Hi, my husband was diagnoised with sarc about 6 months ago and has been on prednizone ever since. He now tappering off. He is at 12mls. But he is still having terrible mood swings. Does anyone have this problem and if so do you have any suggestions for help?
LOL, yeah the good ol' Prenisone mood swings! I'm only on 5mg/day now and I still have them! Blah! I hate it, but it's just a fact of life with that med. Hang in there!! I hate prednisone for SOOOO many reasons, but if it weren't for that drug I would be up the creek without a paddle I kid you not!
Sorry, I'm currently on 20mg and I can't tell you how many times a day I apoligize for snapping at someone. The sudden tears may be the prednisone but they didn't start until the Dr. told me I couldn't work this year, so I don't know. At least your husbands coming down off it, I'm stuck at 20 for awhile. I hope it goes well for you.
Pat-y
Hi! I am in the same boat as you- my husband has had sarc for many years. For me, I watch for the warning signs of an oncoming downturn in mood. He will be quiet and have an edge to his voice, which eventually turns into an attitude. Before I realized that there was a pattern, we had a lot of fights over stupid stuff. Now, I see the signs and I do two things: a) prepare for his attitude - you have to get a tough skin sometimes and remember that they don't really mean it. It's the meds. and b) I tell him that he is showing signs of it. It makes him aware of his actions and the things he says.
I hope this helps. Good luck. Let me know if you need someone to talk to.
Irish
Irish, thanks so much for the incouragement. I think I need a little tougher skin. I feel bad for my two kids though. They do not always understand why dad is so mad. I have been pointing out to my husband when I see him start to get an attitude and that does help some. I am sure I will be talking to you again in the near future. This disease has shook up our little lives quite a bit.
Keep in mind too that just having this disease or any disease for that matter causes a certain amount of anger and frustration. I personally, have been shocked at the amount of anger I feel sometimes. I am normally the calm one and since I was diagnosed in June I think my family thinks I'm nuts. Of course I'm on the lovely prednisone as well so maybe I can't be objective. I try to hold it all in but it leaks through the cracks. Hang in there and know that your husband probably just feels helpless. For me the hardest part is worrying that my health will deteriorate to the point that I won't be able to care for my family, and he may be feeling that too.
With your kids, if they are old enough, sit down with them and try to explain why Daddy gets upset sometimes and that it's not their fault. You don't have to go into detailed explinations which may scare. (Cold medicine can make you sleepy, right? Well, Daddy has to take a medicine right now that can make him a little grumpy (like Oscar the Grouch).) Have your husband sit down with them too and let them ask any questions that they may have. They may pick up on more than you think. On his "good days" have family time together- go to a park, play outside, play pretend, whatever, as long as it's positive and you are all together.
And remember-- TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF! It can be exhausting caring for a family and trying to handle the added bonus of sarcoids. Stressing yourself out to the point of mental and physical exhaustion won't make anything better. Take some time everyday to sit quietly by yourself, reflect on something positive, or even take a nap. Don't feel guilty about it either!!
Irish
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