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TranceTara -> RE: Prednisolone - Jabba The Hut has nothing on me.. (1/18/2009 10:06:10 PM)
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I am glad the symptoms are subsiding for the OP. The corticosteroids are a most powerful group of drugs and many have a love hate relationship with them.
I have been on prednisone, most of my life for severe asthma. Unfortunately, growing up, my parents, doctors and I did not understand the psychiatric symptoms that could occur. Of course, we are all biochemically individual and will manifest the "other" effects of prednisone in many different ways. Psychiatrists gave me all kinds of labels and a neurologist at USC hit it on the head saying when I stopped the prednisone I'd feel human again.
As a result of my prednisone use, my body has gone through many changes as well as my personal relationships. I do not have many friends, but those I do have I treasure for they do not judge my mood swings. They are there for the manic version as well as the depressed suicidal lass who can find a laugh through it all. I even offended a Domme because I was in a manic phase when I met her on CM. I would not sleep for a couple of days, in a total manic high, wrote long letters and then I'd crash into depression. I made an amends to her, deleted my old profile and sat in shame for months. Than to rejoin CM and find such a topic as this brought tears to my eyes. Thank you!
I was on 30mg to 60mg a day for the past 6 years and finally was able to be off all prednisone for about 6 weeks. I had a minor relapse that was able to be helped with 5 mg a day for a week.
I used to suffered severe asthma and was blessed with a technique called The Buteyko Method. You can google it online. I got rid of two of my inhalers and barely use my reliever inhaler. I still use my steroid inhaler for the time being and hope to wean off that in a few months. Buteyko has given me hope I never had before.
It is a technique not very familiar in the US for if it were, the pharmaceutical industry would be broke. That doesn't mean one never needs medicine. It just means that less is needed for the cause of the problem is addressed. Just google The carbon dioxide syndrome, The Buteyko Method and Peter Kolb in Australia. He's a biomedical engineer whose son no longer has asthma symptoms. He does all the scientific research on why Buteyko works. I took a big chunk out of my life savings to fly to NYC to study with one of the foremost teachers from Australia. Am I glad I did. I have not had an asthma attack in over 6 months! I can wheeze now and then, but know how to help that out.
And it also has helped me with panic attacks and allergies, stuffy nose as well. I used to have one or two panic attacks a week. I haven't had a full blown one in over 4 months, for when I feel panic arise I have tools to avoid a full blown attack. (I used to average 2 hours of sleep a night and had to take drugs to get over 4 hours of sleep thanks to prednisone.) I still have a long way to go, but I have come so far.
Longterm prednisone use also has a big effect upon one's physiology. It affects the communication between the pituitary and adrenals. Thus, many people on long term use need to wean off slowly. It sent me into early menopause. Also, it has affected my libido greatly and my ability to partake in BDSM for I bruise easily and have joint and muscle pain from the withdrawal. As for the irregular heartbeats, they are getting normal.
For those who are interested, there is a great book I recently purchased called Safe Uses of Cortisol. It is by Dr. McJeffries. He talks about using natural cortisol instead of prednisone. It has the same effect without the side effects. I am trying to find a practitioner who will prescribe it for me. When one is under a lot of stress, the body needs cortisol. The long term use of prednisone has depleted my body's natural ability to fight off stress, thus the reason I went back on a low dose. I needed help as I pushed my body for work. And, it was interesting to note how I even had side effects at such a low dose. This too shall pass and I am grateful for the friends who let me cry when the tears just flow or let me gab when my brain won't turn off. Their unconditional love is what got me through some very suicidal times during my most intense prednisone use. And, it really taught me how prednisone had affected my sleep cycle for even this low dose has got me up most of the night.
There are also some very good natural adrenal support supplements out there. I was on one and after feeling great stopped it thinking I was healed. Well that's when I went back on the low dose of prednisone. I bought another bottle of the adrenal support, was able to stop the prednisone and need to practice my Buteyko exercises more regularly to assist me during this more stressful time.
For those wanting to learn more about side effects, here's a list I compiled:
http://www.naturalessentials.com/prednisone.htm
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/64/4/E18
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601102.html
http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/systemic-steroids.html
http://www.lithiumorotate.com/moodswings.html
http://www.itppeople.com/corticosteroids.htm
http://www.hbcprotocols.com/theazen/index.html
http://www.medications.com/se/prednisone
http://www.medications.com/se/prednisone/blood-clots
http://drugs.emedtv.com/prednisone/prednisone-warnings-and-precautions.html
http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/drugs/printable/printPrednisone.html
I thank all who shared of their experiences and hope that you are are blessed with good health, joy, peace and much love.
Namaste,
TranceTara
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