Prednisone encouragement wanted

Options
MameMe
MameMe Member Posts: 425
edited May 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I am having some painful progression in a cluster of scalp mets that have been quiet and painless for three years. I started IV Doxil a week ago, but its not a quick fix. I was rx'd 40 mg of prednisone five days ago, and am having that adjusted tomorrow. How has this med worked for you? I am wary of it, but want it to reduce the pain, which it is starting to do. I was energetic this morning, but crashed by noon. I slept poorly and less last night, a real complaint for me! User advice if anyone has solved these issues

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2017

    Hi Mame,

    No real words of advice for you, though you're sure to get some wonderful support and answers from others soon. We just wanted to reach out and let you know we're thinking of you and so sorry to hear of the pain you're experiencing. We hope it gets alleviated soon!

    --The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LindaE54
    LindaE54 Member Posts: 2,054
    edited May 2017

    Hi Mame - oh I do feel for you! I've been having some nasty headaches lately, brain MRI tonight to see if anything was missed on brain scan which was clear. I was given prednisone for more than a week at 50mg per day, but that didn't touch the pain. I was changed to Decadron which is helping. But, prednisone has some nasty side effects, namely those highs followed by crashing on my sofa. Hot flashes, night sweats, accelerated heart beat, constipation, increased hunger, etc. Mind you, same SEs with Decadron. Perhaps ask for a sleeping med if you don't have one? Hang in there! They are potent meds and cannot be stopped without gradual decrease. Can't wait to get weaned off it. Sorry, I'm of no help. I hope you find relief soon.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited May 2017

    My wife has been prescribed prednisone twice, and both times experienced mania, followed by exhaustion. It's really important to taper the dosage getting off it, if you have been on for more than a couple of days. Consult with a pharmacist, but my wife was told to take 1/2 dose, then 1/4 to taper off.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited May 2017

    Thank you, moderators, and Linda and Tim. Today I felt almost no pain, and took nothing other than the 40 mg prednisone dose. So it is definitely working. The problems of sleep disturbance, mania, which is almost what it felt like by late morning, then collapse, well, those are why I will seek to get on a reduction plan asap. I can take an ativan tonight, that should help for sleep. I briskly walked two miles with my husband tonight, so that may also help. I'll report in on how it goes.

    Linda, I totally empathise. I had three sessions dental and endodontal repair done in the last two months. I think the half dozen anesthetic injections plus having my jaw open for long sessions contributed to the pain I've been having. I hope you get some long term relief for the headaches. I had a friend with temporal arteritis once, and she was miserable. It eventually cleared up, but she was on a steroid taper for many months. Good luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories