I have been taking prednisone on and off since '04, totally unawa...

I have been taking prednisone on and off since '04, totally unaware of the problems associated with it. In '07 I got double pneumonia and almost died, and that resulted in nearly 3 months of the 6 I was sick, of on and off prednisone use. I have never recovered from it, the inflammation that kept me from breathing and nearly killed me, comes right back within 2 weeks now, and back on the prednisone I go for another 2-3 weeks. I have been sick now for almost 14 months like this. What saved my life from pneumonia, now appears to be taking it slowly. My doctor said I have to come off of it, or it will kill me. As it is, without it, I'm like someone with emphysema and I've never smoked a day in my life. At present, I have refused to do the re-dose, and my abdomen is so swollen it hurts and is so tight you could bounce a quarter off of it. My ankles, which never swelled before, now swell constantly and I now have to take a water pill now to wear shoes. I'm 52 years old and had never been on ANY long term MEDS AT ALL, until they put me on prednisone. Now I take half a dozen. If there is any way, any of you can NOT take it, don't do it, not even for a short time unless it's the only thing that will save your life. It is like inviting a cobra into your home and then sitting there watching and waiting for it to make it's final strike. I think it has damaged me beyond repair. I go to a lung specialist the end of month.