Sed rate symptoms and conditions

This is not my experience but my mothers; She's been taking this poison for 8 years. Her doctor finally(though her bagering) has her at 5 mgs. a day but it's already too late, her spine has had disc fractures to the point where she is completely hunched over, when she first started the drug she had normal bone density. Now her doc wants her sed rate to be 19 before he even considers taking her off the drug, which is ridiculous since I read that most women over 50 average s hard. My brother and I help with some shopping and things but both of us have other obligations(he works full-time; I have husband and two kids) so my dad has alot on his plate.

Prednisone destroys the body, eventually, and sometimes it makes the original condition look like a cakewalk.

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!

I have been taking 25 mg. of Toprol for about a year. I am 48 years old. For the past several months, I have been fatigue, having chest pains, swelling in my feet and severe muscle weakness and joint pain. My head throbs on just one side very often and I feel light-headed. I have had complete blood work( including a sed rate) an EKG and stress test, all coming back NORMAL. From everything I have read lately, I believe that my problems may be from the Toprol.

I had a stroke 4 yrs. ago and in the tests given it was found that I have Vasculitis. Dr. insists that a low daily dose of 4 mgs. per day will be fine. Have gained 45 lbs. Cheeks are puffy. Itching. Have tried using 2mgs. but sed rate is not good. Have accumulated fluid around the heart. Naturally this causes shortness of breath. Have any of you had similar problems?? Does anyone know an alternative drug??? Would appreaciate hearing from you.

My Mother was dianosed with remporal ateritis is 2001, and
she was put on 60mg of prednisone a day...her confusion
was the biggest side effect, I think. She was upset and confused, so the doctor tried lowering the amount and she got
instantly sharper but her sed rate shot up, so back up went
the prednisone and the confusion came back. We finally
decided as a family that her quility of life was about zero while
on Prednisone, so we decreased it to 20 mg and she passed
away on May 19th, 2001.

If anyone else has run into the confusion issue, PLEASE
e-mail me at ****** - we are working on
a court case to prove that she made some sound financial
decisions WHILE THE DOAGE WAS LOWERED.

God Bless you all

I have been on prednisone for nine years.
I was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. I was started on 80mg. I am presently taking 5mg. I have been down to 2.5mg. every other day, but my sed rate goes dangerously high. Then I go back to a high dose and very slowly taper again. I have had a compression fracture of the spine, cataracts, thin bruising skin, excessive sweating day and night, sleeplessness, mood swings, moon face, and I have gained 80 lbs.(mostly abdominal), My feet and shins ache, you name the side effect I have it. How can I get off this drug?

I was at the end of my rope when I looked for Levquin side effects tonight. I have been on Levaquin 500 q.d. for a UTI that I've had for months. I had a cystoscopy nearly a month ago and my urologist put me on Levaquin 500 for 30 more days. I did not have any of the common side effects listed but started having horrible joint pains right after starting on it but thought it was something else - I also have cardiomyopathy and insulin dependent diabetes and thyroid, etc. etc. Finally saw my internist yesterday who did rheumatoid panel and sed rate and called today saying my sed rate was high but rheumatoid panel was fine and offered nothing further. Thank goodness for this web site! I'm not taking another Levaquin EVER! Thanks. Jody