Thursday, January 8, 2009

It's Like Speed...With A Prescription

I have had asthma since I was about 8 years old and it has afflicted my life in many ways. My "condition" borders between moderate and severe, and has a daily impact on my life. When I am sick, things get A LOT worse and that is what I am dealing with right now.

When things get this bad I have a medication regimen that I utilize in hopes of keeping me out of the ER. Yesterday, I realized that my breathing was really not going to well. I was struggling so much just to get the slightest breath and my inhaler wasn't working.

So, I started myself on a fairly high dose of Prednisone (an oral steroid) that I like to call "Speed, with a prescription".


You see, in addition to being a virtual life saver when it comes to restricted breathing, Prednisone also has some pretty hardcore side affects when taken at higher doses.

My faves (yes, I am being facetious) are:

-insomnia --- anxiety --- muscle twitching or tightening
-euphoria --- mania --- confusion --- dizziness
-extreme changes in mood and personality
-depression upon withdrawal

All in all, when I take this medication, I usually feel as though I am self inducing a manic-bipolar episode that totally throws my body and mind out of whack.

I become mentally hyper, very irritable and overly productive (especially with random craft projects). It is really not a good feeling, because it feels out of control and I feel the substance in my body. When I feel as sick as I do right now, it is especially difficult because my body isn't able to keep up with my overly active mind.

And....I have to work extra hard to be nice to the fam...

Because EVERYTHING gets on my nerves.

Momo, has so much energy that I get really overwhelmed...and she is so cuddly, always in my face, asking a question, talking about something, sitting right on top of me...
I love the kid, but good grief I get claustrophobic

And Mango, tries to be sweet, and ohhhhh does that irk me when I feel like this...It's like, "here I am, I'm ready to spar and you want to be nice"...
Ugh...the nerve.

Oh, and HWMNBN...he doesn't stand a chance when I feel like this. As much as I try to be patient with the kids and control my Prednisone induced fury, HWMNBN gets the brunt of it all.

Poor guy.

8 comments:

  1. I thought the main job of the spouse was to take whatever we give them. I've seen kids on Prednisone and it "ain't" pretty. Hope you stay somewhat sane...

    Thanks for your comment.

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  2. At least you have an excuse for biting your husband's head off. I do it as a hobby!

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  3. Sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of thing, huh? Cuz while the side effects are not too nice, I'd also imagine you like breathing too. Crappy situation. Hope you feel better soon.

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  4. Beth- "...the job of the spouse is to tkae whatever we give them"...Can you let HWMNBN about that?

    Domestic Goddess a.k.a. "Mc Donalds Buyer"-
    My hubby read this post and said "you act like this all the time!"

    Coach J- Yeah, breathing definitely wins...I like breathing and will make it happen (at all costs)

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  5. Hi Momo-Mama,

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was on prendnisone for 6 mos in my 20s due to uncontrollable hives. If I knew about all those side effects I think I blocked them out. I was so miserable at my job at the time, I didn't pay attention. Anyway. I gained 20 lbs. It was not a good time!

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  6. Hahahaha... it is totally the spouses job.

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  7. When I've taken Prednisone in the past, it makes me, uhmm, well, unpleasant to be around! I snap and snarl and growl and gripe and bark and bite. Not nice at all. When I need anything in the steroid family it is usually because I've strained a muscle or something similar, and I usually ask if I can have it by injection, because it doesn't cause so many vile side effects. I do understand your problem here!

    Good luck to you and I hope your family does well at laying low!

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