Prednisone--What a Difference 0.5 mg Makes

[snooz23]

I am on my way down from 10mg and like the idea of slow and steady and the alternating days. I will have been at 10 for 2 weeks when I see Dr. Langford next Tuesday so I will ask her suggestion and have a few of my own.

[Sangye]

I'm doing okay. No sustained increase in symptoms. I'm keeping a close eye on it, though and won't hesitate to bump it back up to 4mg if it looks like the Wegs is waking up. My energy is going back up, too. Pred and my body just don't get along at all.

[pberggren1]

Elephant - I live about 170 miles from my Rheumy.

Sun affects me in the opposite way - I get depressed. I love winter.

[elephant]

Sangye- glad you are ok. Wish I lived closer to you. I take you to Whole Foods and we would have a ball!
Phil- I am from the north and love the snow, but love the ocean better. The snow is beautiful and love the sound when you step on it.

[Sangye]

The other day I was feeling a bit more unwell than usual and figured I'd have to go back onto 4mg pred daily. It was a pool day, and even though I felt lousy I was excited to get out of this basement and do something fun. It felt so good, and most of the Wegs symptoms decreased afterwards. The next day was a 3.5mg day, and I felt well enough to stay on the alternate day plan.

I learned something unpleasant while in the pool that day. I do some exercising in the 4-5 ft pool-- walking, leg and arm exercises-- and then go in the diving pool to do water running. There are buoyancy belts you can wear that keep you upright in the pool so you can actually run, simulate cross-country skiing or move your arms and legs in any direction. It's an amazing little invention. I usually wear one the whole time I'm in the diving pool, but that day I decided to try and swim a little so I took it off. I discovered that I was barely having to do anything to stay afloat while treading water. Then I realized every girl's nightmare-- I had way more fat on me than muscle and was completely buoyant. I laughed at first and then felt crushed. I used to have so much muscle I'd sink like a stone. No wonder I'm exhausted by the smallest physical exertion on land!

I'm going to try to get in the pool at least twice a week. I've gotta turn this around. Today is a pool day and I'm really looking forward to it.

[elephant]

Sangye that is great that you are gettting out and going to the pool, I agree twice a week will be good for you. Don't mean to brag but 30 years ago I was pure muscle and it was hard for me to swim and stay afloat. So I became a runner instead.
Today I went to see my ENT so I increased my prednisone to 10 mg, will see if that works. I am hoping this is not a WG flare. I am not feeling that great. I left a message with my local rheumatologist and told her I upped my prednisone ( the ENT agreed) and so did my renal doctor. Now I am frusttered!

[moyan]

Sangye, Elephant, Germaine and all of you that are in a downperiod, I wish you fast recovery and Phil who doesn\t like the sun, pull the curtains.

[elephant]

Thanks Moyan, hope your doing well and recover fast. Right now it's a wait in see for a week and hopefully don't need to call the WG specialist.

[Sangye]

Oh Elephant, I really hope it isn't a flare. The uncertainty factor really does us in with this stupid disease.

I've barely been able to make it once a week to the pool the past few months, but I'm determined to get there twice a week now. I love it so much.

[elephant]

Sangye, I hope too. I have many things running through my mind....
Sangye, it will be accomplishment for you to make it there twice a week. You will do great!