Prednisone

Prednisone is my new enemy. 

Prednisone is a drug doctors prescribe for everything under the sun including allergic reactions, some types of cancer, asthma, COPD, CIDP, rheumatic disorders, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, adrenocortical insufficiency, hypercalcemia, thyroiditis, laryngitis, tuberculosis, hives, lipid pneumonitis, pericarditis, multiple sclerosis, nephrotic syndrome, lupus, myasthenia gravis, poison oak exposure, to prevent rejection post organ transplant, migraine headaches, lymphoblastic leukemia, Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other hormone-sensitive tumors.

So when hubby went to the dermatologist in early October for a small rash on his hand (probably from poison oak from a bit of light lawn work) it was the first thing the doctor prescribed.  When the rash got worse he prescribed more prednisone. When hubby went to the second dermatologist with an even worse rash, more prednisone.

What the doctors don't tell you is that this drug suppresses the immune system leaving patients more susceptible to infections. It completely cuts off your body's adrenal glands' ability to produce vital hormones. You cannot get off this stuff, you have to be weaned very slowly to avoid far worse problems, like death. You have to hope and pray your adrenal glands kick back in after you are finally off of it. Some people never get off of it once they are on it. The three months hubby has been on it are far too long. The list of serious side effects is long and scary. Of course neither of the doctors mentioned this while cheerfully scribbling prescriptions to get him out of their office fast.

The third dermatologist, who suspected the now full-body rash, boils, itching and open sores were actually caused by the prednisone, ordered a biopsy (negative, Baruch Hashem) and put him on a weaning off schedule. Hubby is suffering greatly, our lives have been a daily struggle, and I wish Doctors 1 & 2 the most unhappiest of New Years.

:-(