I'd appreciate not being chewed out for taking Prednisone. I have been battling a severe case of Subacute Thyroiditis and have been extremely unwell. Hence the small doses of Prednisone and Beta Blocker.
I don't know if it the Lyme + co's getting worse or a side effect of the Prednisone or BB but have been feeling much worse w/ increased pain, etc.
Grateful for any input. thank you!
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Prednisone causes water retention in tissues, which can aggravate pain.
It also causes potassium loss & sodium retention, which can cause increased pain.
I've been on high doses of Prednisone for allergies and gastrointestinal inflammation. My joints and wandering leg pains (Lyme symptoms, but I didn't know that at the time) always got worse while on the drug.
Prednisone also interferes with calcium absorption and sulfur metabolism. You may need to take MSM (or increase your dose, if you currently take it) to compensate.
Other supplements to help compensate for side-effects of Prednisone:
Potassium Vitamin C MultiVitamin/Mineral supplement Calcium Magnesium Zinc Fish Oil/Omega 3 EFA's MSM
And be sure to avoid becoming dehydrated - i.e., drink plenty of fluids.
Also, watch your sugar intake (if you aren't already doing so), as Prednisone can increase blood sugar and sometimes can bring on Diabetes or pre-Diabetes.
Best diet while on Prednisone is high protein, good quality fats, low carb, lots of colorful fresh vegetables and only low-sugar fruits.
And watch your sodium intake. Don't skimp on salt, but try to balance it with sufficient potassium.
Oh, and do not take Prednisone on an empty stomach - best to take with a snack. A few nuts, a meal, whatever, but need food with it to prevent irritation of the stomach lining.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
-My body swelled up so bad from water retention I had open wounds. (salt made it worse and gave me high blood pressure)
-It ruined my gut and took 2 years to fix. Yes, it can cause candida.
-I had exhaustion for years after taking it.
-irritability, anxiety, short-tempered
-insomnia
-Several years later I used a mild, topical steroid on my neck and got SEVERE permanent eye damage.
-the stuff stays in your body for 6 months after the last dose (topical and oral)
All this was before being infected with Lyme.
Good luck. I'd never touch the stuff again.
[ 08-26-2014, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Judie ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Even a low dose for a relatively short course (a couple of different times, though) ruined years of my life in many ways. I lost at least 5 full years, and the misery it enhanced was nearly unbearable.
I knew nothing then about lyme or how it can cause such trouble for those with lyme. Wish I had known then. There were so many better choices for the pain and inflammation.
But, of course, I did not know about those then either. Magnesium, especially, should have been the first choice. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- There is a book in the Cortef section that may of particular help to you.
Safe Uses of Cortisol - by William Jefferies -
Posted by tailfeathers (Member # 39328) on :
Thank you everyone for your personal experiences. Keebler, I shall check out the links/book you mention. I am sorry that some of you had such bad experiences with Prednisone.
The other options for me were high-dose aspirin or high-dose NSAIDS. I really appreciated everyone's input, Razzle, such details, thank you, I will take those into consideration (already craving sweets) and Julie and Keebler, sorry that you had such a negative reacion. Thank you for sharing.
Will update as time goes on...
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
I forgot to add Vitamin D, Vitamin K2 and Probiotics to the list above...
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Only options you have been advised of: " Prednisone, high-dose aspirin or high-dose NSAIDS" (end quote)
I'm not sure exactly of the goal but there are many safer things than any of those that have been successful to reduce inflammation, swelling, pain, etc. Beyond that, there may be other things regular doctors just don't even know about.
If you happen to have a LL ND near you, they should be more attuned to the range of alternative options.
At one time I also thought prednisone or high dose NSAIDS were also my only options. NSAIDS also really destroyed me in other ways. Again, I wish I had known then that (at least in my case) there were other options that the doctors were not telling me about - because they didn't even know.
Magnesium, Turmeric (or Curcumin), etc. are excellent to help reduce the inflammation / swelling / irritation that causes any organ to garner an " . . . itis."
The autoimmune connection (more like the overactive yet exhausted immune reaction) with lyme also affects thyroid as well and the entire endocrine system.
Other factors can certain exist, still, it's best to always start with talking with the LLMD or LL ND about all other seemingly separate diagnoses.
As for other ways to approach things, a naturopathic doctor saved my life in many ways. "How To Find a LL ND" in with the adrenal links. There is also a link on the various endocrine connections.
I hope your LLMD is guiding your current treatment, even that from other doctors.
This also helped me much better than other thyroid Rx:
Topic: MAGNESIUM - LINKS sets -
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
How far along were you in your Lyme treatment when this hit?
I have had three experiences with Prednisone since getting Lyme, which you may be able to glean something from:
1) Back when I was first ill with Lyme but before my Lyme Dx, I was prescribed Prednisone. I felt a little better while on it, then crashed when I went off of it. I could not get out of bed for weeks. I am sure that the steroids were at least partially responsible for the severity of my Lyme and co struggle in the years since.
2) 2+ years into Lyme treatment, I had to take Prednisone again for an allergic reaction. Thankfully and surprisingly it didn't have a terrible effect on my Lyme. It did however get my adrenals all out of whack again (previously had been mostly corrected), and that took time to get them adjusted again.
3) Just recently I had to take a steroid inhaler due to a stubborn case of bronchitis. (I took an inhaler because LLMD thought that was preferable to the steroid shot that urgent care would have given!). It caused palpitations, anxiety and messed up my sleep. Since stopping it, palpitations and anxiety eased off, sleep cycle is still off. Did it stir up the Lyme or mess up the adrenals or both? I don't know. In any event, I didn't totally crash back into the depths of Lyme hell,but it clearly wasn't great for me either.
So my advice would be that it does partly depend on where you are in your Lyme treatment as to how badly they are going to affect you, but that in general I would not advise taking them if there are other alternatives that you can try first.
I hope you feel better!
Posted by hermit (Member # 44427) on :
I have taken prednizone to alleviate skin reactions - rash or hives that the doctor thought was allergies or poison ivy/poison oak - several times over the last ten years. It made my immune system stop attacking my skin and the rashes went away immediately. I always asked if this could be an infection that my immune system was fighting - but my thoughts were blown off. I never had any side affects - but my health is poor and any additional trouble may be me not knowing any better. Prednisone tells your immune system to forget about it and may have messed up my self/non-self judgement of the white blood cells. This is just my personal opinion.
Posted by tailfeathers (Member # 39328) on :
Thank you all for your responses. Keebler, will keep in mind all your wonderful information.
WPinVA, I am so sorry to hear about your struggles. I had been bedridden almost a decade before being diagnosed so am not new to this illness but still very ill. I have done a fair bit of Lyme treatment (IV's) but am still very sick. Yes, the Prednisone can mess up our systems.. that is why the doctor Rx'd a Beta Blocker as the Thyroid disorder can cause the heart palpations themselves. So difficult!
Hermit, I am sorry you have been struggling too, it seems that many here have skin/asthma/allergy related issues. I have no doubt there are lingering effects of Prednisone but I guess we have to weigh the pros and cons. Take care.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- There are no pros with prednisone.
The diagnosis of "Subacute Thyroiditis" is no reason to take steroids. The 3 choices (steroids, aspirin, NSAIDS) given you are short changing you.
There are no pros here. None that other ways would not achieve more safely.
And a Beta Blocker (while perhaps helping in one way) cannot possible protect against the full extent of steroid damage in someone with lyme.
This happens so often with non-LL doctors don't understand the complexities of those with lyme, history of lyme, etc. -
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I really appreciated everyone's input, Razzle, such details, thank you, I will take those into consideration (already craving sweets) and Julie and Keebler, sorry that you had such a negative reacion. Thank you for sharing.