I have been on various doses of prednisone on and off for 9 years...

I have been on various doses of prednisone on and off for 9 years for a kidney disease. The doses have varied from 70mg to 5mg. I have just about had enough. I cannot describe how debilitating this drug is. Every side effect on here I think I have had except excessive energy. Here is a small list: Moon Face Buffalo Hump shaking like Parkinson body aches EXTREME weakness heart palpitations constantly joint pain something would go on with my knees in the morning....it felt like something was boiling. It would be my guess as to what the "Bends" must feel like....it feels like someone is stabbing you in the knees with a knife. Sleeping at least 16 hours a day I could barely make everyday at work. It was so miserable to not be able to wake up, I would push myself in 15 minute increments.... You cannot know what it is like to be bed ridden for weeks and to have no doctor understand or believe what is happening to you. You just seem fat and lazy. I am emotionally scarred by this medicine, there is not a day that goes by that I'm not terrified of having to take a large dose of this again. I just can't. There is no quality of life at all. You can't do anything. On top of that, there is no one to talk to, not even a doctor that understands what you are going through. God help anyone that has to go through this. I understand.