Beware of Prednisone & Magical Beasts!

[jedishampoo]

Well, that was fun. Not. When I had the sinus infection, the doc gave me antibiotics, sprays and some sort of super-pill-pack of prednisone. This prednisone pill pack has six pills for the first day, five the second day, and so on down until you take one the last day. She said it would kick the allergy thing for me.

Well, it did but I didn't know it because suddenly the world was a dark and lonely place! I was bitterly sad for several days, and I'm not like that. I was moping around, saying things like "I don't care if I go to Japan, nothing matters, I have sinus cancer or something," and I was about two seconds away from weeping at all times. sharpeslass was freaked, 'cause I cried while putting on my makeup. My boss was freaked, 'cause I sat in his office and wept that I was dying, the infection wasn't going away, and I couldn't go to Japan. (sharpeslass suggested I had a pogrebin or something, one of the magical beasts from the Harry Potter books. It follows you and makes you depressed until you fall to your knees and weep at the pointlessness of it all, and then it eats you.)

My boss sent me back to the doctor. The doc knew instantly what was wrong. Apparently the infection WAS going away, but the prednisone is a steroid and it can cause mood swings in some people. Holy smokes, I guess so. She swore it would get better after a few days, and thankfully she was right. I'm now looking forward to life again. :) But wow, that sucked. I can't imagine being clinically depressed and feeling like that all the time. Some of you on my f-list who have that, you are stronger than you know. :) Hugs to you all.

Comments

[scribblesinink]

Oh, that's one sucky experience! Glad your doc realized what was going on and could at least reassure you. And I assume you're looking forward to your Japan trip again?

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Yup, though I'm nervous! How much money will I spend? More than I have, that's for certain! :) Thanks!

[knitress.livejournal.com]

Yah, the prednisone packs can do that. And other strange things; my friend S. eats everything in sight when she's taking one.

But it does just shut down allergies; I had to take one last winter when my sinusitis just went on and on and on.

I'm lucky, it doesn't make more depressed but I still don't like taking the stuff. And yes, depression SUCKS. Been there, done that, still taking meds, and am grateful to be feeling good!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Grateful you are as well! :) It's refreshing, realizing it's drug-related (and not life-related) and waking up thinking, yay! And I only dealt with it for a few days. But they sucked.

[wookiee99.livejournal.com]

Yes, I completely understand that one. I was on a 14 day dose of steroids back in the spring, and if it hadn't been for some of my flist friends, I wouldn't have made it through. I had not had the urge to hurt myself that badly in quite awhile. I'm glad the doctor told you depression being a side effect. I had to learn for myself from the Internet, otherwise I was about ready to park my car in the garage with the engine running.

So glad you're doing better, though. Take lots of pictures of Japan! I've always wanted to go there! :)

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can't believe they didn't warn you, at least with your history!! Glad you pulled through. :) (I guess it doesn't bother some people that way... see above, and my mom takes prednisone, no problem.) I am looking forward to the trip... though I don't have as much money as I'd like!

Hugs!

[pheron.livejournal.com]

Glad you're feeling better.
I have bouts if depression but luckily they no longer get suicidally bad.

Have fun you Japan. I hope to visit there someday.

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

No Worldcon for you? Hey, I can't afford it, either, so that's no excuse. ;) (Is any of your gang going?)

I'm not usually depressed so it was a bit frightening, I'll admit. A couple of my friends were like, welcome to my world.

[anirt.livejournal.com]

Ugh! The last time I had to take prednisone was after the walnut encounter in Denver. Two days later a tube of toothpaste in my backpack opened up and squirted a little over a few papers. It wasn't really too bad, but I started sobbing on the bus because this was a complete disaster. I hadn't been feeling angst in the preceding weeks, so I was later able to put it down to the prednisone .. . yeah, it's hard.

My allergist always had me step it down slowly to reduce the effects: gradually lowering the dosage, taking it every other day until I was done. So if you ever have to take it again, ask about that approach.

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Crying over toothpaste! Yup, I cried over mascara. I guess the one they had me on was 6 a day, then ,5,4,3,2,1, but still, who was to know it would make me all soppy?