On October 30th of last year I went to the emergency room with a weird headache. It was the third day I had it.

To make a long story short, I ended up in ICU for a week, nearly died the first night (woke up to the crash cart with 5 people staring at me in the wee hours), and a diagnosis of CNS vasculitis. And guess what saved my life? Huge doses of prednisone! My cool nurse was shocked at the quantity they were dripping into my veins. It worked- the inflamed cerebral arteries shrunk back into shape.

I left the hospital with 7 prescriptions. One of them was 80 mg of prednisone once a day.

Zillions of Dr. appointments and gallons of blood work later, 8 weeks ago I got to quit the prednisone after months of weaning off the stuff. I was so happy to finally leave it behind!

More than anything I wanted to lose the weight the prednisone caused. I have a closet full of size 3 and 5 jeans I can't wear. I wanted to be able to sleep without needing Lunesta. Blah Blah Blah! So many complaints I could make on that angle.

What I did not expect happening when I finally got off the pred is why I am writing now. In the 8 weeks off that stuff I have become disabled.

My knees hurt so bad I have to crawl up a chair to stand. I wish I had a trapeze over where ever I'm sitting to pull myself up to standing. I hang on to the towel racks to sit down on the toilet because of the pain.

I've been weepy and depressed- more than ever! I walk my dog twice a day, and however long I walk him I end up sleeping about 4 times that time when we get home. I've never been so exhausted so quickly.

My DR. told me being off prednisone for the time I'd been off when I saw him last was nothing. I have a long way to go. He told me to keep a journal of whatever my moods were doing, what I ate, my blood pressure, pulse, and physical exercise I got per day, etc. I have an appointment with him in 10 days or so.

After being on pred for 8 months I find my body has changed. My metabolism seems sluggish, I still bruise easily, and now things HURT a lot in places where it NEVER hurt before. UGH!

I've done much research about this troublesome trip. I am hoping to find some practical suggestions and realistic expectations for recovery from my "Cure". When will this end? What can I do to speed it up?

Prednisone saved my life. However, the quality of life it left me with (at this point) is not one I care to live.