PredniSONE and punch

I came to this site by accident and when I started to read the postings, it brought back horrible memories. I was on prednisone several years ago prescribed for an arthritic condition. I was 21. Despite asking my consultant he said there were no side effects for me to worry about. In two weeks I had put on two stone most of it either on my face or abdomen. My hair would come out whenever I had a shower and washed it. I constantly looked like I'd had a very late night with a punch up at the end of it (black circled eyes and body covered with bruises) and I felt like my mind was in a constant fog and I was very depressed. But despite all that I felt great! The pain was gone, I could clean the house like a whirlwind. I felt like Superwoman ... except after a manic activity session, I would have exhausted myself and the pain would be even more intense. Eventually I was taken off the drug (a decison made by my doctor and my husband as they felt it was doing me more harm than good). For two years after taking the drug, I still had some of the effects mainly the one that bothered me the most, the weight gain. I tried everything to shift it and couldn't lose it. But after those two years when the drug was finally clear of my system, I did lose the weight. I would like to wish everyone who is on this drug well, I know how devastating the side effects can be and I also know how important it is to have something to lessen the pain. Rest assured that if you do come off the drug the side effects do go away, but that it often takes a long time to be back to your old self.