Professional Health Advice Please?

Question

Which is more dangerous to my body ...

Large doses of prednisone and methotrexate?
or
White blood cells attacking my muscles ( severe polymyalgia) ?

I don't see my Rheumatologist for 4 more weeks.
We've been reducing my prednisone by 1mg every 2 weeks.
The pain kicked in almost immediately, but I'm persevering, determined to get off these crippling drugs.

But now I've begun wondering if the attack of the white blood cells (very painful) is damaging my organs as well, and whether I am doing myself more harm than good by fighting on to get rid of these drugs?

Do any of you have any insights that you can share with me please? I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't, I'm so depressed and weary from the pain and from the drug side effects that I feel like there is no hope. I realise that sounds selfish and dramatic when so many people have terrible illness that is worse, but I am not coping just now.

Thanking you in advance, Lizzie

RE BEST ANSWER:

I WILL NOT CHOOSE A BEST ANSWER AS THEY ARE ALL GREAT IN THEIR OWN WAY AND I APPRECAITE THEM ALL.

THANK YOU. LIZZIE.

Answer 1

This may be long, but it is detailed.

You need to contact your rheumatologist and explain that your symptoms returned after your last titration down of the prednisone; he/she may raise you back up to the level where your pain was controlled.

Methotrexate has a worse scenario as far as toxicity, it can affect your liver, but, once you discontinue the methotrexate, the liver, in its infinate way, regenerate itself.

The most common side effects of long-term prednisone use include:
General side effects: increased appetite, fluid retention, weight gain, increased blood sugar (which can lead to diabetes), change in body shape (increase in fatty tissue on the trunk while the arms and legs get thinner), increased susceptibility to infections, acne, thinning of the skin, easy bruising
* Heart and blood vessels: increase in blood pressure, unfavorable changes in cholesterol levels
* Stomach and intestines: irritation of lining of stomach and small intestine, ulcers, bleeding
* Eyes: early cataracts and glaucoma
* Muscles and bones: thinning of the bones leading to osteoporosis, muscle inflammation (rare)
* Brain and nervous system: mood changes (some people get "revved up" and have trouble sleeping, others get depressed), psychotic behavior (fortunately, this last problem is rare at doses below 20 mg daily)

Response to stress: Taking glucocorticoids over a period of years can cause a problem called "adrenal suppression." This is when the body's own natural steroid production (made by the adrenal glands) is turned down or off, because the steroid supply is coming from an outside source. The problem is the body normally increases steroid production dramatically during times of stress (e.g. illness or prolonged physical stress) so if the adrenal glands are turned down over time, they may not be able to respond and make more natural steroid when needed. The affected person can develop low blood pressure, weakness, problems with their blood chemistries, and even become critically ill. The treatment is to temporarily give more corticosteroids until the stress has resolved. Because of this problem, it is important to inform doctors (or emergency room practitioners) whenever someone has been taking steroids for an extended period of time.

It will be up to your doctor to continue either medication.

Good luck.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Over time prednisone can do some aweful things to your body, I'm no doctor nor am I a professional as you well know but I am a chronic pain sufferer and i found a new drug called "lyrica" that has taken away the pain in my left leg and also taken the numbenss out of my inner left leg and crotch area (lookout) I always ask my pharmacists about drug interactions and he's pretty much in touch with drugs more than the actual doctors are cuz he hears the stories people tell about them, I ask a pharmacist . the depression?.....now that is something that you can solve by using your time selfishly in doing things you like, I'm serious too....sure there are people dying all around you from all sorts of disease but you're the one sufffering in your body from your disease!...how much simpler can it be, do what you have to do to get un-depressed even if it's selfish!.....I'm certainly not gonna blame you for it, I dont think God would either., just dont go max out your credit cards and then get well cuz then you'll relly have something to be depressed about.

Nathan

Answer 4

The first line treatment of polymyalgia is Prednisone at the minimum dose to maintain symptom free. If you need high doses of Prednisolone then Methotraxate can be used as a "steroid" sparing agent. I would use minimum dose of Pred rather than Methotrexate. If 10mg is causing too much pain go back to 15mg. It is better to have the symptoms controlled then to worry about the use of Prednisolone as the Rheumatologust will be monitoring your steoid use.

Answer 5

Do you know what is causing your illness - the root cause?

I know that my wife has gone through some pretty tramatic illnesses, even the doctors didn't know what to tell her. They chalked it up to fibromyalgia, gave her pain pills and told her to live with it.

That wasn't good enough so she started researching. We went to a chiropractor, who also dealt in holistic medicine. She gave us the clue that my wife's hormones were out of balance. We tracked back when "imbalance" feelings started and we tracked it down to her tubal ligation procedure.

Problem is....no western taught doctor would believe that a "tried and true" procedure was causing her problems.

She had the procedure before we were married, and now we want to have kids. We found a doctor that would do the reversal(insurance wouldn't cover it so we had to fork out the entire cost of the procedure ourselves).

It was worth it because:
a) it was a success and she is now able to have children - we are still trying
b) the fibromyalgia type symptoms are 100% gone! - turns out in my wife's research, there is an affliction called post tubal ligation syndrome. It occurs when doctors use the burning method of severing the tubes. Often times, they get a little heavy handed and damage surrounding tissue and dranatically cut blood supply to the ovaries. With the ovaries not functioning properly, the woman's body can react as if there is an auto-immune disease.


Why did I tell you sall that?

From our experience, doctors today seem lazy or scared or both to diagnosing a problem. they seemed too eager to lump you in with something they cannot prove exists and just give you pills.
If you think there is something wrong, do not be afraid to do research on your own. Doctors are just like you and me, adn with the wealth of information out there, you know almost as much as they do.
The mental side of the game is just as important as the physical. You know there will be good and bad days, hell even some worse days. Just keep fighting, for you, your family, your friends. There is an answer out there somewhere.

Find and/or strengthen your support system and USE them! I can't tell you how long it took for my wife to truly understand this. If you can't do something or need help...ask for it, lean on others. Yo ucan return the favor later when you are able.

Regarding your specific ailment, I'm sorry that I can give you no further information. I'm just not that knowledgeable about it.
I do wish you luck on your fight.

Answer 6

If your midwife has an "on-call" number (which they should) call that, otherwise, I think you need to get yourself the the emergency room or urgent care clinic ASAP. Do not let this go any longer. Best of luck to you!

Answer 7

Check this out and see if it is available in your neighborhood. Perhaps it is worth considering.

http://www.lyrica.com/content/main_home.jsp