No matter how hard I try I cannot taper off.I am still planning on detox before April. I am dissappointed and thoroughlt disgusted. Sharonn
What happened?
It's okay to give up the taper, Sharon, but don't give up the fight. I'm glad you're going to detox -- you've been trying to do this on your own for too long.
Much love,
Gina
It's okay to give up the taper, Sharon, but don't give up the fight. I'm glad you're going to detox -- you've been trying to do this on your own for too long.
Much love,
Gina
Sharon
Don't beat yourself up. Your not the first person who couldn't taper, and I'm sure you won't be the last. I tried to do it, and it lasted a day. As long as I had them, I ate them. Your refusal to give up is admirable. Never give up Sharon, and good luck with the detox in April.
Michelle
Don't beat yourself up. Your not the first person who couldn't taper, and I'm sure you won't be the last. I tried to do it, and it lasted a day. As long as I had them, I ate them. Your refusal to give up is admirable. Never give up Sharon, and good luck with the detox in April.
Michelle
| QUOTE |
| I am dissappointed and thoroughlt disgusted. Sharonn |
Why?????
That describes 99% of addicts.Don't be so hard on yourself.I think you figured out a couple of weeks ago that you couldn't do this.Do you feel less than?
Tapering is IMO akin to having control over your using.If Addicts had control over their drug consumption we wouldn't be addicts.
I would be relieved at this revelation.You no longer have to fight.When you go to Detox,everything will be a lot smoother if you indeed have surendered.
hang in there Sharon.
What happened is I am sick of my every waking thought obsessing over pills..I am suffering every day and cannot focus on anything. I took an extra pill last night...now I am short because I flushed them. I will barely make it to the 1st so I suppose I am still tapering. I am sick of it...I just want to go away and get it over with...I have no life besides pain and resisting pain pills. It is so depressing.I am so non-functional in this pain that all I do is lay around my house(not me) and I feel as if I am in limbo. I have to talk to Tony today about setting a permanent date for me to get away...sometime in March...I gotta call them the week before. Arrgh!! S
Sharon-I can't understand your pain so for me to address that would be totally superficial.I do understand addiction and control issues.Here is something I want to read to you.I hope it helps.It gives me a lot of hope when I'm feeling lost.
ADDICTIVE THINKING....Illusions of Control
"There are many things over which a person has no control or is powerless.This does not in anyway constitute a character weakness.Hay-fever sufferers can't control whether or not they sneeze.They may obtain relief by proper medical treatment,but without it,they are powerless over sneezing.Yet,even the worst sneezing attack doesn't make hay-fever sufferers feel like second-class citizens.To insist that they control their sneezing when in fact they can't, would be delusional.
People who think of addiction as a moral failure,rather than a disease,see failure to control drinking or using drugs as a character weakness.
Any addict who says,"I cannot be powerless," is having a delusion of omnipotence."
Sharon,that's why they have the 2nd and 3rd steps in the program.We have to turn this over to a power greater than ourselves.
Good Luck
ADDICTIVE THINKING....Illusions of Control
"There are many things over which a person has no control or is powerless.This does not in anyway constitute a character weakness.Hay-fever sufferers can't control whether or not they sneeze.They may obtain relief by proper medical treatment,but without it,they are powerless over sneezing.Yet,even the worst sneezing attack doesn't make hay-fever sufferers feel like second-class citizens.To insist that they control their sneezing when in fact they can't, would be delusional.
People who think of addiction as a moral failure,rather than a disease,see failure to control drinking or using drugs as a character weakness.
Any addict who says,"I cannot be powerless," is having a delusion of omnipotence."
Sharon,that's why they have the 2nd and 3rd steps in the program.We have to turn this over to a power greater than ourselves.
Good Luck
Ya know...if all I had to deal with were withdrawal symptoms I think I might have a shot...But chronic pain every damned day and pills in the house..yeah right....that's gonna work. Well I have barely enough til the 1st so I suppose I am back on 40 mgs...pain or no pain. Thanks guys. This disease is a MF for sure...Love. S
S first & foremost......I love you & you have ALWAYS had words for me in my weakess moments(last night actually)
Please try NOT to beat yourself up over this.Remember Monday???I pinky Im going to do everything in my power to try & make that happen for you
Life offers more than one chance,one option...................I love You .....s
Please try NOT to beat yourself up over this.Remember Monday???I pinky Im going to do everything in my power to try & make that happen for you
Life offers more than one chance,one option...................I love You .....s
Sharon
Just wanted to say that i think you are incredibly brave and have done incredibly well...tapering isnt easy and Lord knows it was nothing more then a miracle i survived mine..
The absolute worst thing for me that would set me back time and time again when i was first tapering, is routine...the fact that i wasn't working and was at home in the house all day, with all the trigger things all around me...made it hard.
i was sitting in the same place i always did, drinking tea while watching Oprah like i always did, and since i associated these routines and even my surroundings with taking my pills for that little "kick" or "buzz" it made tapering so so much harder then it should have been ..
If there is ANYWAY that you can do something different..put yourself in a different place, sit in a different chair, rearrange your room so it feels different...keep yourself occupied with something different etc....ANYTHING to help take you away from the monotonous routine that is associated with taking the pills...it would really help...
I know im just addressing the mental, and that you have actual physical pain too, and that complicates matters so much...but anything you can do to give you an extra edge can only help and not hurt...
Your so close now...and although many here will tell you tapering is almost impossible, its NOT IMPOSSIBLE..I have done, it had several friends do it...and thats only people I know, Im sure there are many here that know others who have successfully tapered.. Donnatwo did it, so PLEASE dont let your mindset getting into that of hopelessness.....you are SO CLOSE..
Try to imagine what it will be like only 2 weeks from now, when you stick with this...how good you are going to feel....You really need to keep your mind set on the fact that this is a doable thing....
Im 100% rooting for you..and sending you lots of love and encouragement
Hugs
Ali
PS If you can get a copy of "The Secret" on DVD...which has recently been on Oprah so much recently...it would help you SO much..i swear....( The Laws of Attraction"
Just wanted to say that i think you are incredibly brave and have done incredibly well...tapering isnt easy and Lord knows it was nothing more then a miracle i survived mine..
The absolute worst thing for me that would set me back time and time again when i was first tapering, is routine...the fact that i wasn't working and was at home in the house all day, with all the trigger things all around me...made it hard.
i was sitting in the same place i always did, drinking tea while watching Oprah like i always did, and since i associated these routines and even my surroundings with taking my pills for that little "kick" or "buzz" it made tapering so so much harder then it should have been ..
If there is ANYWAY that you can do something different..put yourself in a different place, sit in a different chair, rearrange your room so it feels different...keep yourself occupied with something different etc....ANYTHING to help take you away from the monotonous routine that is associated with taking the pills...it would really help...
I know im just addressing the mental, and that you have actual physical pain too, and that complicates matters so much...but anything you can do to give you an extra edge can only help and not hurt...
Your so close now...and although many here will tell you tapering is almost impossible, its NOT IMPOSSIBLE..I have done, it had several friends do it...and thats only people I know, Im sure there are many here that know others who have successfully tapered.. Donnatwo did it, so PLEASE dont let your mindset getting into that of hopelessness.....you are SO CLOSE..
Try to imagine what it will be like only 2 weeks from now, when you stick with this...how good you are going to feel....You really need to keep your mind set on the fact that this is a doable thing....
Im 100% rooting for you..and sending you lots of love and encouragement
Hugs
Ali
PS If you can get a copy of "The Secret" on DVD...which has recently been on Oprah so much recently...it would help you SO much..i swear....( The Laws of Attraction"
Sharonn...the pain will always be there, right? So why are you getting off of the pills? Is it that you can't stay on the recommended dose? Then give them to Tony. I guess I just don't understand why you put yourself through all of this when you have such horrid pain? It comes down to quality of life and if you aren't living because of your pain, then you have to do something about it. Does your dr know you're an addict and are abusing your meds? There are things he could do to help you, I'm sure. I just hate watching you go through this every couple of months. There has to be a better answer for you. Love, Lisa
I have no problem staying on the rxed dose or even under it...I abused pills so badly in the 90's and hate being an addict. Even if it means I am one because I am physically dependent as opposed to addictive behavior...it just makes me feel ashamed..I associate it with the past and I hate it. I am realizing that my illness is not going away and that at 50, the quality of my life is more important. I just want to be able to live w/o pills. Maybe I can't. My Dr. just started to taper me off the prednisone and my pain is back with a vengeance. I know God gave me an illness for a reason...maybe to learn compassion for others. I hate to indulge in self-pity but every once in awhile I get really tired...I can understand how very sick people no longer fear death. Living in pain is exhausting and breaks you down emotionally and spiritually...I am not a "downer" of a person:always laughing and love people. But pain has changed me so much. Maybe you're right Lisa...maybe I should just accept it. I know I am sick of this mental struggle and self-torture. I can go to detox and come out.....what will I do when my Lupus flares up like the last time out of detox?I suffered 3 months of horrible pain after my colonoscopy...stayed home and basically had no life. I am grateful to even be alive so let me stop bitching. I will take every day as it comes and just do my best. Thank you all for your kind and supportive words...Love, Sharonn
Sharon,
I know very little about lupus, but from what I've read, it can cause depression and fatigue. I know that pain will also cause these, but is it possible that the bouts of depression you suffer are a direct symptom of the lupus? I mention this only because I see you beat yourself up about being a "downer" every once in a while, as if that were a character flaw. Maybe it's another symptom of the Lupus -- surely you would not beat anyone else up for having a disease, and yet you are quite hard on yourself.
I hope that being in rehab and giving control of all of these issues to medical professionals will clarify things in your mind, will give you a realistic assessment of what your levels of pain are, pill-free, and that they and you decide what pain levels a person should reasonably be expected to endure. No one should live with chronic pain. I hope you can find a balance in your life.
You should worry about being a "downer" around here, though of course I want to see you happy again.
Love,
Gina
I know very little about lupus, but from what I've read, it can cause depression and fatigue. I know that pain will also cause these, but is it possible that the bouts of depression you suffer are a direct symptom of the lupus? I mention this only because I see you beat yourself up about being a "downer" every once in a while, as if that were a character flaw. Maybe it's another symptom of the Lupus -- surely you would not beat anyone else up for having a disease, and yet you are quite hard on yourself.
I hope that being in rehab and giving control of all of these issues to medical professionals will clarify things in your mind, will give you a realistic assessment of what your levels of pain are, pill-free, and that they and you decide what pain levels a person should reasonably be expected to endure. No one should live with chronic pain. I hope you can find a balance in your life.
You should worry about being a "downer" around here, though of course I want to see you happy again.
Love,
Gina
((((((((((((((sharon))))))))))))))))))
love you miss sharon.
God Bless you......
here is some lupus information for a better understanding of what lupus is..
LUPUS education
love
thumper
love you miss sharon.
God Bless you......
here is some lupus information for a better understanding of what lupus is..
LUPUS education
love
thumper
Sharon Unless i am misunderstanding you Prednisone along with you starting a good diet or better diet and as much exercise as possible will improve your life and get you off the pain meds.
I have consumed cut today between 3-400mg of prednisone in a very short period.
I feel great today. No pain all my ills bye bye. Talk about tapering and living without pills. The prednisone really makes me feel great and it takes in high amounts ALL my pain away.
I just do not get why you are unable to get on a daily regiment of prednisone and other meds to improve your life.
what so your cheeks will puff up and you will become psychotic? Among other side effects?
You get used to it and then you get down to the lowest dose where you can handle the pain?
I know i have mentioned this before But people in pain do better living in WARM weather--Humid or dry it helps--for multiple reasons.
Sunshine fights depression. You are never indoors as with good climate exercise is a 12 month deal.
I do not know what pain meds does for your pain Sharon but sooner or later the tolerance kicks in and rebound pain?
I used to get relief not much from suboxone. It stopped working for me. Well the more suboxone you take the sicker you get.
Its a much different type of opiate which 99% understand i would hope after all the posts
Anyway it always puzzles me when you post. You habe to get out of pain to start living.
Sharon I may be a cripple in 10 yrs from what i am doing? Maybe 20 yrs maybe never Nobody knows. Technolgy improves so when i retire its new knees new elbows replace the old hips get off the drugs and play golf and have as much SEX as I kind handle.
But today I live one day at a time -have a great job and have been HAPPY even with the pain--You have to fight it with your strongest muscle in your body.
YOUR BRAIN--Sharon If I can do it so can you.
Jeff
I have consumed cut today between 3-400mg of prednisone in a very short period.
I feel great today. No pain all my ills bye bye. Talk about tapering and living without pills. The prednisone really makes me feel great and it takes in high amounts ALL my pain away.
I just do not get why you are unable to get on a daily regiment of prednisone and other meds to improve your life.
what so your cheeks will puff up and you will become psychotic? Among other side effects?
You get used to it and then you get down to the lowest dose where you can handle the pain?
I know i have mentioned this before But people in pain do better living in WARM weather--Humid or dry it helps--for multiple reasons.
Sunshine fights depression. You are never indoors as with good climate exercise is a 12 month deal.
I do not know what pain meds does for your pain Sharon but sooner or later the tolerance kicks in and rebound pain?
I used to get relief not much from suboxone. It stopped working for me. Well the more suboxone you take the sicker you get.
Its a much different type of opiate which 99% understand i would hope after all the posts
Anyway it always puzzles me when you post. You habe to get out of pain to start living.
Sharon I may be a cripple in 10 yrs from what i am doing? Maybe 20 yrs maybe never Nobody knows. Technolgy improves so when i retire its new knees new elbows replace the old hips get off the drugs and play golf and have as much SEX as I kind handle.
But today I live one day at a time -have a great job and have been HAPPY even with the pain--You have to fight it with your strongest muscle in your body.
YOUR BRAIN--Sharon If I can do it so can you.
Jeff
Jeff...like Ive said before...there are reasons my Dr. will not keep me on prednisone...bone loss is just one. Thumper...you are a ray of sunshine...thank you for all the love you bring to the board. Gina...yes. I have bouts of depression and would LOVE to find the right AD..I think it would significantly help with pain as well. Had my heart set on Cymbalta but stopped due to side effects. Just being wrapped up in my self is unhealthy..I used to volunteer at Blythedale children's Hospital...I am seriously thinking of going back. They always need help. If nothing else, you can rock little babies who are ill...years ago my friend and I did puppet shows for the kids...it was so fun and rewarding.It isn't all about me....people have no homes and I complain. My Dr. wants me to lose 20 lbs. for my back and on top of everything else...I just laughed. My goals are small....get out of bed in the morning and walking to the coffeepot LOL....geez..Lupus presents differently in everyone...I never had the butterfly rash, or mouth sores. I had seizures years ago...they went away. Mostly extreme fatigue and pain....sensitivity to light and extreme weather. Well....Dr. Ho is calling me(at least I haven't lost my sense of humor) Love, s
Bone Loss? Sharon I have been on steroids for 30 years Bone loss?
Diet Oscal and Boniva and some exercise.
Maybe I just do not understand your situation but if predniosone helps TAKE IT--The opiates are only going to keep you down'
If you dont mind WTF are your doctors exactly afraid of as your 50+ yrs old. Your not like me who was going through puberty which really screwed me up. Otherwise I would not be on the prednisone as I find myself today.
Sharon ??? Maybe I am wrong?
If prednisone enables you to live without pain pills? and helps you ? JMHO your crazy not to work closely with your doctors and experiment until you get down to a dose that helps.
Whatever side effects? you deal with them or do you prefer the opiates? Opiates do not cure pain they just intensify depression.
JMHO
Jeff
Diet Oscal and Boniva and some exercise.
Maybe I just do not understand your situation but if predniosone helps TAKE IT--The opiates are only going to keep you down'
If you dont mind WTF are your doctors exactly afraid of as your 50+ yrs old. Your not like me who was going through puberty which really screwed me up. Otherwise I would not be on the prednisone as I find myself today.
Sharon ??? Maybe I am wrong?
If prednisone enables you to live without pain pills? and helps you ? JMHO your crazy not to work closely with your doctors and experiment until you get down to a dose that helps.
Whatever side effects? you deal with them or do you prefer the opiates? Opiates do not cure pain they just intensify depression.
JMHO
Jeff
Jeff...I do appreciate you trying to help,,,but I am a little confused. You post a lot about all your health problems(some stemming from years of steroid use) and pain. I know you are not pain free by your posts...I know you suffer and I am sorry. Long term prednisone weakens the body's ability to fight infection and I have an auto-immune disease and I tend to get sick easily. The last time I as on prednisone for a sustained period I developed a massive infection and it led me back to opioids due to the pain. I am under the care of a goog Rheumatologist and believe me..I have been on Plaquenil, steroids, you name it. Even tried Interferon.....so..having said that ther is no way my Dr. feels justified keping me on them long term. If they help you...I am glad. Correct me if I'm wrong but I got the impression that your health got really screwed up from years of steroid use and you have trouble tapering off????? Sharonn
Sharon my adrenal gland shut down in 1976 back then they had nothing to help me but Prednisone.
Weaning off it because of the adrenal will be a full time job. BUT in the meantime You have to live.
8-10 mg of prednisone along with my diet exercise vitamins etc enables me to live work--yea I have some pain. But its something I fight and can handle as long as its warm out. Cold weather Kills me.
Sharon not being a doctor here but all i was suggesting was trying to get on a daily dose of prednisone or better yet every other day dose plan worked out with your doctor to help your pain.
If I was you and prednisone Helped the pain? I would take the steroids in a minute. That's ME
Sharon Look I am not your doctor. And yes prednisone lowers your immune system.
But ever since I stopped flying on planes --stay off buses --crowds well the number of infections have been cut,. But YES the prednisone pucks up OUR immune systems.
I almost died in Feb2005 as I developed MRSA. My body is a target BUT I must live.
Sharon if it was me I would rather be on prednisone than opiates as the opiates always stop working . That's ME maybe you can handle them? From reading your posts you want off them.
If you go to detox and your off then what?
All I am trying to say to your question is do not compare what happened to me to scare you away from prednisone. Think about it Sharon 30+ yrs and I am still going.
I will not waste another minute of my life worrying about what will happen If I take or do this. NO MORE PROJECTING so for now I take the steroids -seroquel my asthma and other meds -and LIVE.
Sharon 8mg of medrol or 10 mg of prednisone is not going to kill you. My question is would a low dose help you . If yes I would think about it and discuss with your doctor.
If your doctor is 100% against the pred? F-it--
Hope you have a good day--Jeff
Weaning off it because of the adrenal will be a full time job. BUT in the meantime You have to live.
8-10 mg of prednisone along with my diet exercise vitamins etc enables me to live work--yea I have some pain. But its something I fight and can handle as long as its warm out. Cold weather Kills me.
Sharon not being a doctor here but all i was suggesting was trying to get on a daily dose of prednisone or better yet every other day dose plan worked out with your doctor to help your pain.
If I was you and prednisone Helped the pain? I would take the steroids in a minute. That's ME
Sharon Look I am not your doctor. And yes prednisone lowers your immune system.
But ever since I stopped flying on planes --stay off buses --crowds well the number of infections have been cut,. But YES the prednisone pucks up OUR immune systems.
I almost died in Feb2005 as I developed MRSA. My body is a target BUT I must live.
Sharon if it was me I would rather be on prednisone than opiates as the opiates always stop working . That's ME maybe you can handle them? From reading your posts you want off them.
If you go to detox and your off then what?
All I am trying to say to your question is do not compare what happened to me to scare you away from prednisone. Think about it Sharon 30+ yrs and I am still going.
I will not waste another minute of my life worrying about what will happen If I take or do this. NO MORE PROJECTING so for now I take the steroids -seroquel my asthma and other meds -and LIVE.
Sharon 8mg of medrol or 10 mg of prednisone is not going to kill you. My question is would a low dose help you . If yes I would think about it and discuss with your doctor.
If your doctor is 100% against the pred? F-it--
Hope you have a good day--Jeff
Lupus is ALREADY and autoimmune disease, we dont want to go with anything that will compromise the immune system even more.......
hello ((((((((((((((sharon, jeffery))))))))))))))))))))))))
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LUPUS
1. What is lupus?
Lupus is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms.
What does autoimmune mean?
Literally it means immune activity directed against the self. The immune system fights the body itself (Auto=self). In autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes a mistake and reacts to the body's own tissues.
What is inflammation?
Literally it means setting on fire. It is a protective process our body uses when tissues are injured. Inflammation helps to eliminate a foreign body or organism (virus, bacteria) and prevent further injury. Signs of inflammation include; swelling, redness, pain and warmth. If the signs of inflammation are long lasting, as they can be in lupus, then damage to the tissues can occur and normal function is impaired. This is why the treatment of lupus is aimed at reducing the inflammation. Reference: see Facts & Overview, What is Lupus?
What happens in autoimmune diseases like lupus?
The immune system is designed to protect and defend the body from foreign intruders (bacteria, viruses). You can think of it like a security system for your body. It contains several different types of cells, some of which function like "security guards" and are constantly on patrol looking for any foreign invaders. When they spot one, they take action, and eliminate the intruder. In lupus, for some reason and we don't know why, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between a foreign intruder and a person's own normal tissues and cells. So, in essence, the "Security Guards" make a mistake, and they mistakenly identify the person's own normal cells as foreign (antigens), and then take action to eliminate them. Part of their response is to bring antibodies to the site that then attach to antigens (anything that the immune system recognizes as non-self or foreign) and form immune complexes. These immune complexes help to set in motion a series of events that result in inflammation at the site. These immune complexes may travel through the circulation (blood) and lodge in distant tissues and cause inflammation there.
hello ((((((((((((((sharon, jeffery))))))))))))))))))))))))
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LUPUS
1. What is lupus?
Lupus is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms.
What does autoimmune mean?
Literally it means immune activity directed against the self. The immune system fights the body itself (Auto=self). In autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes a mistake and reacts to the body's own tissues.
What is inflammation?
Literally it means setting on fire. It is a protective process our body uses when tissues are injured. Inflammation helps to eliminate a foreign body or organism (virus, bacteria) and prevent further injury. Signs of inflammation include; swelling, redness, pain and warmth. If the signs of inflammation are long lasting, as they can be in lupus, then damage to the tissues can occur and normal function is impaired. This is why the treatment of lupus is aimed at reducing the inflammation. Reference: see Facts & Overview, What is Lupus?
What happens in autoimmune diseases like lupus?
The immune system is designed to protect and defend the body from foreign intruders (bacteria, viruses). You can think of it like a security system for your body. It contains several different types of cells, some of which function like "security guards" and are constantly on patrol looking for any foreign invaders. When they spot one, they take action, and eliminate the intruder. In lupus, for some reason and we don't know why, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between a foreign intruder and a person's own normal tissues and cells. So, in essence, the "Security Guards" make a mistake, and they mistakenly identify the person's own normal cells as foreign (antigens), and then take action to eliminate them. Part of their response is to bring antibodies to the site that then attach to antigens (anything that the immune system recognizes as non-self or foreign) and form immune complexes. These immune complexes help to set in motion a series of events that result in inflammation at the site. These immune complexes may travel through the circulation (blood) and lodge in distant tissues and cause inflammation there.
You are a waelth of information!!!! And Jeff...from my experience...prednisone can cause depression and mood changes too. I'm glad if it is working for you. The only reson I "debated" it was that you often have posts re:pain..so I assumed it wasn't the miracle drug claimed. Do you have a lot of pain all the time? I am confused....S
