- frustrated

[Guest guest]

Hi

I'm so glad to hear you had a wonderful Christmas. It's very hard not

to overdo it when you have children in the house...it's such a great

time of the year.

I'm very sorry to hear the kids have been so sick... don't you just wish

you could put a bag over the sick one's head so as to not spread the

germs to anyone else...??? I know that sounds terrible and I know you

wouldn't do it but sometimes it can be overwhelming for you...huh?

You've done really well coming down from the Pred. Good for you...

It's always nice to have your labs done before your appt. so the Rheumy

has them in front of him at your visit. Makes it so much easier and

then you can ask for a copy right then.

Now is the time to get on something else while you're still at 20mgs and

coming down. It would give the immuno-suppressant at least a month to

get into your system before the next drop.

I hear you about the doctors and how little they actually know. It can

be so frustrating. It's good to know you'll be seeing the Cleveland

doctor again. Somehow it just seems there's a connection between all of

you....

I also have hand tremors and I can't blame it on the Pred nor any drug.

I had the hand tremors before I was diagnosed. It's always my right

hand and very little with my left. It happens especially when I'm

really tired OR have done some outside work using my hands and arms

alot. It is frustrating I know.... try putting on your makeup and your

hand is jerking all over the place. Gives a new meaning to a big

smile!!!!! Over the years it's gotten better but it will never go

completely away...

I still have blurry vision off and on. Again, I'm on 5mgs of Pred and

thought the blurred vision would go away... NOT! Now we blame it on the

tired eye muscles. Same with the intestinal tract. This disease can

play havoc on your intestinal tract off and on. Remember it's muscle

working there....You never know when you need to be close to the

throne.... this will also get better with time.

Cushings disease is an over production of cortisol by the adrenal

glands... right now your own adrenal glands have stopped functioning

because you're taking 20mgs of Pred. All the symptoms of Cushings are

the same for the Pred side effects. Makes sense since you're taking an

over load of Pred...... Here's a link that will explain it further:

<a href= " http://www.mednets.com/cushings.htm " >click here</a>

I would have to say that almost all of us at one time or another have

had these symptoms. These symptoms should lessen as you decrease your

Pred level.

It becomes most important when you get to the 10mg mark. This is when

your own adrenal gland starts to wake up and working again....

I do hope you start to feel better very soon. I also hope you and the

rest of the group have a better New Year with new hope for us on the

horizon.

Gentle hugs

Vicki