Now taking Prednsione Donations! | Arthritis Information

 

Ok... so I am going to follow thru my with original plan which was to hype myself up on high doses of prednisone so I can go back to work. I know my RD will not let me go on a high dose of pred to go back to work, since I now have -2.3 T-score, and am osteopenia. Awww..... how sad... not.

Awww Joonie I could not do that in good conscience but I am proud to say I have KICKED the prednisone. I am totally prednisone free!!!!!!!! First time in 21 months! Joonie. This is not legal. Plus, you need to be monitored by your doctor when taking pred. Your doctor would never approve of this. Ask your rheumy for a boost of pred to help you out. I hope this decision was not prompted by the discussion earlier. Joonie, please rethink this plan of action.  For you information I have bilateral cataracts, osteo and adrenal insuffiency all due  to Prednisone use.  I was on Pred. 40 mgs. daily for about 4 years, it was the only way I could survive on a day to day basis and believe me when I tell you it's not the way to get relief.  None of the RA meds helped  me during those 4 years except for short periods of time.  You really need a SERIOUS talk with your RD.  Rethink, please.  Lindy[QUOTE=lorster]Joonie. This is not legal. Plus, you need to be monitored by your doctor when taking pred. Your doctor would never approve of this. Ask your rheumy for a boost of pred to help you out. I hope this decision was not prompted by the discussion earlier. [/QUOTE] Joonie,

It is illegal to do what you are asking.  Plus, Pred is a very dangerous medication with lots of side effects. 

You might have lots of programs available to you including PT/OT to build your strength back up, transportation assistance, tuition assistance, job training, etc.  You can even do some PT on your own at home.  Your options are really endless if you put your mind to it.

PhatsHI guys, I seem to remember Joonie being quite disturbed recently on this board and a few people still gave her a hard time, she like me and many others come here for support and I feel that sometimes some people are too harsh on her.  Once again we all know that she takes what is said on here to heart, all the more reason for more support and less criticising and bashing methinks.  Same goes for anyone on this board, we should all have a grasp of each others personalities by now and Joonie takes things very seriously, with that in mind can people try to be a little less critical please.
Janie, Hi Phats, I agree that she has actually been given a lot of good information and advice in this thread, it is the other thread I am referring to, which Lorster has already mentioned in this thread also, "I hope this decision was not prompted by the discussion earlier" (Obama Town Hall meeting)., to which Teed Off responds "it was".  Janie.It is my personal and considered opinion that returning to work, Joonie, requires more than increased doses of prednisone. OT and PT have already been suggested, I will also once again encourage you to seek assistance from someone trained to help you work through your "issues".

Recently you mentioned that you were unable to walk comfortable for any distance. Allow me to suggest that you utilize your pool a couple times a day for walking exercises while you are surmounting the transportation difficulties that current make OT/PT and other therapies impossible.

As you are entitled to other forms of assistance from your state secondary to your disabled status use them, all of them: vocational training and/or retraining should certainly be available.

Begin taking small steps towards employment rather than rushing out and putting applications in for just any job. Speak with a vocational counselor and decide what you want to do with the rest of your life and develop a logical, reasonable, and flexible plan for reaching a series of incremental goals, rather than entering a marathon and collapsing at the start line.

Cheers.
Bumping & hoping for an update... Joonie, Joonie, Joonie ---

As someone who is being slowly killed by prednisone I'd have to say don't do it!   Really it is slowly wasting me away and if I don't start to come down soon I was told I won't see 40 years old.  That's some sobering news but at the same time I feel how you do.  What am I supposed to do if nothing else works for me? 

Please..talk to your RD and maybe he/she will give you a dose pack or something to help take the edge off. 

Bob

Joonie-

I am sorry your going through this. I was off work for 4 weeks, so weak and exausted, my rheumy started me on a low dose of mtx and I told her if i don't get back to work I will lose my job . I asked her to give me prednisone on a short term basis so I can get through work until my mtx kicks in. She does not like prednisone ( my other rheumy gave it out like candy) and just gave me 5 mg a day. Don't know if it's helping but my tiredness has gone away a little bit. It's so hard trying to have a normal life and working... I do hope your rheumy can figure something out to help you. Keep your spirits up, I know it's hard. I Am also on an antidepressant for anxiety, I know this is helping, is this something you think may help?From a personal and subjective point of view, I think that Joonie's plight holds a lesson for all of us: there are always options. There are always options. The secret, if there is one, is to be open to suggestions from others and be willing to look beyond the obvious. It has been my experience that when I am able to look beyond the obvious I can then begin to recognize options and opportunities.

The second lesson that can be learned herein is that support from a community comes in many forms and that sympathy is not always the best form of support. Sometimes the best support comes in the form of that proverbial swift kick. If not for a swift kick, I would probably still be languishing in my self-pity mode, afraid to venture beyond the front door and scared of the unknown. For each of you who helped administer that swift kick, I am indebted to each of you.

Best wishes to everyone who is fighting the good fight. We are warriors, one and all.

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