What about A Prednisone Boost?

[eyeamdry]

My rheumy has told me that I can do a prednisone boost if I ever need it.  Well, I think I needed it since I was dx.. !!!!
Actually, I weaned off the prednisone a few months ago.  I wasn't on a high dose, only 5 mg/day and I went off very slowly at 1 mg/month decrease.  I am barely able to get out of bed and then just to the couch.  I'm freezing all the time, but do not feel particularly sick--or even sore joints (thank you). 

A lightbulb went off (in my head) and I'm thinking this is what I need.  I am going to start tomorrow in the morning.  I will take 10 mg and then wean off in 10 days coming down 1 mg each day.  I wonder if this will give me any energy or a slap in the butt?  I have missed some of my weekly volunteer spots and I feel badly about that.  They probably think I'm a slacker. but I love my airplane wonderland (aviation museum).  I get to walk around about 12 airplanes of all sizes and ages in a nice enclosed building every time I "work."    Well, enough of that....can anyone shed light on what I might expect with my Pred Boost? Should I tell my husband that I'll surprise him and clean house?   Lucy

[Scottietottie]

Hi Lucy 

Are you sure your thyroid is OK?

Hypothyroidism causes most people to feel really cold all the time and also exhausted and possibly depressed.

Take care - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

Hi scottie-
No, I'm not sure about my thyroid.  I take THYROID for it.  About a year ago, it was a little hypo for the first time in my long life.  I don't think it's been checked since and I was just at my GP's for something on Friday.  Ugh.  I see my rheumy soon also and will ask her.  Thanks, Lucy

[Epson]

Dryeye,

A prednisone boost, yaaahooo!  I took prednisone for a ruptured disc about three months ago and wha wha wee woo, I never felt better in my life.  I didn't need to sleep more then 4 hours a week, yes, 4 hours a week.

I too suffer from freezing all the time and my thyroid checks out fine, in fact, right now I am wearing a t-shirt, two long sleeve shirts a sweeter and an electric blanket.  Not too much different then what I had on all summer, minus the electric blanket.

As far as cleaning the house, don't get carried away with this prednisone boost.

[eyeamdry]

Epson, just how much prednisone were you on?  I have my electric blanket on the couch too.  Except mine's a "throw" instead of a blanket. 

As far as cleaning house, it sure could use a prednisone boost.  I'll let ya' all know.  Lucy

[Scottietottie]

Hi Lucy 

I've been taking thyroxine for over 4 years now. I started on 25s and went up till I was on 150mcg per day. Last year the doc decided my TSH was a bit low, so she adjusted it to 125mcg one day and 150mcg the next. (Without a 7 day pill box I would have got really confused)

A blood test the week before last showed my TSH had shot up to 20. My endo has told my docs to keep it between 0.5 and 2, so 20 is way too high. I'm back to 150mcg thyroxine a day and will be retested in February to see if that's enough.

I must have got so used to feeling like 'crud' that this time I didn't notice it had gone wrong. (Even though I go on and on to everyone else about it!) A lot of thyroid symptoms are very similar to SjS and Lupus - and I just assumed the way I was feeling was down to those. WRONG! Hopefully - I'm going to have a better start to 2009 when they get the meds into the system!

It's worth checking twice a year!

Take care - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

Hi Scottie-I'll try and absorb what you've written.  I basically know nothing about thyroid because I've never had a problem I knew of until it showed up in a bloodtest last year.  I should have talked to my GP about it Friday......but didn't.  I think I'll call and see about getting a re-check.  I'm freezing all the time, can't get up off the couch (literally) and am in bed all the time I'm not on the couch. 

I am taking THYROID TABS 1/2 gr................30 mg........one time per day and that's been the same since last year. 

Lucy

[Scottietottie]

Hi Lucy 

There's a really good thyroid forum at About.com

It could be worth look at. Unfortunately it's not unusual for Sjoggies to also have thyroid problems and they can make us feel about as bad!

Take care - Scottie 

[Sjenny]

Scottie:

Does your doc ever check your free T3 level?  The level of free T3 circulating in your system is what determines how well you feel.  I hope you don't have the same problem I developed, which is that my liver was not efficiently converting the T4 to the needed T3.  If you take a natural thyroid product, it circumvents that issue.  Also, if you dissolve the med in your mouth under your tongue and it is absorbed that way, you can get around stomach/liver issues.

I have also been advised to split the dose, taking 2/3 in the morning and 1/3 in the evening to put less stress on the adrenal glands.

Sue

[Scottietottie]

Hi Sue 

I don't think free T3 is routinely checked here and I'm pretty sure my doc didn't. I think an endocrinologist may ask for that test if people are referred back to her because of treatment not working properly. That's probably why I harp on so much about TSH and its range. I know I feel best when it's in the small range that suits me.
My endo told me not to worry about T4 being a bit on the high side. I don't think she actually mentioned T3 at all. I must still convert OK because right up until this recent bloodtest things have been OK.
I have been extra forgetful recently and a bit anxious but I just thought it was pressure at work. The TSH must have creeping up for a while and, of course, brain-fog could also be SjS.

Take care - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

Well, I took 10 mg of prednisone about 5 hours ago and am waiting for the vrooooooooooom.  Lucy

[Epson]

It takes a couple of day before the VROOOOOM kicks in, its Prednisone, not Crystal Meth.

[eyeamdry]

I took my second dose of prednisone about 10 hours ago.  I have stomach cramps and that's the only thing so far.   
Lucy

[genko_b]

Ha ha Epson!

It takes me about three days to feel a difference on prednisone at a 10 mg or higher dose. I feel nothing at 5 mg.

Genko

[eyeamdry]

Third day reporting......no vrooooooom yet.  I don't think I have anything from the prednisone yet.  I'm on 8 mg today and will be 7 mg tomorrow and on down.  Lucy