I’m happy to say that the steroids are in the back of the
medicine cupboard. My last dose was about a week ago. In the past year, I
haven’t tapered down below 10 mg daily without a small-bowel obstruction showing
up. This time, though on most days I feel a familiar warning twinge if I stray
from liquids or extra-squishy food, I haven’t had to resort to the Prednisone.
 |
| Prednisone -- It looks so innocent! |
Except now I remember the other problems the Prednisone was
hiding. Like joint pain. I can’t think of one joint that hasn’t surprised me
with shooting, stop-me-in-my-tracks kind of pain while I was doing something
simple. Like pushing the clutch pedal to change gears in our Corolla. Or
lifting a grocery bag. Or holding a cup. Or climbing stairs.
Take ibuprofen, you say? Allergic to it. Bummer. Tylenol helps a little. Lortab helps, but I don't use it often, because if it's side effects. And I can't take it while working.
Oh, and the shingles rash, which had faded to slightly
discolored scars on my right arm? Itching again – then hurting when I absent-mindedly
scratch. No fluid-filled bumps, though. So it's not a new infection. I’m guessing that without the
steroids, the rash would have been red, itchy and painful since May instead of
fading halfway through June.
Pretty typically, people who have one autoimmune problem
have other such problems as well. Like asthma – got it! And rheumatoid
arthritis – got it! And Crohn’s Disease – got it!
To make things just a little more challenging, my primary
care physician changed his practice to pediatrics and urgent care only. So,
unless I plan to just show up in the urgent-care clinic when he’s there, I have
to find a new doctor.
Does anyone know a great Salt-Lake area family-practice
physician with an interest in autoimmune disease or a specialist in autoimmune
diseases?
Meanwhile, my gastroenterologist, Dr. Cutler,
wants to get to the bottom of what’s happening with my Crohn's Disease.
More on that next time.
In a
nutshell, my insurance won't pay for the procedure Dr. Cutler wants me to have. So I cancelled, for the second time, my
appointment for the test. And I’m awaiting an explanation from Dr. Cutler of the rationale for
the test he wants to replace it with.
Sigh. I’d like to find out what keeps blocking my small
intestine, and if there is a solution other than wicked Prednisone. I’ll let you know what Dr. Cutler, or more likely his MA, says.
Meanwhile, be as happy and as well as you can be!
Take care,
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