Hi All - I have been off prednisone for one week and I am not doi...

Unfortunately, it could take up to a year for all of y our symptoms to subside. I have been off Prednisone since April, and I'm no where near back to normal yet. I am catching everything that goes around, and right now I have a cold. My weight gain is terrible, and I am feeling depressed also. I also worked through out the entire treatment, and it sucks! No one knows how hard it is unless you are on it. I'm so sorry, but patience is the key! Andrea

I'm tapering. I was on 40 mgs a day for RA in February and I am down to 4 mgs. My stomach is so bloated and fat I hate myself. I have been seriously watching my caloric intake and walking 30 mins. 3 x per week for 2 months and I CANNOT LOSE A POUND! I'm too depressed to get on a scale but my clothes tell me I may have even gained a couple. I couldn't taper last week because I found myself too achy. I have been very blue during this whole taper. I don't feel like myself-I am not a fat person!

thanks for your responses. I guess I thought that I'd miracurously go back to normal once the drug was out of my system but I don't even know what normal is anymore. I feel like this drug has changed me forever and I have lost touch with who I used to be. Now I am having what might be a flare up and I will most likely have to go back on prednisone. That is too drepressing for words. My appetite has gone back to normal, thank god!!

hi i was just browsing thru here and stumbled on ur page. just giving you some insight, from what it sounds i have been in ur shoes. dnt know how much prednisone u were put on ans for how long,weight,age,or how bad ur moon face is.. but i was diagnosed with lupus sle 10yrs ago. i got so swollen it was sad. no one knew who i was. anyway it took a good 3 years for the swelling to go all the way down. no doc was ever up front about it. but all depends how u are now and dosage.

Just wanted to let you know, I too have finally been off pred for 1 week after being on it for 1.5 years. Started at 60mg. off and on a couple of times. Each time the withdrawal was tough. Painful joints, slow taper or not. I gained so much weight and I am a tiny person naturally. No movement so far and I have been working hard now that my appetite is back to normal. I have a closet full of clothes that won't fit for a long time; I hope eventually they will. This is an expensive ordeal to have to replace a wardrobe!

I am having a relapse from the tapering and refuse to go back on pred. I did research and am going to try macrolides (antibiotics). My body needs a break and so does my mind.

As far as doctors not discussing side effects; this is so true. I believe if they did no one would agree to go on it. Very unfortunate this is the only option for some ailments.

To all fellow sufferers, my empathy and comraderie! At least reading this board and seeing what we feel is not in our heads is somewhat comforting.

Good luck and successful tapering to all!

If you are still feeling sick, make sure to get back on it and then wean very slowly. Prednisone comes in as small as 1 mg dosage and these can be further split. The whole thing with the feeling of well being is your adrenal glands. They pretty much drive the bus. If you don't wean properly, you don't give your adrenals the chance to "wake up" slowly and on their own.

I speak from experience.