Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group No More Faith In The Medical System

oh lisa.
i am so so sorry to hear about this. i would go to ER if you get worse and tell them how bad it is. that's what i do if its after hours. my family doc has an xray room so i get xrays right away and he takes absolutely no chances. he usually gives me 2 shots and then zpack or some other new 3 day one that works. i have had the beginnings of pneumonia and bronchitis about 3 times this past 8 months and pleurisy about 4-5 times this past year. nightmare!!!

take no chances honey. get a second opinion. i just pm'd you. i had so hoped you had started on the enbrel.

pm me when you can...
lots of love to you..hang on. get to another doc please!! pneumonia is very dangerous, of course you know that, but dont hesitate to go.

keep us posted!!

Lisa,

I have not been able to take the Enbrel sitting in my fridge for a month now because I have kept bronchitis, despite the Zpack. I wish I had words of wisdom, but I don't. If I find out anything new, I will let you know!!

Our Ethans need us....and so we keep plugging away!!
Holly

I know I hardly post due to my hetic work schedule, but I just had to say DO NOT LET IT GET YOU DOWN. you will be able to get started on embrol soon you just have to be paicent, at least your lucky my ruhmy retired and this new young blood doc thinks I have have been misdiagonosed for the past 7 years now. he wont let me take anything but aleve. so I feel for you.javascript:void(0)

I for one will never take prednisone again.it causes you to catch too many contagious diseses and about 50 other nasty things such as diabetes if you take it too long. Enbrel seems like the way to go with As in my 5 years with it ,although it also seems to suppress the immune.We can all look forward to the genetic studies that Dr.
Reveille in houston is doing.
Kev

my kidney creatinine tests started indicating that i should no longer take NSAIDS. i only use narcotics and Enbrel now.
i bet the prednisone is leving you wide open to pneumonia and many othr things. i wont take it !It is the devils drug!
it makes me short and angry with my loved ones.It causes diabetes and about 50 other nasty diseases.it is only a quick fix .enbrel and narcotics have worked a lot better for me.as well as the "Diet"
Kev

Just a stab in the dark...

You said your taking 20mg Pred some days and 10mg other days. Seems like your taking it willy nilly like Tylenol based on your pain threshold. I've been taking Prednisone since 1986 and the one thing I've found is you can't have dosage swings like that. Dose packs and tapers are one thing, but 10mg swings without any dosage consistancy may be confusing the hell out of you immune system, not to mention your emotional state. You do understand Prednisone suppresses your immune system and that 10-20-mg is no light weight dosage. If you can do your best on 10mg a day, stick with it so your body can acclimate to something consistant. Once your levels are stable your immune system may be better able to rally and fight off the infections. Every time you throw another 10mg of Pred into the mix you essentially turn the volume way down on you immune system. I would try to get this under control.

Just some thoughts.

Kerry

Hi Guys,

I know that you all are right.

Kevin, I know about the dangers of prednisone...but it has had to my candy of choice just so I can get out of bed each day.

I really do not take it if I can help it. I know about all the bad things and I am sure I have experienced alot of them.

Thanks so much for everyones words of encouragement and your words of wisdom, that is why I like to ask because I know that others are going to have new info and experiences that I haven't had.

Love you all,

Lisa