I don't know | Arthritis Information

Hi All,

I'm at day #286 on oral prednisone. I've been holding steady at 4mg/day for quite a few months now and when I try to reduce, I'd get nasty flares. Yep...just one silly milli can send me into a painful flare. However, I digress....as usual.

Heres the deal: 8 days ago, I came down with a horrid sore throat, followed by low grade fever, leg chills, the sinus junk and then on down it went, into my small bronchi which produces a lovely, melodic whistle at mid to end phase expiration. PCP stated no specific DX. I asked and she said she wasn't sure where the wheeze was coming from. Huh? I've had some bouts of acute, viral bronchitis and it feels pretty much like that, so I didn't press her about the DX. However, this is the first time I've been sick since BEFORE I was Dx'd with inflammatory RA+ILD back in Dec. of 06, and I'm rather concerned about how this illness is going to play out with the pred in the game. She Rx'd me 875mg Amox. bid and told me to try a NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit and come back on the 30th. I'm complying but not crazy about anti-b's with no bacterial DX. Am taking a pro-b to support good gutt flora. Don't need any white fur anywhere. Also, I thought when one was on long term, low dose pred, SOP was to increase the dosage during an illness, before surgery, etc. but she said nothing about doing that which is okay with me, just contrary to everything I've read.

During the first few days of my illness, my RA flared real bad, but I've got Ibuprophen on board, so the swelling and pain are down some. Still have the MTX sitting in the cupboard and still scared to try it. I keep thinking what if I had decided to start it the day before I got real sick. Then what?

If you see nothing but rambling here, you are reading correctly. Sorry. I'm just sick and tired...literally.

Don't know much about the other stuff, but I use a neti pot regularly (NeilMed, Sinucleanse, etc). It's made a huge difference for me. I used to get sinus infections requiring antibiotics quite frequently (like 6 or more times a year). Since starting the neti pot, I haven't had a single sinus infection. Sometimes I think one might be starting, but nothing much ever comes of it. Hummm.... rambling is good.

I hope you can drop pass 4mg of pred. I know those flares you speak of and they are no fun. Just makes you feel like a whimp because of not being able to stand the pain and ride it out. BUT... your body is trying to tell you something... either dropping too fast or your body still needs the prednisone.

IBU works for you? For me... it just helped a little, but nothing compared to the pain meds and muscles relaxers I take when I cannot grin & bare it.

Keep us posted. And feel better real soon!

[QUOTE=joonie]

About 2 weeks ago... I was in a t-shirt & under-roos and hubby was asleep on the wedge and I needed something out of the car, and hubby would not wake up. So... I walked out to the car in my t-shirt and under-roos and got what I needed.

When I came back in I woke him up again and told him "IM ALIVE!" I was referring to horror movies... you know how if the girl goes outside in her under-roos & t-shirt she gets slashed up by Jason, Freddy, or Michael Myers LOL!

My son watched me go outside like that and told me that I should get dressed as going outside like that was bad. This coming from a kid that greets his sister in his under-roos and waves to the kids on the bus! It embarrasses daughter when I do not stop him from going outside to greet her, while he is only wearing tighty whities. LOL!

Back to the topic - even if it's not bacterial at this time, she may be using the antibiotics as a preventative measure. My husband gets put on antibiotics if he gets a case of bronchitis (even if it's just viral), because he's a cardiac patient. just hugs K!!! i know how hard it is, when you don't understand whats going on w/ your own body and the frustration.. this is a good place to vent here..

hope things get better :)

sorry you're going thru a rough patch :(