her patients have been

responding....and so far, my daughter has been healthier than she has been in a

year. So, we are hopeful this is the answer. Had I had, this info....3 years

ago. I would have put her on it sooner.....so, just my opinion....and I am SOOO

not a pill pusher (actually was doing an

alternative route for 3 years). I wouldn't hesitate. But, talk it over with your

doctor.

Good Luck!!

Fern, mom to (diagnosed at 3 and now 7 1/2)

elnico1 <angelica@...> wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

Fern cimetidine does help. My daughter was fever free for 6 mo. And then a

fever. Now we are hoping for another six mo.

Azzie mom to Kianna 9

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of fern

rosenstein

Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 1:22 PM

Subject: Re: Cimetidine or Prednisone?

Gretchen,

How long was on cimetidine for? My rheumatologist is so optimistic

that this is really going help. I want to believe....it, will. I need

something to keep us going. Was he ever fever free for any amount of time?

Thanks for your support!!!!

Fern.

Gretchen Danson <gretchendanson@...

<mailto:gretchendanson%40> > wrote:

Hi Fern,

I'm sorry to hear about . I know when started on cimetidine he

did great for the first few months then it came back bad and then again

tapered off. His episodes came but very light. We took him off in December.

He is still having episodes however, this last one was 25 days from the

last. Prior to that he was feeling bad every two weeks. This last one kept

him down for 4 days although his temp only registered 99.8. His throat hurt

worse than ever but he also had a canker sore on the back of his throat, he

hasn't had them there before and actually he hasn't been getting them. He

was better by Sat. Today he is complaining his ankle hurts. It's the one

that has hurt in the past with his fevers????? I'm seeing some change here

and not sure if it's going to be good or not. He seems a little blue to me

too. Well I will check in later.

Take care,

Gretchen and 14 (?)

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@... <mailto:ferniespecial%40>

> wrote:

Spoke to soon..............my daughter woke up with achyness and the look

and feels a little warm..........it appears we are getting ready for another

episode. The doctor informed us that the cimetidine could take a couple of

months before it worked fully.............so, I am just keeping my fingers

crossed that this will not be a bad episode.

Fern.

fern rosenstein <ferniespecial@... <mailto:ferniespecial%40>

> wrote:

,

I looked at both routes for 4 years. And, never wanted to go the predisone

route....just based on all of the research and postings from this site.

However, at the age of 7, she was fevering every 22 days and was miserable

and missing a lot of school. We recently saw our rhuematologist,

again....and, decided to give our daughter cimeditine. She has been on it 45

days and no fever. She says her " arm joints feel better " and has not

fevered. I have a friend that is a pharmacologist. She said to me, the drug

is a lot more mild than most drugs and should not cause any changes in

growth or puberity. And highly recommended for my daughter. Our

rheumotolgist told us that 80% of her patients have been responding....and

so far, my daughter has been healthier than she has been in a year. So, we

are hopeful this is the answer. Had I had, this info....3 years ago. I would

have put her on it sooner.....so, just my opinion....and I am SOOO not a

pill pusher (actually was doing an

alternative route for 3 years). I wouldn't hesitate. But, talk it over with

your doctor.

Good Luck!!

Fern, mom to (diagnosed at 3 and now 7 1/2)

elnico1 <angelica@... <mailto:angelica%40stiegler.co.at> > wrote:

Hi all,

After two years of dealing with our daughter's fevers we are exhausted

of letting them take their turn and only using tylenol and motrin to

deal with it. We have tried prednisone a few times over the past year

and a half but tried to be conservative with it as to avoid what many

people here describe as the episodes getting closer together.

However, it seems that our daughter gets more miserable the older she

gets, more joint pain and stomach pain, and I have started to work FT

again, so now we are deciding on the next steps. We have a very nice,

very accessible pedi but she is not experienced in so we are

really making decisions together (we saw an experienced ID doc more

than a year ago, but he is just relaxed about it, the " she will grow

out of it " type...).

Anyway, my question is - what is better or worse for a little body of

a 3 year old, using prednisone once a month or putting her on

cimetidine that she needs to take every day? Do people here only start

using cimetidine when the prednisone route does not work any more? I

also often think what the consequences are of all the tylenol and

ibuprofen we pump into our children's bodies to regulate the

temperature...and the fact that the body's temperature changes up and

down for days...

Any thoughts on prednisone vs. cimetidine are appreciated. What have

you experienced as advantages or disadvantages of using one of the two?

Thanks.

, mom to Hannah, almost 3, Durham, NC

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.