Tag Archives: prednisone

The Week the Prednisone Wrecked My Skin (Estee Lauder Enlighten Dark Spot Correcting Night Serum In-Depth Video Review)

27 Sunday Aug 2017

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May contain affiliate links.

I am attempting a more vlog-style video and this is my first one. I would like to do weekly videos showcasing my Rheumatoid Arthritis and my beauty hobby!

In this first video, I talk about Prednisone and review the skincare products I use to repair hyper pigmentation in my skin. I hope you enjoy!!

 

Products Mentioned:

Estee Lauder ‘Enlighten’ Dark Spot Correcting Night Serum

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer w/ SPF 15

Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen w/ SPF 55

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Trouble with Prednisone is…

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

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…weight gain

…wild mood swings

…bitter taste

…bitter disposition

…moon face

…uncontrollable crying

…the need to kill everyone just for existing

…dry eyes

…sore throat

…muscle aches

…bruising

…wild mood swings

…bloating

…blurry vision

…extreme chills

 

…Ever wonder why I disclose when I am on a higher dose of steroid? Here it is. It is a seriously effective drug which reduces inflammation in the body within days but it comes with massive side effects. I can blame almost every symptom I have on Prednisone and I usually do!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Blame it on the Prednisone

20 Thursday Aug 2015

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This post was inspired by an article I read on RheumatoidArthritis.net. I cannot believe I haven’t yet written about my experiences with prednisone as (no joke) the only sentence that comes out of my mouth on a daily basis is “it’s the prednisone”. The article is linked here.

 

Anxiety attacks? Blame it on the prednisone.

Depression? Blame it on the prednisone.

Paranoia? Blame it on the prednisone!

And it begins…

More often than not I curse my reliance on prednisone. It is the first medication I ever took for Rheumatoid Arthritis. During my first flare I could not get out of bed yet this little bitter-tasting pill at a hefty 15mg dose took down inflammation in three days. Who knew how long I would have been bed-ridden without it.

A little pill taken once a day that nicks inflammation at the source? Sign me up!…Oh wait…The list of side-effects is miles long and more often than not I confuse RA symptoms with prednisone side-effects. I am one of the few who takes prednisone daily and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. This means I have no choice but to weather the good and bad that comes with this “magic” medicine.

I experimented with different doses which ranged from 8mg to 15mg over the past four years. It was the most effective drug I took. I loved it. I hated it even more. I increased as needed and decreased at a snail pace.

Prednisone is a funny little drug. Its human dependancy rivals that of addictive designer drugs. Prednisone messes with the brain. I can experience moments of inexplicable rage and others of intense sadness; feelings I have never experienced at such magnitude. Forget a dose. Forget about it. I do not recognize myself (not to mention the havoc it wreaks on vital organs).

For my own sanity (and the safety of others) I rarely increase above 12mg.

 

Insomnia? It’s the prednisone.

Bitter taste but intense hunger?

Do you see a pattern?

I tolerate a 10mg daily dose well. A year ago I was on 11 and today I am currently attempting 9. Around eight months ago I tried 9mg and experienced what I can only image was withdrawal and a strange swelling sensation in my spine. Okay, Prednisone, you had me at 10mg.

The higher the dose the worse the side effect. Three years ago when I experienced a bad flare I quickly increased to 13mg per my doctor’s instruction; with it, I experienced my first ever panic attack. I curled up in a ball whimpering  with tears running down my face. I had never experience such anxiety and paranoia. My nerves were on fire and I could not get out of my own head. My four pets tried to sleep with me and I couldn’t share the bed. I shooed them from my bedroom where they stood guard at the door. They couldn’t stay in the room because the walls closed in on me.

 

Weight gain? Blame it on the prednisone.

Moon face?…

What else could it be?

Whenever I increase the prednisone I experience severe bloating and intense hunger. My appetite increases and with it so does bloating of my face and belly which I have fondly (read: not so fondly) nickname “pred belly”. Within the last six months I gained 12 pounds in my face, stomach and thighs and in most photographs I sported a double chin. I felt larger than life and annoyed at the self-esteem I never thought about but thankfully once I lowered the prednisone dose and started exercising again I shed the excess and looked/felt myself again.

Even with all these grievances, though, would I stop the prednisone? That is the million dollar question and as I type it out I realize I do not know the answer. Yes! Because the cons run longer than pros and No! Because no other medication quite compares.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Too Sensitive (…To the Side-Effects of Prednisone)

12 Saturday Oct 2013

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The most annoying part about living with rheumatoid arthritis is dealing with medication side-effects. This is the reason I am writing a post at 2am when I have to be awake for work at 7.

Prednisone is a life-saver. It takes down inflammation in my joints quickly and is the “quick-fix” of all my medications. What I mean by that is I can easily increase the dosage to aid me through a flare.

The problem with that is it has the worst side-effects.

I rarely go over 12mg of prednisone. I get awful insomnia, bad anxiety and sometimes I just want to drive my car into oncoming traffic.

I would rather take more Tramadol than prednisone.

Recently, any change in pred causes insomnia. Whether it is 9mg or 10, whether I increase or decrease, it does not matter. I get insomnia.

 

For months I had difficulty falling asleep. My mind raced with thoughts about RA, nerves about my future, etc.

I finally overcame that. I channel thoughts away from my body. I meditate and allow my mind to blank. My limbs grow heavy and I roll my spine up and down to release any tension. I then lay flat on my back and count down from five as I breathe in and out. I push stray thoughts out of my mind.

I drift to sleep.

 

I do not stay asleep.

 

I used to take sleep aids: Ambien, Benadryl, Remeron…but I had more bad side-effects than the good ones.

Each day is different when it comes to how much prednisone I take. I increase a little when I have work or exercise. I lower on the days I stay in and rest.

My doctor wants me on 8mg but on work days there is no way that is enough.

Before the insomnia whenever I changed prednisone doses I would either shed weight or gain it, and I would always get “moon face” or noticeable puffiness in my face.

 

 

Hopefully, this is just a phase.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Image Displacement

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

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For a few months I have had image displacement problems. I hold a conversation with someone and all of a sudden they shift backwards a foot or two. They do not physically move back, they just seem farther than they appear. I also have problems with poor eye focus. My eyes lose focus and I have difficult re-focusing them even with constant blinking.

I visited my eye doctor today and he told me that prednisone can affect my eyesight. I do not have glaucoma or cataracts, thankfully. I have moderate dry eye. There are “dry spots” on my eyes. My eyes are no longer producing enough tears to keep the tear film moist and stable. This contributes to image displacement and poor eye focus.

I need new contact lenses but because I could not focus my eyes, we were unable to find the right prescription.

I now take artificial tear drops two to three times a day. Hopefully this will put off any further dry spots and alleviate the symptoms I already have. I also have to go back to see a contact lens specialist. I had no idea those existed! Though, I think most of it is just a ploy to make more money from extra visits.

I always think I am tired and I am just seeing things but it is nice to know there is an actual reason for my symptoms!

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.