Does anyone take prednisone on a ongoing basis to control swelling lympnodes?
Dry 2010
You need to rule out the cause of the swelling first. Lymph nodes frequently swell due to an infection. Adding steroids (which suppress the immune system) to an infection is the wrong course of action and can make matters worse. Antibiotics may be necessary. Have your doctor check it out first.
He is a great rhuemy but swears it it from the sjogrens. I was supposed to see him in April I contacted via email which is nice I must say. He wants me to see him next week. I think it could be a scalp infection from what I read that is why the nodes on the back of your head swell and it has a scab that if I pick it bleeds. He just sent me a note back saying it could be a Lupus lesion but I tested for Lupus before Chhristmas and he told me I did not have it. I am so stress and confused.
Dry2010
If the swollen lymph nodes are on your head (particularly one side), then it may be an infection. I had the same thing occur and made a post about it back in Oct. I did get antibiotics and they went away. They initially thought SjS also because I had no fever etc.. I just found out after having an MRI (brain) for another reason, that I have a mastoid effusion behind the ear (same side that the lymph nodes were swollen). This is likely where the infection was. I have to see an ENT about it.
A scan might help determine what's going on. Lymph nodes can swell from inflammation, but most often it's an infection that is very close to where they are swollen. If it goes away with a short course of antibiotics, then you know it was infection. Antibiotics are certainly less costly to your body then steroids. And if it IS an infection and you take steroids, then you will further weaken your immune system trying to fight it.
Good luck.
He is making me come in will not rx antibiotic till he see's it on march 4th.
Dry2010