RE: Prednisone

Lindstrom, Ann (annlindstrom(AT)lucent.com)
Wed, 13 Jan 1999 11:25:39 -0800

Stacey - I don't take steroids on a long term basis, but a friend with
asthma does. Yes - it does have side effects. Yes it can increase risk of
other diseases with long term use. Its one of those trade-off things. If
the prednisone keeps the myelitis at bay, its probable worth the increased
risk. It may however cause bloating and hair loss. ARGHH. I'd check with
the neuro or your family doctor to see if there are things that should be
monitored for some one on long term steroid use.

Several years ago, when I was fighting breast cancer, I heard a woman
talking about choices. She said that with cancer you have lots of choices
(for instance radiation or mastectomy), but there was never a "goood"
choice. It was like being given a choice between being poked in the eye
with a stick or having a brick dropped on your foot. LOL. This disease is
a lot like that. Give Tera my best. Hang in there - Ann

> -----Original Message-----
> From: THous65004(AT)aol.com [SMTP:THous65004(AT)aol.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 1999 9:57 AM
> To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
> Subject: Prednisone
>
> Do most of you with TM take some dosage of Prednisone daily? I thought it
> was
> unsafe on a long term basis, but Tera's neuro says she may keep her on 15
> mg
> for several more months and that she may never be off completely. This
> will
> be almost a year that she has been on various doses from 1000 mg in the
> hospital (5 days with each of 4 relapses) to tapers at home beginning at
> 50
> mg. I suppose if this is the only alternative, I shouldn't worry about
> something I can't change. I have heard that long term steroid usage leads
> to
> glaucoma, cancer, etc.
>
> Stacey in California (where the fog is lifting for a bit of sunshine
> today)
>
> PS. Thank you to each of you who told me how to reach the archives. I
> will be
> doing alot of reading tonight to get to know you.