prednisone

Well yesterday I just took my last prednisone pill...I started at 60mg because I was so swollen and stiff I couldn't even walk or open my mouth to eat...I'm sure everyone knows the procedure 60mg for 6 days 40 for 4 and so on...My appetite was horrendous, my stomach was queezyand I had the shakes but besides that my joints felt instant relief and I had tons of energy...only problem is that the evening of my last 10mg pill I started feeling a little stiff...I was hoping it was just me being paranoid but now today I definetly feel my jaw, fingers and knees getting stiffer and swollen....I really didnt want to go back on prednisone because I was sure I would gain more weight but if it makes me feel better than it is worth it...I just don't know If that is really the problem right now...have any of you gone off prednisone and had to be put back on it??? I figure my Rheumatologist would figure that out at my appointment next week....If anyone has advice let me know.....Thanks and hope everyone has a good day!!!

My doctor just bumped me up to 60 mgs yesterday for three days and the fourth day I drop to 20mgs than back down to my usual dose of 6 mgs. I hate going up because I get swollen and puffy. I just try not to eat so much. I did have more energy today so I'm hoping that the extra prednisone will do the trick. If I stay on 6 mgs. I seem to do okay and I don't get puffy except for my stomach - but I can't do without any. I'm in a horrendous flare (I had another brain bleed) which causes vertigo-foggy in my head- confussion- stiff joints - excrutiating headache(only on right side of head) and now I'm having problems hearing in the right ear. I see my rheumatologist next week so I have alot of questions for her. I've been in contact by phone since the bleed. Maybe you can try to stay on a small amount for awhile and see how you do. Worth asking your doctor.

Eva