Sarcoid symptoms and conditions

A year ago I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and began taking 50mg Prednisone per day. The worst side effects in the beginning were weight gain, moon face, facial hair, hump-back neck, bruising (for example, just by my knees being together while I sleep,) excruciating joint pain and water retention to the point I felt my skin would split open. And poor vision which could have led to glaucoma, but an eye specialist put me on eye drops to reduce the pressure to normal levels. I've felt horrified and embarrassed by the change in my appearance but relieved that my sarcoid was being treated.
I feel confident in my case that Prednisone was the necessary treatment. My pulmonologist, opthamologist and regular doctor all agreed on a course of treatment. But I really advise people to get a second or third opinion before they take it. A friend of mine was prescribed a weeks course of Prednisone for a severe sinus infection. Luckily she didn't have any side effects but I really question if it was necessary. I'd also like to stress that if you're on Prednisone and experience worsening vision, please see an opthamologist who is a glaucoma specialist because it can lead to blindness if not treated.
And lastly, sorry this became a novel! I have been tapering off and I'm down to 20mg. But recently I've noticed my hair is thinning so much. I lose a ton when I brush it and it clogs the drain when I shower. Also my skin is shedding. When I shower and use a loofah sponge like I've always done and I lose layers of skin like a snake. I would really like to know if my hair will start to grow back when I'm finally off the Prednisone or am I going to lose it completely??

Steroids have been a night mare in my life for almost 3 years.
I started taking prednisone to combat Sarcoid 3 year ago. I was so messed up I thought I was going to die. My blood sugar went nuts. Both upper and lower Blood pressure went crazy. I started shaking and droping things and just in general feeling awful. I was on a decreasing amt. starting with 80 mg in Oct. to going completly off of it in Dec. In Jan of the next year I went to a new pulmonilogist. She said I had asthma and recommended I take Advair. After three months I started experiencing psychoses. This went on for 18 months. Starting with episodes evry few weeks to episodes every few days. The last 3 months I had several prednosine doses for sever asthma attacks. That is when I started having the most frequent episodes.

It has been almost a year since my Dr. and I figured out what was wrong with me, after going through many blood test, an MRI on my brain, an EEG, many dollars, much heart ache and much missed work. The eposiodes have started to slowly taper off in frequency and intensity.

Ther have been several occasions I need the drug, a skin rash, another severe asthma attack and inflamation in a wrist injury. I used an ointment on the skin rash, advair for the asthma and an injection for the wrist injury. All left me with psychoses.

I become extremely emotional (my face screws up and I cry), I hallucinate (my head feels goofy), My moter skills are impared and I shake. I am out of comission for 5-6 or more hrs.

If you can avoid this poison (my opinion) do so at all cost.

God Bless.

I WAS GIVEN KENALOG 240 MG FOR 6 WEEKS, FOR THE TREATMENT OF SARCOIDOSIS - I WAS EXPERIENCING CONGESTION IN MY NASAL AND THROAT AREAS - I HAVE CHRONIC SINUSITIS AGITATED BY THE SARCOID - WHILE IT IS WORKING DAY BY DAY AND I NOTICED A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN MY SINUSES, I AM BREATHING BETTER AT NIGHT AND MY THROAT IS ON THE MEND, I AM SLEEPY ABOUT MIDDAY AND GET SLIGHT NAGGING HEADACHES. JUDGING ON WHAT I HAVE READ HERE, I AM IN PRAYER NOW...

40 mg/dayx10
30mg/dayx10
20mg/dayx10
10mg/dayx10

40 mg/day to shrink lymph nodes/sarcoid.
Couldnt take it, I was a nervous wreck, trembling hands, couldnt sleep, major depression, meloncoly(rare for me)
I dropped to 30 mg after 3 days.
noticeably less affects at 30 mg/day.

I have not gained any weight, in fact I have almost no intrest in eating.

To the person just diagnosed with Sarcoidosis. I myself have been living with it for 20 + years. I was diagnosed when I was 4 and it has affected my eyes, skin, kidneys, joints, and tendons. I would like to make a recommendation, as I have to agree the Prednisone is a HORRIBLE drug. I was on it for many many years and know what you're going through. However, they tried a new drug on me called METHOTREXATE. i recommend asking your physician about it. It's not without its side effects as well, but believe me compared to the prednisone, the *1* side effect i get is nothing. this drug has done wonders for my sarcoid and yeah, recommend it over prednisone any day. If you want more info on the sarcoidosis or the methotrexate, feel free to email me at ******--just put sarcoidosis in the subject line so i know its not junk. Hope this helps somewhat.