Re: Prednisone

[Guest guest]

- Prednisone is a powerful medication for sure but I would hesitate to

call it bad. I know it saved Pete's life when he had his firat attack of RP.

It has awful side effects and is difficult to get off when you have been on

it for awhile but at the same time it is a lifesaver-- I believe as do alot

of folks on this list and docs that flares cause permanent damage and the one

thing that stops flares dead in their tracks is pred. To be on pred or not is

an individual decision that people and their docs have to make but as with

anything else make sure you have all the info before you decide one way or

the other. We have gotten so much info from this group and believe me we

weigh heavily on what is said as it is a wonderful group of people with so

much info LOVE YOU ALL Janet

[Guest guest]

Yeast syndrome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://members.aol.com/DocDarren/med/candida.html

COPIED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE YEAST DIET

1. Do not eat any sweets or desserts of any type, and this includes

products made with honey or molasses as well as any form of sugar or

products listed on labels that end in " ose, " such as fructose, glucose,

maltose, lactose, etc.

2. Do not eat wheat, oats, rye, barley, or corn. Starchy foods such as

rice, potatoes, buckwheat, beans and corn, should also be excluded from

the diet while treatment is being undertaken. Two rice cakes each day

are allowed, however. A bowl of oatmeal is allowed each day, if desired.

3. Milk (even raw) encourages Candida fungus growth. Try to avoid milk,

and milk products, except butter and plain unsweetened yogurt and

especially avoid any yogurt that has fruit or sugar in it. Patients on

this program are allowed one glass of either sweet milk or buttermilk

each day.

4. Yeast is used in food preparation and flavoring in all commercial

breads, rolls, coffee cakes, pastries, cakes and this, of course,

includes hot dog and hamburger buns, cookies, crackers, biscuits and

pastries of any kind. You must be very careful with any flour products

or even meats fried in cracker crumbs as well as all cereals. All beer,

wine and all alcoholic beverages contain yeast and therefore must be

avoided. You should also avoid commercial soups, potato and corn chips

and dry-roasted nuts. Vinegar and vinegar containing foods such as

pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, relishes, green olives and salad

dressings all contain yeast and should not be used. Don't forget that

soy sauce, cider and natural root beer also contain yeast. Also, all

malted products contain yeast, as well as catsup, mayonnaise, pickles,

condiments, and most salad dressings. The citrus fruit juices either

frozen or canned, usually contain yeast and only home-squeezed fruit

juices are yeast free. All dried fruits such as prunes, raisins and

dates contain yeast, as well as all antibiotics.

5. Yeast is the basis for most vitamin and mineral preparations. Nearly

all vitamin and mineral preparations purchased at a drug store or from a

large pharmaceutical manufacturer is loaded with yeast and should not be

taken. If the patient has any doubts about other supplements I ask them

to please check with me or my Clinic before taking them. Some vitamins

purchased in health food stores that claim to be yeast free are not

really yeast free and one must be careful or they can really aggravate

your fungus overgrowth.

6. Molds build up on foods while drying, smoking, curing and fermenting.

you should therefore avoid pickled, smoked or dried meats, fish and

poultry, including sausages, salami, hot dogs, pickled tongue, corn

beef, pastrami, smoked sardine or other fish that have been dried or

smoked. You should not eat any pork of any type as pork is usually

loaded with molds and yeast. Dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins,

dates, figs, citrus peels, candied cherries, currents, peaches, apples

and apricots should be avoided. All cheeses (including cottage cheese),

sour cream, and other milk products, such as mentioned above, should be

avoided. Chocolate, honey, maple syrup and nuts accumulate mold and

should be avoided.

7. Melons (especially cantelope and watermelon) and the skins of fleshy

vegetables or fruits accumulate mold during growth.

8. Avoid canned or frozen citrus, grape and tomato juice. Avoid all

canned or frozen foods which contain citric acid.

9. Mushrooms, truffles and many herbal products such as black tea, are

loaded with yeast and should be avoided if at all possible. Don't forget

that teas including herb teas and spices are dried foods and accumulate

molds, so you should avoid these.

10. Eating fruit will boost blood sugar levels and will encourage yeast

growth. But one fruit is allowed each day under this program, with the

exception of melons and grapes. Bananas are probably the third highest

sugar containing fruit and should be limited in amounts. Be sure you

read through this list of forbidden foods numerous times in order that

you can familiarize yourself with what you can and cannot have to eat.

Once you're familiar with these foods, it will enable you to select

acceptable foods while dining in a restaurant or while visiting friends

or neighbors at meal time. You should definitely learn those foods that

you must stay away from if you want to get the best results in your

treatment.

I'm sure you may be thinking " what else is there left to eat. " We'll

describe those, but meanwhile it is absolutely necessary that you

carefully look at all labels on the canned and packaged foods and

consult the above list constantly, or you will continue to suffer

needlessly the consequences of the fungus overgrowth in your body. You

can eat out in a restaurant but order very carefully. Skip the

cocktails. Have virgin olive oil and lemon juice on your salads. In

fact, I routinely prescribe one tablespoon of virgin olive oil each day

for patients being treated for Candida fungus overgrowth, because it not

only has some good fatty acids in it, but the olive oil kills Candida.

When dining out, order fish, chicken, turkey or lean red meats (other

than pork) or other animal proteins that are prepared without sauces

which might contain sugar, mushrooms or wheat as a thickener, and other

harmful ingredients. Broiled or plain items are obviously the safest

choice. Steamed vegetables are perfect but you must skip bread, crackers

and desserts of any kind.

Remember, you must totally and absolutely AVOID:

1. All sweets and desserts and sugar foods in any shape, form or

fashion.

2. All breads and flour products (including whole wheat) of any kind.

No crackers.

3. All cheeses while on this program.

4. Any kind of alcohol beverages which are strictly forbidden since they

contain sugar and yeast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

..                                .

..

CANDIDA DIET ALLOWABLES - what you can eat on this diet. . . . . . . . .

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                                                                     

Vegetables....fresh is best. Wash good.

If you have to use frozen ok. Canned is not recommended. For munchies

pick a veggie.

Drink LOTS of water to help you feel less hungry, and it also helps

flush out the toxins from your system faster. Remember you make feel

worse for a few days. Do not stop the diet !! This is caused by the

dying yeast toxins being released.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Artichokes, Asparagus, Bamboo Shoots

Beet Greens, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage, Caraway, Carrots

Catnip, Cauliflower, Chickory

Collards, Dandelion, Dulse

Egg Plant, Endive, Fennel

Green Beans(Fresh), Green Peas(Fresh), Kelp Mustard, Greens, Okra,

Peppers

Rhubarb, Squash, String Beans

Swiss Chard, Turnip Greens, Water Cress

To wash vegetables, use one tablespoon of bleach or clorox in one gallon

of cool water.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salad Vegetables

Alfalfa Sprouts, Bamboo Shoots, Broccoli Cabbage, Caraway, Catnip

Cauliflower, Celery, Chard

Chives, Cress, Dandelion

Dulse. Endive, Fennel

Kale, Kelp, Leeks

Lettuce, Mung Bean Sprouts, Parsley

Peppers, Rhubarb, Spinach

Squash, Swiss Chard, Water Cress

Fresh tomatoes and onions are also allowed, along with summer squash and

zucchini -- all types of squash.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meats and Proteins (All Lean Cuts)

No canned or processed meats !!

Beef, Chicken, Clams

Crab, Eggs

Lobster, Salmon, Shrimp

Tuna, Turkey, Veal

Also all game birds and animals such as squirrel, rabbit, quail, duck,

goose and venison are allowed.

~~~~~~~~             ~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~

Nuts and Seeds

In limited amounts (one ounce) -- Walnuts, Sunflower seeds and Pumpkin

Seeds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oils

Use only cold pressed or expeller pressed or non-hydrogenated oils.

Also, you should take one tablespoon of virgin olive oil each day on

your salads or vegetables. You can add lemon juice (fresh lemon not

bottled) to this if you so desire. The best salad dressing is virgin

olive oil in lemon juice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Other Items

...............................................

You may have two rice cakes daily.

Eat real butter and totally avoid all margarine. You may have plain

unsweetened yogurt but no yogurt with fruit or sugar in it. You may have

one cup of oatmeal (the old fashioned kind) per day. One small to medium

fruit per day is permitted, but no melons or grapes. You may have any

unsweetened, " decaffeinated drink " . Any coffee you drink should be

decaffeinated and your tea should be weak. If you must drink diet drinks

they should be caffeine free and sugar free and you may have no more

than two each day, maximum. You may have either two packages of

Nutri-Sweet or Equal or Aspartame as sweetners, but no more each day,

whether they are in packages or in your diet drinks. You may, however,

have Sweet and Low or Saccharine in any amounts you desire . [stephan

Cooter, Ph.D. says that " It might be of interest to know that Aspartame

or Nutra-Sweet, when metabolized, is half transformed into aldehydes

responsible for the diet drink `hangover´: H.J. , Sweet´ner

Dearest, Sunshine Sentinel Press, ISBN 0-9633360-1-5. Citizens for

Health Newsletter, for instance, reported that the FDA had over 5,500

complaints against Aspartame in 1992, uncomfortably and closely related

to worsening of Multiple Sclerosis and arthritic symptoms, tied to

aldehyde toxicity " : Ed.22] You may use salt, pepper, garlic or onions if

you desire. For those patients who tend to lose weight easily, and

especially those who should not lose any weight, I recommend that these

patients eat three or four large tablespoons of homemade mayonnaise each

day. You must not use store bought mayonnaise as it contains

hydrogenated oils. The mayonnaise recipe listed below contains 120

calories per tablespoon which will help prevent any excess weight loss

by eating this each day.

Of course, if you are overweight you should avoid this mayonaise. The

recipe for mayonnaise is as follows: Take two fresh eggs, preferably at

room temperature (take out of the refrigerator for a couple of hours

before using) and add two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice

(no bottled lemon juice) and add one teaspoon of salt (preferably sea

salt [see Grain & Salt Society, Inc., PO Box DD, Magalia, CA 95954;

Ed]). Mix this in your blender and add slowly one and one-fourth cup of

cold pressed or expeller pressed or non-hydrogenated safflower oil. This

is an excellently tasting mayonnaise and when refrigerated will last two

to three weeks.

" Don't forget that the diet in this treatment is ABSOLUTELY vital and

failure to comply with this diet will result in failure of treatment of

your fungus overgrowth condition "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.

Medicines Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Prosch uses a variety of

substances to kill Candida albicans overgrowth, among which are:

Micocydinr, Paramicrocidinr, Par-Qingr, Borage Oil, SAM EPAr,

Lactobacillus acidophilus, and various forms of Capryllic Acids and

Olive Oil.

Most organic fatty acids are fungicidal. S.M. Peck and H. Rosenfeld

demonstrated that Undecylenic Acid is about six times more effective as

an antifungal agent than caprylic acid26. Candida Purge (Bill)

G. Neely, D.C.15 of City, TN successfully uses a Candida Purge

that contains a mixture of items to be used in a certain way, which will

kill overgrowth while also helping to scrape fungal Candida from the

intestinal tract. The mixture contains Caprol (Caprylic

+ Oleic Acids), Psyllium, Bentonite and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The

Caprylic Acid is fungicidal for Candida albicans. It is harmless to

friendly intestinal flora, and effective against the invasive mycelial

form as well as the yeast form, because it is absorbed by the intestinal

mucosal cells. Caprylic Acid is metabolized by the liver and does not

get into the general circulation. It must exert its fungicidal effect in

the intestinal tract or not at all. According to studies, just ten

minutes after oral intake of straight caprylic acid, more than 90% can

be traced in the portal vein on its way to the liver. Consequently,

Caprol should be taken with Psyllium Powder which will form a gel in the

intestinal tract and release the caprylic acid trapped within over a

period of time.

Oleic Acid (major component of Virgin Olive Oil: 56-83%) hinders

conversion of Candida albicans yeast to the more harmful mycelial fungal

form.

Psyllium gradually scrapes away Candida albicans' breeding ground (fecal

encrustations) from the colon wall, absorbs toxins within the colon and

carries them out, reduces toxic overload ( " die-off reaction " ) from

poisons released by dying Candida during treatment start-up and forms

the gel which binds Caprol into a timed-release formulation. This

powdered product gives slippery adhesive bulk to help loosen and dig out

old, congested, solidified fecal matter that often coats the colon

walls, thereby providing a breeding ground for Candida albicans, and

other undesirable microorganisms. Because psyllium is not absorbed

itself, toxic wastes are carried out in the feces. Lactobacillus

acidophilus arrests intestinal Candida albicans overgrowth, and is also

effective against many pathogenic bacteria, thereby strengthening the

immune system by lessening its workload. Bentonite directly adsorbs

Candida albicans and flushes them out, adsorbs toxins within the colon

and flushes them out, and reduces toxic overload ( " die-off reaction " )

from poisons released by dying Candida during treatment start-up.

According to Frederic Damrau, M.D.16 " Bentonite is a native, colloidal,

hydrated aluminum silicate. . . . It has been established in vitro and

in vivo that hydrated aluminum silicate adsorbs toxins, bacteria and

viruses. This property helps explain its therapeutic usefulness in acute

diarrhea of diverse etiology. By virtue of its physical action bentonite

serves as an adsorbent aid in detoxification of the intestinal canal. "

Because bentonite is not itself absorbed, whatever it adsorbs is removed

in the feces. This includes miscellaneous intestinal poisons, toxins

generated by Candida (especially during treatment start-up), and the

Candida itself!

Patients with severe Candidiasis (up to 50% of the cases) may experience

certain uncomfortable effects within the first week after initiation of

the Candida Purge program at the intensive level of therapy, such

symptoms as flu symptoms (stuffiness, headache, general aches, diarrhea)

skin rashes, and vaginal irritation/discharge may result from the

release of toxins from a rapidly dying Candida albicans population. The

exact symptom picture will depend upon the individual case and is often

dramatic -- anything from " lead feet " to mental aberrations. The exact

symptoms are neither important nor do they lend themselves to

explanation, and they'll all disappear in a few days, as also happens

when the Herxheimer effect is incurred in the successful treatment of

other diseases..

Nu Biologicsr has available a kit which contains all the described

ingredients with instructions on how to put the described substances

together for use. Nurse S. Colet Lahoz, M.S., R.N. of East West Clinic,

White Bear Lake, Minnesota uses a similar substance, Acu-trolr, #2

Willow Rd., North Oaks, MN 55110, % O'Kane. Garlic, Aloe Vera,

Pau D'Arco Tea

In the foregoing, Gus J. Prosch, Jr., M.D. mentioned that there are

other substances that can be used also, such as garlic, aloe vera, Pau

d'Arco tea and other items.

Garlic20 is certainly an important supplement that will speed your

recovery by killing off Candida albicans by preventing formation of

lipids in the membrane of Candida, thus obstructing the intake of

oxygen.

The use of an odor-modified garlic extract (Kyolicr) seems to shift

lipids into the bloodstream, causing initially higher serum lipid

levels, but the lipids are then broken down and finally excreted from

the body, according to H.S. Lau, M.D., Ph.D.20. The use of this

odor-modified garlic is dose dependent, and over six months of daily

usage, the good lipids, HDL, increase and the bad guys, LDL/VDL,

decrease.

Garlic has long been known as a natural antibiotic, without damage to

the " good guys " microflora, but now Dr. Lau and many other scientists

and physicians have shown that Candida albicans drastically reduces in

the blood stream throughout six months of continuous usage. More than

that, however, is evidence that shows increased protection from

radioactivity damage, environmental pollution, cancer protection, damage

from stress, and it is generally an immune booster, a nutritional

supplement, anti-oxidant, detoxifier, anti-clotting agent and

anti-microbial.

The studies by Dr. Lau were performed chiefly with cold-aged garlic

preparations from Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Osaka, Japan, but can

also be purchased in the United States.. Aloe Vera has a number of

attributes, among which is its antifungal effect against many pathogenic

dermatomycoses. Pau D'Arco, too, of course has many attributes besides

its antifungal qualities.

[Guest guest]

Lenore,

My immunologist told me to stay on the yeast-free diet for two weeks whle on

my normal medications. He said if I saw improvement, stay on the diet for

another two weeks without my meds. The diet that was posted last week said

that for the first week or so, one may feel pretty rotten.

I am starting the diet tomorrow (after a night out tonight that includes a

wonderful dinner and a few drinks). I will let you guys know if I feel

rotten and if I notice any changes in the hives.

Connie

[Guest guest]

To pred or not to pred, that is the question.....

From my experience:

Prednisone and its relatives are heavy duty drugs with side-effects that one

must seriously take into consideration. I won't recap these side effects,

since it's been well covered. On the positive side, prednisone has been the

ONLY drug that has controlled my shocking, so I have to say this benefit

greatly outweighs the negative. I have taken dosages as high as 100 mg a

day, which was gradually tapered down and then maintained at about half that

(don't remember the exact dosage - it was somewhere between 40-60 mg a day)

for several months. Before I started the high pred dosage, I was making

MULTIPLE trips to the emergency room every day due to shocking symptoms -

especially throat closing. Multiple shots of epinephrine are not good

either, so my doctors and I decided it would be better to go with pred. At

least it gave my body a chance to " normalize " itself.

That's my two cents.....

Jackie

________________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

To pred or not to pred, that is the question.....

From my experience:

Prednisone and its relatives are heavy duty drugs with side-effects that one

must seriously take into consideration. I won't recap these side effects,

since it's been well covered. On the positive side, prednisone has been the

ONLY drug that has controlled my shocking, so I have to say this benefit

greatly outweighs the negative. I have taken dosages as high as 100 mg a

day, which was gradually tapered down and then maintained at about half that

(don't remember the exact dosage - it was somewhere between 40-60 mg a day)

for several months. Before I started the high pred dosage, I was making

MULTIPLE trips to the emergency room every day due to shocking symptoms -

especially throat closing. Multiple shots of epinephrine are not good

either, so my doctors and I decided it would be better to go with pred. At

least it gave my body a chance to " normalize " itself.

That's my two cents.....

Jackie

________________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

I know I have mentioned this other times, and I am by no means promoting

Prednisone, but I want to share how I feel about this medication.

I have been on it for almost 4 yrs. In the beginning I was prescribed

30 mg a day. I took this dosage daily for a yr, then my Immuno Dr.

switched me to 60 mg every other day. When the hives and angioedema

would get really severe and so painful he had me take 60 mg for 3 days

straight and then go back to every other day. I too blamed the painful

joints on the Pred, However, shortly after starting the yeast diet, I no

longer had the joint pains or bad hives. So this showed me it is not the

Pred causing my pain. Also, while on the diet I have been able to lower

my dosage to 20 mg every other day .....that is until recently when I

went off the diet, and a week later got mega hives and angioedema pain.

Then I had to go back to taking it daily again. I am better now and am

back to every other day. I want off this med. but for me it is the only

med that has offered any relief. Do I worry about the side effects?

Darn right I do....but that is something I'll deal with down the road.

There were plenty of times that if I hadn't had this med to help me, I

wouldn't have wanted to live anyway because the pain was just too

unbearable, and I even tried strong prescription pain killers and they

didn't touch it one bit. The mood swings and sleeplessness I've learned

to deal with, with a new mental attitude. The weight gain was awful,

but I know it wasn't so much the Pred that caused it as was the fact

that due to severe pain, I went from being highly active to zero active.

Since feeling better I have lost 42 of the 50 pounds I gained, yet I

still take Pred so ......? I don't recommend anyone take this

medication, yet it sure beats being in pain, swollen up and not able to

move or have a life. I take plenty of supplements including Calcium

w/vitamin D.

My doctors have said that there are some people who have really bad

arthritis or other autoimmune disease that have to stay on Pred the rest

of their lives. I know 'one shoe doesn't fit all', but that's my story.

ALSO......Tami and Kristi are coming to vist me tomorrow and I am so

excited !!! I am making Zucchini Cake which none of us should

eat....but we probably will !!!!! Sorry for the long post.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

I know I have mentioned this other times, and I am by no means promoting

Prednisone, but I want to share how I feel about this medication.

I have been on it for almost 4 yrs. In the beginning I was prescribed

30 mg a day. I took this dosage daily for a yr, then my Immuno Dr.

switched me to 60 mg every other day. When the hives and angioedema

would get really severe and so painful he had me take 60 mg for 3 days

straight and then go back to every other day. I too blamed the painful

joints on the Pred, However, shortly after starting the yeast diet, I no

longer had the joint pains or bad hives. So this showed me it is not the

Pred causing my pain. Also, while on the diet I have been able to lower

my dosage to 20 mg every other day .....that is until recently when I

went off the diet, and a week later got mega hives and angioedema pain.

Then I had to go back to taking it daily again. I am better now and am

back to every other day. I want off this med. but for me it is the only

med that has offered any relief. Do I worry about the side effects?

Darn right I do....but that is something I'll deal with down the road.

There were plenty of times that if I hadn't had this med to help me, I

wouldn't have wanted to live anyway because the pain was just too

unbearable, and I even tried strong prescription pain killers and they

didn't touch it one bit. The mood swings and sleeplessness I've learned

to deal with, with a new mental attitude. The weight gain was awful,

but I know it wasn't so much the Pred that caused it as was the fact

that due to severe pain, I went from being highly active to zero active.

Since feeling better I have lost 42 of the 50 pounds I gained, yet I

still take Pred so ......? I don't recommend anyone take this

medication, yet it sure beats being in pain, swollen up and not able to

move or have a life. I take plenty of supplements including Calcium

w/vitamin D.

My doctors have said that there are some people who have really bad

arthritis or other autoimmune disease that have to stay on Pred the rest

of their lives. I know 'one shoe doesn't fit all', but that's my story.

ALSO......Tami and Kristi are coming to vist me tomorrow and I am so

excited !!! I am making Zucchini Cake which none of us should

eat....but we probably will !!!!! Sorry for the long post.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

Jackie, I agree with you regarding Prednisone, no one in his or her right

mind would take it unless it was really needed. But when you do need it, (in

my opinion when the side effects of the med are less damaging than continuing

without it) I believe I should take advantage of it. Many people on the

board would not be able to lead even a semblance of a normal life without it.

For me this is gradually becoming a quality of life issue. What one can and

cannot live with is an intensely personal issue. When I travel, I am never

without Prednisone, and I take it at the first sign of trouble. When I am

home I almost never resort to it as I have other ways of making myself

comfortable at home. But that is only a solution for me. I do not work but

have many demands on my time. I can see why other people would decide to use

Pred. in order to work and take a rest from it on vacation. I view Pred as

just one of the tools we have to work with and I for one am more relaxed

knowing if I get in a bind it's there.

Greta

[Guest guest]

Jackie, I agree with you regarding Prednisone, no one in his or her right

mind would take it unless it was really needed. But when you do need it, (in

my opinion when the side effects of the med are less damaging than continuing

without it) I believe I should take advantage of it. Many people on the

board would not be able to lead even a semblance of a normal life without it.

For me this is gradually becoming a quality of life issue. What one can and

cannot live with is an intensely personal issue. When I travel, I am never

without Prednisone, and I take it at the first sign of trouble. When I am

home I almost never resort to it as I have other ways of making myself

comfortable at home. But that is only a solution for me. I do not work but

have many demands on my time. I can see why other people would decide to use

Pred. in order to work and take a rest from it on vacation. I view Pred as

just one of the tools we have to work with and I for one am more relaxed

knowing if I get in a bind it's there.

Greta

[Guest guest]

I'm not taking it right now, but I have been several times. The longest was

for around 2 years, with a very difficult hiving bout. Your experience

sounds pretty normal to me, but I'm no expert! Usually I can't go off

until the hives have run their course - this current bout has been an

exception, thankfully. - Jackie

>From: nes1251@...

>Reply-To: urticariaegroups

>To: urticariaegroups

>Subject: prednisone

>Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 01:58:53 EDT

>

>Hello everyone; am I the only one taking prednisone? I have been on it for

>1

>1/2 years now. The first six months I was on 20 ml and now I am on 10 ml.

>Everytime I try to get by without using it; I regret it. If I miss two days

>I

>will suffer about 3-4 days afterwards. Please let me know if this sounds

>right?????

>

>Thank You,

>

>Jo Ann

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[Guest guest]

Jo Ann-

I just stopped taking the pred. 2 days ago. I seem to be having some form of

a remission. (never had one before). For 3months I could not get by without

it and experienced the same as you if I tried to lessen the dose or go

without. I have MANY side effects from it and hope they soon disappear but

don't set my hopes too high just in case. It is a miserable yet necessary

drug for those of us who cannot find a sufficient alternative. Many here

have searched and searched until they've found something that helps and this

may be why it seems to you that you're the only one taking it. 99% of us

have taken it at one time or another and may need to in the future.

Please don't take offense to this but it seems as if you have become

'dependant' upon the prednisone. I know I did. BUT after reading repeated

postings of alternatives, I decided to take the leap into another 'realm' of

meds. Basically-decided to change my way of thinking. It was a very scary

change and took alot of determination, patience, prayer,TOLERANCE and

humbleness but I believe I have succeeded as I have had no swelling for 5

days now. That may not sound very sugnificant to be making any claims but

after 5 years without 1 day of no swelling.........feels like an eternity to

me. My main purpose in telling you this is to try and uplift your spirits

and give you a reason to 'keep on, keepin' on' with trying to find what's

best and what ELSE will work for you. Until then-We are here for you and hope

the best comes out of your stay here.

Just in case you are curious...........I am now taking Atarax 25mg 2X daily,

Tagamet 400mg 2X daily and Quercetin Plus w/bromalain and C

2-2X daily. Please continue your search for a better way.

Much love-

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann

This is what works for me. When I am not able to reduce my intake of pred

by 5mg I reduce by 2.5mg and then alternate for a few days. Then I have a

few days where I just take the reduced amount. Each time I reduce I let my

body 'tell me' when its the right time.

However, I have got to the point where a reduction by 2.5mg is just too

much - at that stage I reduce by 1mg and then alternate as above.

This can be slow - it has taken me until today to get to NO pred - when I

was on 17mg/day in May (30mg in April). But I'm there. And I feel that this

is a great achievement.

Just another idea to ponder.

Be well,

Jeanette

prednisone

>

> Hello everyone; am I the only one taking prednisone? I have been on it for

1

> 1/2 years now. The first six months I was on 20 ml and now I am on 10 ml.

> Everytime I try to get by without using it; I regret it. If I miss two

days I

> will suffer about 3-4 days afterwards. Please let me know if this sounds

> right?????

>

> Thank You,

>

> Jo Ann

>

> This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria

(hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide

cyber-family.

>

> We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle

with Chronic Urticria.

>

> Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with

a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to

read such postings.

>

[Guest guest]

Joyce - This is such an individualized disease, it makes it difficult to

say why you are still hiving on the pred. 40 mg is a fairly high dose. Are

you on a sustained or tapering dose?

Personally, when I was at my worst I had to take 100 mg of pred, along with

Seldane, Atarax, Ephedrine Sulphate, Tagamet, and a bunch of other stuff -

40 pills a day - to keep it under control. If I dropped anything, and I mean

anything, the hives would come back in full force and I'd go into shock.

Once I was hive free for a full month with this med cocktail, the doctors

let me try going off the ephedrine (it made me extremely shaky and I

couldn't sleep), which I did successfuly. About 2 weeks later, we started

lowering the pred dose, dropping by 5 mg per week. I was eventually able to

to drop the pred completely, with only mild hiving (I was on it for 2 years

that time). Now, I would hardly recommend this kind of dosing of pred unless

absolutely necessary. This was a bit of an extraordinary case, as I was

constantly going into anaphylatic shock, several times a day. Shocking and

repeated shots of epinephrine are extremely hard on the body, so we felt the

risk of taking long term pred at high doses outweighed the risks of NOT

taking it.

In your case, your hiving may be extremely resistant, like mine were. OR,

the pred could actually be making things worse. A lot of people on this list

have had problems taking the pred. Some people are allergic to it, so

obviously that isn't going to help. Some have also reported an initial

worsening of symptoms when first coming off the pred, but which resolves

itself.

Hope this helps.

Air hugs comin' at you,

Jackie

_________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

http://profiles.msn.com.

[Guest guest]

Jackie..how do you feel when you are going into shock?

Re: prednisone

>

>Joyce - This is such an individualized disease, it makes it difficult to

>say why you are still hiving on the pred. 40 mg is a fairly high dose. Are

>you on a sustained or tapering dose?

>

>Personally, when I was at my worst I had to take 100 mg of pred, along with

>Seldane, Atarax, Ephedrine Sulphate, Tagamet, and a bunch of other stuff -

>40 pills a day - to keep it under control. If I dropped anything, and I

mean

>anything, the hives would come back in full force and I'd go into shock.

>Once I was hive free for a full month with this med cocktail, the doctors

>let me try going off the ephedrine (it made me extremely shaky and I

>couldn't sleep), which I did successfuly. About 2 weeks later, we started

>lowering the pred dose, dropping by 5 mg per week. I was eventually able to

>to drop the pred completely, with only mild hiving (I was on it for 2 years

>that time). Now, I would hardly recommend this kind of dosing of pred

unless

>absolutely necessary. This was a bit of an extraordinary case, as I was

>constantly going into anaphylatic shock, several times a day. Shocking and

>repeated shots of epinephrine are extremely hard on the body, so we felt

the

>risk of taking long term pred at high doses outweighed the risks of NOT

>taking it.

>

>In your case, your hiving may be extremely resistant, like mine were. OR,

>the pred could actually be making things worse. A lot of people on this

list

>have had problems taking the pred. Some people are allergic to it, so

>obviously that isn't going to help. Some have also reported an initial

>worsening of symptoms when first coming off the pred, but which resolves

>itself.

>

>Hope this helps.

>Air hugs comin' at you,

>Jackie

>

>

>_________________________________________________________________________

>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

>

>Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

>http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

>This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria

(hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide

cyber-family.

>

>We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle

with Chronic Urticria.

>

>Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with a

prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to

read such postings.

>

[Guest guest]

Jackie..how do you feel when you are going into shock?

Re: prednisone

>

>Joyce - This is such an individualized disease, it makes it difficult to

>say why you are still hiving on the pred. 40 mg is a fairly high dose. Are

>you on a sustained or tapering dose?

>

>Personally, when I was at my worst I had to take 100 mg of pred, along with

>Seldane, Atarax, Ephedrine Sulphate, Tagamet, and a bunch of other stuff -

>40 pills a day - to keep it under control. If I dropped anything, and I

mean

>anything, the hives would come back in full force and I'd go into shock.

>Once I was hive free for a full month with this med cocktail, the doctors

>let me try going off the ephedrine (it made me extremely shaky and I

>couldn't sleep), which I did successfuly. About 2 weeks later, we started

>lowering the pred dose, dropping by 5 mg per week. I was eventually able to

>to drop the pred completely, with only mild hiving (I was on it for 2 years

>that time). Now, I would hardly recommend this kind of dosing of pred

unless

>absolutely necessary. This was a bit of an extraordinary case, as I was

>constantly going into anaphylatic shock, several times a day. Shocking and

>repeated shots of epinephrine are extremely hard on the body, so we felt

the

>risk of taking long term pred at high doses outweighed the risks of NOT

>taking it.

>

>In your case, your hiving may be extremely resistant, like mine were. OR,

>the pred could actually be making things worse. A lot of people on this

list

>have had problems taking the pred. Some people are allergic to it, so

>obviously that isn't going to help. Some have also reported an initial

>worsening of symptoms when first coming off the pred, but which resolves

>itself.

>

>Hope this helps.

>Air hugs comin' at you,

>Jackie

>

>

>_________________________________________________________________________

>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

>

>Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

>http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

>This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria

(hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide

cyber-family.

>

>We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle

with Chronic Urticria.

>

>Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with a

prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to

read such postings.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jackie,

I have a question about taking prednisone and still breaking out with

hives. I started five days ago on 40 mg prednisone and all my other

meds(zyrtec/zantac and doxipen. The first day I was hive free but gradually

my hives are back and I look like I have ring worm all over my thighs and

arms(but its hives). I did not know one could continue to break out with

hives while on prednisone??? What have you heard abought this as people

have shared info on this site?

I thank you for your help. Joyce

prednisone

> >Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 01:58:53 EDT

> >

> >Hello everyone; am I the only one taking prednisone? I have been on it

for

> >1

> >1/2 years now. The first six months I was on 20 ml and now I am on 10

ml.

> >Everytime I try to get by without using it; I regret it. If I miss two

days

> >I

> >will suffer about 3-4 days afterwards. Please let me know if this sounds

> >right?????

> >

> >Thank You,

> >

> >Jo Ann

>

> _________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

> This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria

(hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide

cyber-family.

>

> We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle

with Chronic Urticria.

>

> Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with

a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to

read such postings.

>

[Guest guest]

40mg of pred sometimes isn't enough for me, and I get like you describe. I

have needed 60-80 mg tapers before....

Judy in Va

[Guest guest]

Joyce,

I too continued to have hives while on Prednisone. It turns out that I was

allergic to the other medications that I was taking at the same time (some

antihistamine and

something else...don't remember). Could you be allergic to your other meds or

have you taken them for a while with no problems. It took me about a year to

realize that I

was allergic to all antihistamines, NSAIDs, and a few other meds. Most of what

the doctor was prescribing actually made the hives much worse! Just a thought/

Connie

[Guest guest]

Connie,

I have been wondering about Zyrtec and hiving worse from this.

I noticed that the hives became larger and hotter after starting it. I have

just started the doxipen and can't say for certain if this is effecting any

thing. I could be allergic to any of the meds I am on and will have to try

to find the answer. Once a dr told me that prednisone was used to help

patients take drugs that they may initially react to. I also appreciate your

response. I will consider it seriously!THANK YOU

Joyce

Re: prednisone

>

> Joyce,

> I too continued to have hives while on Prednisone. It turns out that I

was allergic to the other medications that I was taking at the same time

(some antihistamine and

> something else...don't remember). Could you be allergic to your other

meds or have you taken them for a while with no problems. It took me about

a year to realize that I

> was allergic to all antihistamines, NSAIDs, and a few other meds. Most of

what the doctor was prescribing actually made the hives much worse! Just a

thought/

> Connie

>

>

>

>

> This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria

(hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide

cyber-family.

>

> We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle

with Chronic Urticria.

>

> Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with

a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to

read such postings.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Judy,

I was surprised at the amount of prednisone that may be necessary . I am

also curious about the tapers. If you started hiving did you go back to the

original dose or did you stay on the high dose for more than five days? Even

my high dose was not enough. I was hive free only one of the five

ays.( Second day). I wonder if I need more or is prednisone part of the

problem? Thank you!

Joyce

Re: prednisone

>

> 40mg of pred sometimes isn't enough for me, and I get like you describe.

I

> have needed 60-80 mg tapers before....

> Judy in Va

>

> This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria

(hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide

cyber-family.

>

> We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle

with Chronic Urticria.

>

> Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with

a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to

read such postings.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jo Ann,

I have been taking prednisolone for 8 months now. I started on 30mg every day, but was desperate to come off them but couldn't cope without them. Gradually I was able to wean off them very slowly. I dropped the dose down to 20 mg avery day but was still hiving a little bit. I don'tknow how I have done it, but I only take 5mg every other day and even some days I can take as little as 2.5 mg. Prednisolone comes in 5mg, 2.5mg an 1mg. I advise you to get all of these strengths and try different combinations very day instead of just stopping them altogether. I have found it very helpful and am sp pleased i am down to just 2.5mg. Best of luck Jo ann. Dawn - Birmingham UK.xxx

prednisone

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Hello everyone; am I the only one taking prednisone? I have been on it for 1

1/2 years now. The first six months I was on 20 ml and now I am on 10 ml.

Everytime I try to get by without using it; I regret it. If I miss two days I

will suffer about 3-4 days afterwards. Please let me know if this sounds

right?????

Thank You,

Jo Ann

This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria (hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide cyber-family.

We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle with Chronic Urticria.

Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to read such postings.

[Guest guest]

Thanks a lot Dawn,

I wonder why my doctor hasn't mentioned that to me? I have been breaking this

tiny little pill and it is a pain in the butt! I had no idea that came in

anything but 5 ml and up.

Thanks Again,

Joann:)

[Guest guest]

bobbie, you may not respond well to it...i was on 30mg for a week, it actually depleted energy from me, so they took me off of it....

[Guest guest]

Hi Bobbie,

I hate to burst your bubble and I really DO hope the prednisone

is good for you,

but it was awful for me.............are you having any bad side effects from

it? I had all

kinds of problems..........not good for me at all.

Hugs,

Darlene

Prednisone

> So I have been on 40 mg of Prednisone for a week. Is this as good as it

gets?

> I can function but.....How long until I am dancing in the streets? Bobbie

>

[Guest guest]

I have never danced in the streets with Prednisone.

I have gotten fat, developed diabetes, more tired than usual.

Gee was Prednisone suppose to make you dance? I must have missed that one.

Sorry got sarcastic.

Sharon

Prednisone

So I have been on 40 mg of Prednisone for a week. Is this as good as it gets? I can function but.....How long until I am dancing in the streets? Bobbie~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~The Neurosarcoidosis CommunityLive Group Chat:-Mondays & Fridays 10pm EST USAhttp://www.elderwyn.com/neurosarcoidosis/chat.phpMessage Archives and Digest Attachment Pictures:-http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/messagesMembers Database:-Listings of locations, phone numbers, and instant messengers.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/database Bookmarks:-Add a website URL you have found useful.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/linksPersonal Complaints or problems:-Please email the moderatorsmailto:Neurosarcoidosis-owner Subscription Details:-1) Individual email - means that every email sent to the list you receive.2) Daily Digest - sends you 25 messages in one single email for you to browse. This is an excellent option if you receive alot of email.3) Web only/No mail - means that you can pop into eGroups at your convenience and receive no email.To modify your subscription settings please visit:- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/joinTo subscribe email neurosarcoidosis-subscribe To unsubscribe email neurosarcoidosis-unsubscribe The moderators will not be doing it for you!~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~Come stand by my side where I am going,Take my hand if I should stumble and fall,It's the strength and love that you share,That gives me what I need most of all.- Hoyt Axton~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~