Line backer symptoms and conditions

I have been on pred for 2 years off and on for Temporal Arteritis that the doctors at long last have decided that I don't have. They started me out on 60 mm and now they are taking me off at 1mm every other week. I am down to 11mm now. I have experienced all the side effects except the acne and problems with periods. I gained 40 pounds and have such bad pains in my lower back that I can't stay on my feet for long. And I'm always hungry though I try to control it. My main withdrawal symptom is extreme itching from my neck to my wrists and thighs. especially where there is any pressure on the body such as waist bands etc. I tried to get off it once but it was at a faster rate and that is when the itching started. I will gladly put up with the itching as long as I can get off this "Satans curse" of a medicine. I also have jerking in my hands and a general feeling of shakiness. I was glad to read that someone else had painful sensitive teeth I didn't know it was connected to the pred. I too wonder if I will be able to lose all this weight after I'm off the pred. I do know that the moon face goes away because it did the one time I came off the pred then had to get back on it. I also have weakness in my thighs and arms. and my arms are always getting big ugly bruises or torn skin on them to the point that I have to wear long sleeves in hot weather.feel free to email me with your story. Especially if you are off of it so I can have some idea what might happen to me

After looking at the listed side effects for Pred. i can say that my wife has expierenced all of them. She has Chrons and was on Pred. for about 9 months. Just so you all dont feel like your crazy, ill post what this "miracle drug" had done for our family. INSOMENIA, she would sleep for about 3 hours a day, man was my house clean! MOOD SWINGS, she would flip out for no reason. She even wanted a devorce! For no particular reason, she " just wanted me out of the house ". WEIGHT GAIN, she went from a size 3 to a size 13.*note* she lost weight in the first month, went down to a size 2. MOON FACE, she kept saying she looked like a jack-o-lantern. BURNING SENSATION, she would just break out in a sweat, and complain of "feeling" hot. ACNE, neck, back, and chest. FATIGUE, she just couldnt move, always felt "drained". EATING LIKE A LINE BACKER, she would polish off a full sized bag of cheese curls, and look for more. DEPRESSION, would just break down and cry, for no reason. I would ask, whats worng, and get " i dont know ...." BACK PAIN, she would wake up with major back pain. We contributed this to the added weight, pressing on her back while asleep. SNORING, agian, do to he added weight.

My question is this, my wife has been off the Pred for almost 50 days now, and she has lost little weight. It kills me that she looks in the mirror and cries now because she still has the added weight. She has lost a little in the face, and in the ankle area, but had yet to loose a majority of the weight gain. Her Dr. told her that it will take another 2 - 3 months to loose her weight and get back to "normal". If some one can varify this; the long gradual weight loss, it would make my wife feel so much better, knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks in advance,

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