Prednisone Wean

It's hell, just plain hell. For 3-4 years I took 20 mgs of Prednisone a day. I'm down to 13mgs a day. My Rheumatologist would be happy to get me down to10 mgs a day but my goal is 5 mgs because that's the point where the fluid comes off [last time I peed off 17 pounds in one week]. Right now I'm experiencing exhaustion, chills, sweats, emotional upheavals, a nonexistent tolerance level, nausea, crappy appetite, increased pain, despondency, and on and on. Withdrawal. Suffice it to say, I'm miserable. One milligram a month - that's about 8 more months - yeah, we'll see. Just get me to Spring - just get me to Spring.

In the meantime I continue to interview new PCA staff and train them.  It takes approximately 5 staffers to have enough backup for illnesses, vacations or weekends /holidays. I'm a high maintenance broad! I'm so grateful for all of them, it's a tough job.

I need to get seen for a spot on my face, plus my teeth are rotting out thanks to the Prednisone and antibiotics, but I've been avoiding going to the clinic to avoid all the wintertime creeping crud - so far so good. My only exceptions are I go to the Courage Center and my wheelchair place. No groceries, shopping, etcetera.  Staff does that for me.

The pain is brutal today, it's as excruciating as the pain I experience when I'm septic.  It's like my nervous system is overly sensitive and everything hurts horribly - and this is with painkillers. I hope tomorrow is better.