PredniSONE and stay calm

Hello everyone!

Just let me start by saying thank you to everyone who is writing in about the side effects of Prednisone.

I was put in the hospital for an ear infection which rapidly turned into a swollen inflamed ear which was 4 times it's normal size. I was placed on an IV of antibiotics and Darvoset for the pain. The swelling in my ear diminished and after5 days i was released from the hospital. I went home and noticed my head was slightly off as i was having some vertigo and nausea. I notified my doctor during my follow up from my release and she gave me some mecclazine and a asked that i stay on the antibiotics (Doxycylcine & Levaquin). The most confusing part to me was that the doctor never had anything to culture as far as what caused te original ear infection. She nevere visited me while in the hospital bed as i felt she should and since she never had a complete picture as to what caused the infection i felt she may have been just inadvertantly prescribing the biotics as a precaution.

Now the fun starts for me. Every evening during my stay and after my release my ear would feel flush and semi hot and i would wake up in the morning drenched in sweat as though my body was fighting something. I have a feeeling (but cant prove it) that i was given a steroid through IV while in the hospital. After explaining to the specialist assigned to my case that i was having this type of trouble, she immediately prescribed Prednisone on a 12 day decreased dosage plan.

Since taking it i have had increased swelling in my neck, face and at the back of my neck like others have mentioned. I am also irritable and moody (depressed). I am a very happy person normally and i am struggling to stay calm and cool but finding it difficult to keep things in check at times. I also am having trouble speaking on the phone. This makes it hard for me to perform customer service on the telephone.
There is a swollen part of my neck( almost like a lump near my gland which has gradually gotten more pronounced since the hospital stay). I am not sure if this is a possible side effect from the Prednisone either.

Anyway - the ENT specialist has decided i have Relapsing Perichondritis (Polychondritis) which may or may not be true. How does one go from an ear ache to this?

Can anyone shed some light on what they think may be happening?

Sorry for rambling.. i do this when i am nervous... another side effect. :(

Tom -44 yr old male.

To trailblazen,

Your low blood pressure seems to be a definite side-effect of Prednisone withdrawal. When I came off of Pred, I not only felt super weak but I also experienced body tingling, especially in my legs and arms.....bad, bad!
I hope to God you are not quitting cold turkey, don't ever do that! Your doctor should be lowering your doses slowly by 5 mgs a week or so. In your case, stopping the intake of this Steroid all the sudden could be quite dangerous because you have been on it for a looooong period of time. If your doctor reduced you dose little by little you should not worry about your withdraw effects. Stay calm and keep an optimistic attitude. It took me 2 months before I started feeling normal again! Hope this helped you ;)
Gypsi