prednisone...ugh

[marylepera]

Hi guys,

Sorry I've been off for a week or two, as you know I have sciatica and lower back problems.  My PCP told me to take Advil for the pain and then I would do PT.  Ok that was fine, except that I didn't see her for 2 months after she told me to take Advil.   So guess what happens to Mary when she take too much Advil?  Yeah she blows up with Edema!  Joey informed me that my legs felt like PUDDING IN A BALLOON!  Thank God I love him!

So I went back to the Doc. and she told me No more Advil (duh) and she put me on Prednisone.  Oh joy now I'm even bigger!!!  OMG HELP ME.  I don't know what to do.  I have to take it for 5 more days and I'm not aloud to take any pain medicine at all.  Okay I can deal with that, but I'm not sure what to do about all this extra stuff on my body.  I don't know if it is water, or fat or both.  Oh and I'm not a very a nice person either (in case you have not noticed)

I am so sad, because I was doing so well, I had even lost two more pounds.  You can't imagine how I felt when I got on that scale and it was 10 pounds more that it was two weeks ago.  I just wanted to cry!  And the Doc was just like oh well you better cut back on the sweets.  Really?  I have not had Sugar in months!  I didn't even bother telling her, because she acted as though I have always been like this, and oh well... lets see what happens with the Medropack.

So... I guess I needed to vent, and to ask if anybody had any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of this (Water)

I love you guys, and I'm sorry for being a grump.  I'm just so upset, and the worst part is that I didn't do anything to get this way.

Thanks for listening.

Mary 

[SarahC]

I'm sorry you're having a hard time, Mary. I wish I could help you, but all I can do is give you a big HUG!

[marylepera]

Thanks Sarah,

Hugs make everything better:)

[umpa]

I asked doug to address this Mary

[marylepera]

Thanks Umpa

[umpa]

He is on a conference call and will be off shortly

[Doug Varrieur]

Mary, I need to ask you why the doctor has put you on a steroid? Your sciatica is a pinched nerve issue and I can't imagine how Prednisone will help. I HATE the stuff. Do you remember how little skinny Jerry Lewis blew up like a balloon?  Prednisone was the cause. This is my suggestion to you, have your PCP refer you to a DO... Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO). These are doctors who treat the whole body and are the only licensed medical doctors that I know of that also preform skeletal manipulation like a chiropractor.

I'm not going to tell you to not take the steroid...I can't, I'm not your doctor, nor am I a doctor BUT if it was me I would not take the steroids unless they are for symptoms other than the back pain and are clearly listed in the US National Library Of Medicine- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000091/

Instead I would definitely see a DO ASAP. That doctor is going to be your answer.

[marylepera]

Thank you Doug.

You know we put so much trust in our Doctors, and they don't always know whats best for us.  To be honest with you, I don't know why she put me on the steroids.  She just said stop taking the Advil (I already had done that) and to take the steroids.  I did go to my chiropractor back in November, but once I had the sciatica she wouldn't treat me! 

I will look up a DO in my area and perhaps they will be able to help.

Thanks again.

Mary

[shawn116]

Prednisone does horrible things to me.  I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and it will make me flair big time....evil stuff 

[mouseissue]

I'm praying for your deliverance from the pain, Mary!