Hi there... I have just found this site and I'm very grateful to ...

Im not a doctor or any thing but I am also on prednisone. A friend of mine is on prednisone and I asked her how she was able to have so much energy. She told me to start taking vitamin b-12. So I started taking vitamins b-12 and A. I suddenly have a burst of energy. Ive been taking them about 2 months now. They have since decreased my dosage of prednisone. I still have to get a good nights sleep or it catches up with me. So smile and pray, dont down yourself. Its depressing at times but you will make it through. I have 4 kids and was being tested for alot of things that came back negative. It took 6 years for me to find out what was wrong with me. I was 26 when they finally said " You have Lupus" I cried, not because of the illness but because I waited so long to know what I had. So I think their is a light at the end of the tunnel for you. Don't stress over that man because it probably makes your condition worsten. I hope you make it through this. I will pray for you.

Hi, you should look into the symptoms for three conditions and see what you can find out. One is something fairly unknown, called Adrenal Fatigue. There is one book out there about it and when I read it I learned a lot. The dietary and other changes recommended were very helpful for me. The other condition you should explore is something called Cushing's syndrome. Your side effects sound a lot like that so don't rule that out, even though you think it's just side effects, it could be something else going on or a combination of things associated with how and why the prednisone affects you the way it does. Finally, look into chronic fatique syndrome. It's a fairly well accepted condition now and there are ways of dealing with it. But you have to take control of your own condition and be your own champion. Stress is a killer so try to counteract it. Laugh as much as you can, do things you enjoy no matter what, nourish your soul, eat healthy good foods and take plenty of good vitamins. Try to find and eliminate anything toxic in your surroundings, because you might have overloaded your system. Use nontoxic cleaners, etc. and don't use air fresheners and stuff in the house. Get some fresh air. Good luck and blessings.

My thoughts on Prednisone are that it is USELESS!!! It is a popular medicine used to reduce inflammation, but other than that it is good for NOTHING!!! It can cause ANY infection to flourish which means ANY minor infection can blossom into acute widespread SEPSIS. There has got to be something better. By all means---REFUSE PREDNISONE!!!!!

Oh you poor dear, I totally know what you are going through. As tough as Prednisone is on one's physical body, the emotional effects are often even worse to deal with. I was very down and out physically and emotionally as well, and as I sit here and type this I am so drained that I can barely keep my eyes open, and my once pretty face is so swollen that I can hardly bear to look at myself in the mirror either. I was so grumpy and moody that my boyfriend, as hard as he was trying to be supportive, was getting sick of putting up with me, so I made the conscious decision to make sure that try to keep my spirits up and keep it together because I don't want to push him away. And I do this by remind myself that this is all just TEMPORARY side effects, and it will go away when the meds stop, and that negative energy will stop your healing so TRY TRY TRY to keep positive. And know that you are not alone. Hang in there sweetie. Jenny

I am 28 years old and until now had a clean bill of health until Back in July 07, I got a severe sunburn. I began after a few days to get what looked like small blisters on my face, arms, chest and back that resembled a rash. I thought I had sun poisioning, went to the dr. and they thought the same thing. I was put on a 7 day supply of prednisone 10mgs. within a day or two I was almost completly rash free. But the worst was to come. within 3 days of being off the prednisone the strange rash came back 3 times as bad, this time it was also on my scalp and in my ears. My body began to hurt extremly bad and somedays I couldnt even go to work because my jounts and muscles hurt so bad it hurt to touch my own body to get out of bed. The muscles in my whole body began to expierence muscle atrophy, and the joints of my whole body became so painful I could barely stand the pain. I had days when I couldnt even support my body weight on my legs nor walk for that matter, my hands and fingers would also atrophy making it impossible to work. Then the swelling kicked into my joints and I had to know what was wrong with my body because this is not normal.
I spoke with family and was shocked to find out that my grandfather had 2 diseases called polymyositis and dermatomyositis. My mother has lupus and fibermyalja also.
I imediately called the dr and was told to come in right away because the news changed everything about my condition.
Tests were ran and within a few days I was shocked by what I heard.
My test results showed extreme abnormalities in the blood pointing towards not only lupus but the myositis also. I was then put back on the prednisone in september, this time 20 mgs 2 times a day. I started gaining weight really bad from the fluid retention. Within a week my dosage was raised again to 40 mgs because my immune system was still attacking my body and the prednisone was the only thing supressing it enough to keep a flare away. Within a week of being on 40mgs I had put on 10 lbs of fluid and im still putting on weight...they dont tell you everything about this medication! It can cause serious side effect from mild to severe...
insomnia
glaucoma
extremem hunger
diabeties
fluid retention
weight gain
kidney damage
osteoperosis
depression
severe mood swings
vitamin deficiency
low potassium
low protein
there's so many more!
I wish to God that I didnt have to be on this medication but I do, it's the only thing keeping my body functioning right now, but the weight I have gained is horrifying my face is so swollen and my abdomen is 3 times as big as it was 2 weeks ago and my legs are so full of fluid I struggle to walk, My husband is wonderful about the whole ordeal, he still says im beautiful no matter what and he knows the meds are the root to the weight gain. He and my family have been my backbone and thats so important right now.
But if you have to be on this medication PLEASE do your research, ask the dr about the side effects and use the internet to your advantage to do more research, this medication is not good stuff, but right now I have no choice.
I feel bad for anyone who has to use this medication long term like I do, because it's terrible what it does to your body, inside and out.If you are on this medication, watch your salt intake, it will add weight, the body will retain the salt bad. Use immitation salt. Watch your sugar intake also since prednisone causes diabeties in some. Eat things high in potassium, because of the constant trips to the ladies room, you lose alot of potassium, and eat alot of protien.also vitamins like vitamin D to keep your bones strong, and vitamin B-12 will give you energy and help you through the day.

I am not sure if you have a definitive diagnosis, but you may want to see a dermatologist who has experience with a very rare skin blistering disease called pemphigus vulgaris. Many dermatologists have never seen this so you may need to be referred to a derm who has experience with this. Pemphigus needs to be bioposied for a definitive diagnosis. You can go to www.pemphigus.org for further information. Take care and I hope you are doing much better since you've posted.

BEWARE!!! As of October 1,2007, my sister and I who both suffer from Lupus found out that she has osteonecrosis of the right hip. It is moving into the left hip also. This means that the ball of her hip is DEAD. NECROSIS means 'death of bone'. Within 6 days she has lost her job, can't walk without the use of crunches,if she can walk at all, and she's preparing for surgery to have a rod inserted into her femur ( r/leg). Left leg will have to shaved to try & prevent this from happening in the l/leg. She was diagnosed with lupus 2 years ago and put on PREDNISONE. She's been on it the entire time.Guess what? This disease comes from prolonged use of PREDNISONE.....I never saw this on the side effect list for this drug have any of you? Please be careful. She's only 34 yrs.old...and she won't be able to work for a long time if at all..If you're experiencing any hip / groin pain have it checked out get an MRI of your hip it doesn't show up on a regular xray.