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Feeling Cranky

AngieT
0 Recommendations

I have been feeling cranky, and guilty for it, for the last few days. Have started taking prednisone, just a 12 day treatment, and have had to double the amount of Flovent that I am taking because of wheezing and shortness of breath. Hopefully when I go in for another chest x-ray next week, it will show that the lymph node sitting on my airway is shrinking and the wheezing will go away some. Can't seem to talk to anyone because I feel guilty for feeling bad and tired all the time. So I try to compensate by doing just anything that I can do to "make up" for feeling yucky. Which in turn makes me more tired than I was before. Sigh. Then I come here, and read, and feel guilty because there are so many here who have so many more problems than I do, and maybe I am just feeling sorry for myself. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of some of the guilt? Normally I am a pretty calm, laid back person, so all of this being aggravated and cranky over things that I can't seem to control is not something that's "me." Thanks for listening to me ramble. Hope this makes sense.

Angie

Explore topics in this discussion:

Tylenol Neurosarcoidosis Lexapro Anxiety Prednisone Ambien Depression Methotrexate Stress

20 replies

saskgurl3100

hey there i found prednisone made me feel antsy and panickly and moody so it might be the meds

jrk1980

Hi Angie, I agree it could possibly just be the pred. It makes me overly happy and hyper, but I do get the occasional really foul mood. Don't stress, let people know around you that moodiness is a real side effect and hopefully they will understand. I find that if I remove myself from a situation for a bit if I feel moody that helps too.

Feel better :)

Jennie

Todd_O

Don't sugarcoat it everyone...it's the damn prednisone. I've been on it for six weeks now...started at 80mg, then 60, now at 40 for the past two weeks. It made me hyper for a while, but since last week, I've been flying off the handle and am very excitable. I got into an argument with my wife on Friday for no reason and made her cry...and I felt like crap about it all weekend. We made up, but I HATE this side effect from pred. I can deal with the moon face and excessive hunger and sleeplessness, but this cranky crap just gets my goat.

My pulm wants me to stay at 40 for the next 3 weeks, then taper to 30. Eventually she wants me between 5 and 15 for maintenance, but with sarc in my liver, lungs, heart, spleen and possibly brain, I can't go that low yet.

Jennie, I just leave the house and drive around the block when I get like this now...it helps clear my mind and that way I don't yell at anyone.

AngieT

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it. From everything that I am reading, I am sure that it is the prednisone. Blessings to you.

Angie

AngieT

Jennie, thank you. I will let my family know what you said, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I will also try to remove myself from situations, was difficult to do yesterday since I was at work when I was most irritated. Hard to be a receptionist and smile and be cheerful when you just want to scream. LOL Hope that you have a great day tomorrow.

Angie

AngieT

Todd, God bless you. You are a strong person, I hope that if I ever am on prednisone more than just 12 days, that I am able to handle it as well as you are. It sounds to me like you are trying really hard to make the most of a bad situation. You will be in my prayers, along with everyone else here. The sleeplessness is tough, I think that it probably makes me crankier than anything else. Best of luck to you in tapering down. Thank you for replying, I do appreciate the replies. It is nice to know that someone is there that understands what we are feeling. And maybe can validate it, if that makes any sense. Have a great day tomorrow.

Angie

mrsbias

Girl...it's the predinsone and to top it off you are dealing with an illness that is incurable and is gonna keep you on a dang rollercoaster!! And NOBODY understands how you are feeling or what you are going through because you look so healthy....NOW there you go...I'm FRUSTRATED>>>>CRANKY....and all that....and you don't have to feel bad about it...We have our good days and our bad days. Everyone on here understands!!!!! Oh by the way I am on 40mg of th sone....can u tell ;)

Tawney

You know, Angie, one of the things that makes me cranky is that I CAN'T control anything medically and all the medical stuff seems to control every other aspect of my life. It frustrates me that I'm powerless to change things.

You're allowed to feel sorry for yourself some of the time. Don't feel guilty...we all have symptoms and problems that are a variation of the same theme.

The trick seems to be anchoring the anger and frustration to motivate you through the medical maze so that life can brighten up again. I'm failing dismally at that right now but I'm aiming to get back on that path.

I've not taken Prednisone beyond 2 weeks but I have read several people's 'roid rage references!

mvaughn1018

When I was on higher doses of prednisone, I would fly off the handle all the time. My husband taught my son to just do whatever it was I was wanting or agree with me and go on. I would later realize how unreasonable I was and would apologize to my son or husband. My colleagues at work, realize I'm taking alot of medication and will tell me that I'm being unreasonable. I try to think before I open my mouth and ask myself, is it the prednisone or is this really what I want to say. Due to reactions, I have tapered down to 10 mg of prednisone compared to 60. I must say my mood has improved greatly. If you continue to have problems, you may want to talk to your doctor. They might give you some anxiety medications.

AngieT

Thank you MrsBias. You're right, it DOES feel like a rollercoaster. I think that I am going to breeze through this, cause basically that's what I was told would happen, and then all these annoying little symptoms pop up, and makes me wonder if I was getting the whole story. But the good thing is, someone DOES understand, those of us here understand. Thank God we can support each other here, I don't know what I would think if there was nowhere to go. Blessings to you. Oh, and beautiful picture, by the way.

Angie

AngieT

Tawney, it's funny, really, that you should say that. I never knew how much I LIKE to be in control of things. LOL Just kind of throws off your whole system when you can't be. So many times I have had to be "the strong one" in situations that when I am not feeling strong it's really frustrating. I haven't taken prednisone in years, and had forgotten what it makes you feel like, except for the sleeplessness. I hope that you find your feet back on the path you've chosen soon, and that the path smooths out for you. The "roid rage" comment is pretty apt, love that expression. Take care and bless you.

Angie

AngieT

Mvaughn, thank you for your reply. Fortunately, both of my kids are grown, so they aren't really experiencing this seesawing Momma they have. My daughter just knows that I don't stay on the phone as much, my son is in his own world, as kids so often are at 20. So I am thankful that they don't see me at this cranky stage. I will try to think before I speak, as well. I do well with that at work, it's just at home I don't do as well! Should this continue, I will talk to my doctor. Have a blessed day. Thank you.

Angie

Todd_O

Angie,

My doc has me on Ambien for the sleeplessness. Works OK, but I started taking phosphorous last night because my blood work showed I was low, and this causes drowsiness too. Slept pretty good last night...for me 5 hours is good these days as I only average around 3 or so.

My family likes me getting up early because I always make them a nice big breakfast! My 8 year old is the family carnivore and usually eats 1/2 a pack of bacon by himself. When he gets a little older, I'm sure he'll eat circles around his big brother! Just in case you're wondering, both my boys are very athletic and VERY active---I'm lucky not to have couch potatoes!

Todd

TrishC

I have just recently been dx with Neurosarcoidosis at the end of July. I have been on steriods since then. 40mg per day. And I feel like I am a mental case. I am so cranky, mean and I feel like I am losing my mind. The doctor says I will have to be on them for at least 1 year. I do not think I can do it. Is there anything else I can be taking?

AngieT

Thank you, Todd. I spoke with my doctor earlier, well, his assistant, and was told that I can try Tylenol PM, so will try that tonight. Your boys sound like sweeties, and very active! I know how hard it is keeping up with my 2 year old grandson, can't imagine chasing after your 8 year old. I'll check into the phosphorous thing, didn't know it could affect sleep. I hope you have a great sleep tonight, maybe even manage 6 hours! Take care, and God bless.

Angie

AngieT

Trish, I wish that I knew of anything else you could take. You might want to ask your doctor, and explain all the side effects you're having. They might be able to help with the anxiety meds, or depression meds, like I have been told about. Since I am also new to this, am not quite sure how to answer you, because I don't want to give you the wrong information. I am here to listen, if you'd like to talk. I am good at that! Take care and I hope that you have a better night. Blessings to you.

Angie

IreneMarie

Hi Trish,

You will not regret seeking help for the moodiness. It's called Prednisone psychosis - it's real - it can negatively impact your life in permanent ways if you let it persist. I realized I was on the road to losing my job because of the personality changes everyone else but me was seeing. I was not a nice person - became very critical, sarcastic and stubborn which really eclipsed my usual above average people skills needed to do my job. When I was finally on a therapeutic level of Lexapro and Welbutrin I clearly realized how much I had changed. (in the knick if time).

Take help where you can get it :)

Regards,
I.

Todd_O

Trish,

I'm also at the 40 mg level since tapering down from 80 mg. From what I know, and what others on here have written, you have to start at higher doses of pred to put the sarc in its place, so to speak, then your doc should be able to taper you down to a lower level. I've got sarc in my lungs, liver, heart and spleen and am having a CT scan next Thursday for neuro sarc. Others have said that once the sarc is under control they have switched to methotrexate to control it. With it being in many organs in my body, I doubt I'll be able to switch.

IreneMarie, I'm going to have to talk to my pulm about getting on Lexapro or another antidepressant because I'm in the same boat: moody, confrontational, irritable, etc... It just sucks!

Take care, ladies.

Todd

TrishC

Todd Q,

Thanks for the information. Good luck with your CT!! My family Dr. is trying to get me in with a specialist @ John's Hopkins. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks

TrishC

Angie,

Thanks for your words of encouragement! They really mean a lot!!

Thanks

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Help and information from FSR

Sarcoidosis and the Body
Sarcoidosis is a "multiorgan" disease - meaning it almost always involves more than one organ. It's unpredictable and affects different people in different ways.

You can learn about the ways in which sarcoidosis affects the body in FSR's Sarcoidosis and the Body brochure.

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