If someone has a flareup, what are the odds that they will have another one? I'm currently down to 30 mg a Prednisone a day, at what point will I start to lose my blownup Prednisone face? At what point will the weight start to come off? I've been exercising quite a bit but haven't lost any yet, but quit gaining so maybe thats all I can expect right now.
Unfortuanely, my moon face and other lovely pred lumps and bumps didn't start to go away until I was completely off the pred for a couple of months.
That's not good, I'm going to have to be on my death bed before I ever take prednisone again.
Timely question for me too. I guess I was hoping it would just melt away with the decreased pred. I'm down to 10 mg/day and am still waiting for some significant weight loss. I hope I never have to take this stuff again!!!!
It seems that the loss of the prednisone stigmata seems as variable as the disease itself. Some people lose the weight and the moon-face very quickly as the dose goes down and others, as has been pointed out, need to be off the med for a while. In general, those who are younger and with healthy adrenal glands seem to get back to their norm quicker.
With my own wean, the dramatic drop in appetite was noticeable as soon as I came down a step.
I was diagnosed in 1993. It appeared I had it briefly in 1988 and it went away on it's own. It started with a pain in my left elbow and each day the pain appeared in a different joint. I also coughed continously for two months. I had the flu and thought it was just lingering on. I took advil to relieve the pain and after awhile I irritated my esophagus and had to see my Dr. He treated the irritation and it cleared up but, the cough continued on. Not even Tylenol#3 could stop the cough. I thank God it didn't because it made the Dr. search for the answer to the mysterious cough. I was immediately given a chest x-ray and boom, there it was pretending to be TB. Of course, I didn't have TB nor had I been exposed to it in the past. I had a lung biopsy and tada, the culprit was revealed. I underwent a 40mg. daily dosage of pred and eventually came down to 2mg. daily until completed. It took 18mos. for the long journey and I still thank God for the path he put me on. I accepted the disease in the beginning and I set the tone for how I would be affected. I was on medical disability from work for one year and with this time I took care of me and decided this too will pass. While dealing with this I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalsia. It took a lot of prayer, devotion and patience. If you have never been sick before this is the disease to get you going in some direction. You can allow it to beat you or you can beat it. Yes, it was difficult and I cried, sweated, ate up the world, gained 31lbs. When the journey was over I was the Victor. I have been in remission for 10yrs. and I don't look back. I now have glaucoma and bouts with Fibro from time to time but nothing as devasting as the Sarcoid. He (Sarcoid) is a bad boy to deal with and he will take you down if you are not careful. I suggest counseling, support groups in person, meditation, exercise and proper diet. Try to stay with natural/organic foods as much as possible. Diet is everything. I am not a pro when it comes to Sarcoid but in the 90's I met people from around the world with the disease and they helped me so I want to help you. Remember, to stay in touch with your Dr. follow orders and take your meds. The pred will strip your body of potassium so replenish with juice, sardines, and supplements. Drink lots and lots of water to help with the water retention in your body. This will make your feet swell and give you unnecessary pain. I am a witness when I say you can get through this.
Careful what you wish for dt1966. I thought the same thing and ended up almost begging for it back so that i could breathe. I hate it too... its horrible but i begged my dr. to take me off of it too soon and all the progress i had made in 9 months - went down the tube and it came back with a vengenance.
Good luck to you!
Susan
I am currently on 5 MG every other day. I am slowing being weened off the medication. Still waiting for my face and weight to go down. Based on what Paradox said, because I am 60, I probably wont see any improvement for a while. But I'm not feeling any worse as I reduce the dosage.
That in itself is a small victory! Keeping my hopes high!
Greetings, have you tried using Lasix or any diruetic to help with water retention. I have been doing the predni crud for 16 years, usually around 30-49mg but have been as high as 120mg a day. Just make sure you are near a bathroom till you see how you respond, I end up going every 4-6minutes but it gets rid of fluid.
I actually did do the diuretic for the last 3-4 months I was on the pred and it really didn't do anything, other than make me pee more! LOL!! My face has gone down but its been a year off the pred and I have only manage to lose about 15 pounds of the 50 I gained. I really need to exercise but with working full time, I just absolutely do not have the energy. Trying to talk myself into a two night a week water class that starts in a few weeks. I know I will feel better if I exercise and lose some weight but man, where do I find the energy for it and it seems the more I do one day the less I can do the next. This fatigue is awful. Sorry, got a bit off topic there!
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