Prednisone Will Make You WEAK!!!

May 10, 2006

A few months ago I started seeing a new doctor here in Tampa,

Florida. He is a Rheumatologist and I am already seeing results of

some of his decisions regarding my care.

During my initial visit he decided to take me off Prednisone. He

said, " You have been on it a long time and it makes you very weak. "

And this is true. I have been on Prednisone for 10-11 years now and

have grown very weak.

A few weeks ago I could not open a zip-lock freezer bag, could not

cut my meat with a knife, could not open my medicine bottles and

could not hold a glass of juice with one hand. But since I have

started reducing my dosage of Prednisone my strenght in my hands have

returned! My grip is strong like it used to be. I can open jars, zip

lock bags, medicine bottles and hold things with one hand again. And

I think it is all due to dropping my dosage of Prednisone.

Mind you, reducing the level of steroids like prednisone must be done

under a doctor's care and very, very carefully to avoid any serious

side effects.

So, I am dropping 1 milligram per month. I have gone from 15

milligrams per day to 12 milligrams per day. Each month I will

reduce my dosage by an additional milligram until I am completely

off. However, my dosage of Imuran was increased to an additional 50

milligrams per day. This will help keep everything in check, so to

speak while I taper off the Prednisone.

I must say that I am very pleased with this outcome.

Part of my physical therapy is to try and walk with my walker a few

steps. Well since I have dropped my dosage I can walk twice as far

as I could before. And my confidence in walking again and getting out

of the wheelchair is BLESSED!

So, IF YOU ARE FEELING WEEK AND CAN'T DO THINGS YOU USED TO DO,

CONSIDER THE EFFECTS THE PREDNISONE IS HAVING ON YOUR STRENGTH. TALK

WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND SEE IF YOU CAN DO AS MY DOCTOR SUGGESTED.

BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS MUST BE DONE VERY, VERY SLOWLY. IF NOT THE

BODY WITH REACT HORRIBLY TO THE WITHDRAWL OF THE DRUG.

SO CHECK IT OUT MY FRIENDS. And I wish all of you well.

Ron

Love ya, truly I do.

May 10, 2006

Ron,

Excellent news, I am so happy to hear this. I know you will continue to

regain your strength, and great things are ahead for you.

I loved your post about the blessings in life. I have many, I praise God

for all my blessings. Even with this illness, I still have many, of course

one being the continued healing that is going on. I have a great niece, who

is the daughter of a niece that I took care of a lot when she was little. I

gave her, her very bath at home as a baby, and lived with my brother and

sister in law to help care for their two girls, so I am very close to her,

and her little Alyssa has been dx with Juvenile RA. And she is only 3 yo.

And already deals with pain on a daily basis. Please pray for her.

It puts my pain, much less these days, into perspective.

I'm so happy to hear to hear of your progress, keep up the good work, and

remember that you will be challenged, just turn to prayer, and your

challenger will turn and run.

In Jesus love,

Marla

Prednisone Will Make You WEAK!!!

A few months ago I started seeing a new doctor here in Tampa, Florida. He is

a Rheumatologist and I am already seeing results of some of his decisions

regarding my care.

During my initial visit he decided to take me off Prednisone. He said, " You

have been on it a long time and it makes you very weak. "

And this is true. I have been on Prednisone for 10-11 years now and have

grown very weak.

A few weeks ago I could not open a zip-lock freezer bag, could not cut my

meat with a knife, could not open my medicine bottles and could not hold a

glass of juice with one hand. But since I have started reducing my dosage

of Prednisone my strenght in my hands have returned! My grip is strong like

it used to be. I can open jars, zip lock bags, medicine bottles and hold

things with one hand again. And I think it is all due to dropping my dosage

of Prednisone.

Mind you, reducing the level of steroids like prednisone must be done under

a doctor's care and very, very carefully to avoid any serious side effects.

So, I am dropping 1 milligram per month. I have gone from 15 milligrams per

day to 12 milligrams per day. Each month I will reduce my dosage by an

additional milligram until I am completely off. However, my dosage of

Imuran was increased to an additional 50 milligrams per day. This will help

keep everything in check, so to speak while I taper off the Prednisone.

I must say that I am very pleased with this outcome.

Part of my physical therapy is to try and walk with my walker a few steps.

Well since I have dropped my dosage I can walk twice as far as I could

before. And my confidence in walking again and getting out of the wheelchair

is BLESSED!

So, IF YOU ARE FEELING WEEK AND CAN'T DO THINGS YOU USED TO DO, CONSIDER THE

EFFECTS THE PREDNISONE IS HAVING ON YOUR STRENGTH. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND

SEE IF YOU CAN DO AS MY DOCTOR SUGGESTED.

BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS MUST BE DONE VERY, VERY SLOWLY. IF NOT THE BODY

WITH REACT HORRIBLY TO THE WITHDRAWL OF THE DRUG.

SO CHECK IT OUT MY FRIENDS. And I wish all of you well.

Ron

Love ya, truly I do.

May 10, 2006