PredniSONE and stomach pain

I had my left lung fill with fluid and collapse after radiation treatment for Breast Cancer. The lung was drained with Thorocentesis and I was hospitalized for a week and put on prednisone - 40 mg reduced to zero in 1 week. I experienced symptoms of heart attack as reaction to reduction from prednisone. When it was determined by enzyme testing in hospital that heart not damaged I was sent home with prescription of prednisone starting at 60 -10 days, to 40- 5 days, to 30 - 10 days, to 20-10 days. The cumulative effect of these doses was all the side effects mentioned by others, loss of emotional and physical balance, stability, swelling, moon face, insomnia, depression, crying, stomach pain, constipation, etc. I dropped myself to 20mg for 9 days but on the 8th day had recurrence of lung pain and feared possible fluid build up through tissues damage/leak caused by radiation - they are calling it pleurisy or pleural effusion. (It was also determined that I must be on constant oxygen and sleep on oxygen as my breathing capacity is below 88 off of oxygen.) Dr. found not enough fluid to drain without risk to damaging my diaphragm so upped the prednisone again to 30 for 14 days. Using pain and shortness of breath as a measure of lung condition I must not dampen pain now but suffer it to monitor my lung so as to avoid trips for constant X-rays. I continue to suffer from prednisone and it has disabled me so that my normal life cannot be resumed in any way. I want to get off of it, but after reading these reports, I am very worried - supposedly the steroid is allowing my radiated lung to heal, but if that is not happening I think the steroids are possibly more life threatening than the lung - in any case, what life? What other choices do I have to survive the damage done to me by radiation?

This is not my experience but my mothers; She's been taking this poison for 8 years. Her doctor finally(though her bagering) has her at 5 mgs. a day but it's already too late, her spine has had disc fractures to the point where she is completely hunched over, when she first started the drug she had normal bone density. Now her doc wants her sed rate to be 19 before he even considers taking her off the drug, which is ridiculous since I read that most women over 50 average s hard. My brother and I help with some shopping and things but both of us have other obligations(he works full-time; I have husband and two kids) so my dad has alot on his plate.

Prednisone destroys the body, eventually, and sometimes it makes the original condition look like a cakewalk.

It was comforting to read the stories from patients whom have the same issues with the prednisone as myself to assure me I AM NOT CRAZY. I am 43 years old and have severe asthma. Just this past April I was hospitalized for a week with asthma and was given so much steriods via shots, pills and IV drip that I have gained 25 lbs since April 16. Have swelling of the face, facial hair, swollen legs and a bloated belly. I cannot take it any more. I do not feel attractive and am in constant pain from the carpal tunnel I have developed in my hands, wrist and arms. I wish there was some way to return back to my normal active life and my normal body.

This is about my sister who was diagnosed with dermatomyositis about 1 month ago. She has been on prednisone ever since and just a few days ago started experiencing really bad stomach pain and back pain/burning on the left side. we took her to the e.r. where they ran a number of tests and didn't find anything wrong. i have been researching all her meds and can only come up with this: prednisone has to be the culprit. God bless all of you who have to take this drug for anything. I wish you all the best. It has been hard seeing her suffer, but without it her condition would not get better.

I have been on prednisone for just over a week at 40 mg for Crohn's Disease. I have been experiencing constant body tremors, exhaustion, restlessness, the inability to focus, depression to the point of being suidical, mood swings, muscle aches and pains, extra stomach pain (not from the Crohn's), as well as the usual side effects, like enlarged appetite. I am only 16, and when I was 10 or so, I was on Prednisone at 60 mg a day for about 6 months with out these side effects. When I was younger, I only experienced the "moon-face", "buffalo-hump" (a small lump that often forms on the back of the neck), extreme weight gain (50 pounds in a month or two), and extreme stretch marks.

I was on Prednisone for about 4 weeks. 60mg/day first 2 weeks, followed by 40mg/day last 2 weeks. My dose was extremely high (only weighing 105lbs in the beginning) and i had extreme side effects! I gained 20lbs in the first week and a half, my face doubled in size, very depressed, and i got to the point i could only walk a couple of feet then the pain was just to intense! the last time i went to the doctor he didn't quite believe the extent of my side effects and - i quote "well your only on 10's just imagine if you had to take 40mg a day!" so i took my new scrip to the pharmacy and noticed that the new bottle said 20mg. i told the pharmacist that this is wrong i'm suppose to be taking 10mg twice a day.!? he then informs me i must be wrong - that i've always been on 20's (i started with 3 a day then worked down to 2 a day, now i was suppose to work down to one a day over the next 2 weeks!) i then call my dr and he tells me he made a mistake and we'll have to figure it out next week when i'm scheduled and to continue what i was taking!!! well if any of you have had the muscle pain from this drug its almost worse then having the problem you started with! (although i probably wouldn't have lived without it, it was driving me to a point that dying almost seemed better!) well i completely quit the day i found out i was taking double the dose my dr thought i was taking and it has been a month and a half since then. i still have constant muscle pain, stomach pain, and practically no immune system anymore! i don't know how long this will last....but i really hope it ends soon!!

In regards to your son....I remember I also used to get this unbearable stomach pain, it was so bad that I couldn't even walk straight, my back was usually curved to the front, sometimes it felt like a sharp pain right next to my belly. It usually seemed to happen after eating salads, soup or too much liquid....my belly was bloated but I wasn't eating much...it was terrible. Anyway, so I went to the Dr. and prescribed me this medication called "Dicyclomine." Ask your Dr. about it...it took away the awful sharp pain like magic. I also heard from a friend that Apple Cider Vinegar does wonders and I must say it worked for me...didn't need to take Dicyclomine anymore. It might be helpful and may relief you son's tummy pain.....you can get it at any natural food stores...it worked like a miracle on me so I figure might as well pass the word around ;) Good luck w/your son's recovery :) & if you try the Apple Cider Vinegar pls. let me know how it worked for you.....thanx

I have been on prednisone now for three motnhs due to hodgkins disease (cancer in the lymphnodes) also known as the mario lemieux disease... i have no idea what the dose is that i am on,.... all i know is that I take 6 1/2 pills two times a day for two weeks which means i take `13 pills eaach day... does anyone know how high or low that dosage is???? or is anyone else taking prednisone for hodgkins???
The symptoms i have are stomach pain (lke a gassy feeling) major swelling in my neck and tummy, mood swings, extreme aching pain in my hands and wrists, insomnia, sleepiness and more... could someone tell me how long it tkes til the swelling goes down.. thanks

My son is very sick, and have no diagnosis as of right now, just that his immune system is attacking his nerves, hes only 7. He is now been on 60mg of pred a day. Hes stomach is always sore he complains of cramping and I think he is constapated as well. He has gotten a little bit stronger but complains of aching in his wrists and ankles. Worries me because he is not eating because of the stomach pain. He will eat a yogurt when he takes the meds but thats about it. Does the stomach pains ever go away. I can't stand to see him in such pain, it is suppose to help but seems to have cause a hole bunch of other things including moods and anger towards me.

Colleen

i am so glad i found this site. i thought i was losing my mind,i have and am having almost all side affects listed. starting at the top and working down i will list the affects it has had on me:headaches, neck pain, eyesight blurriness, lump on back of my neck,shoulder pain, stomach pain, hip pain, muscle weakness, racing pulse, feeling of anxiety,skin tenderness,unable to process thoughts and sentences,mood swings, severe sweating,the feeling of having a hangover. these are not all of them but had i known what this drug could do to your body i would have never agreed to the injections. most days i feel like dying. i never sleep it seems. and iam so tired of the way i am having to live. cannot work, or do the things i would normally do. thanks for listening
tami