Pred withdrawal

[RD23]

Still suffering with the pred withdrawal which has seen me spend all weekend in bed as I just feel rough! Feeling really tired and weak so will be ringing the GP in the morning. Hopefully this time I can get past the watchtower as last time I phoned up about my asthma the receptionist told me she didn’t think it was relevant for me to see the GP!

I’ve had three attacks in a week before but this time it really seems to have knocked me about and I just want to feel normal again! I even used the, ‘but it’s just asthma, I shouldn’t feel like this’ line earlier. Hopefully it all settles down again soon.

[emmasue]

That wasn't necessarily the receptionist's responsibility to say if you should see the GP or not! I think the health professionals should take a more holistic approach to their patients. If a patient is feeling "crap", take the time to listen and explain what is going on. Yes, it's annoying on their part, but it should pay off in the long run with fewer needs to visit or less severe symptoms. Often, doctors can be so dismissive and that just makes the matter worse. I wish things were better for you. xxx

[hilary39]

Make sure you get your cortisol level checked. If you are on a long-term controller medicine with steroids your cortisol might already be a bit low and then a course of prednisone lowers it even further. Low cortisol can cause a lot of fatigue and dizziness. You can take hydrocortisone to perk your adrenals back up and raise your cortisol if you need to.

I just finished an 8-day course with several days at 50 mg and I am wiped and have been passing out early at night.

Hope you feel more like yourself soon!!

[RD23]

Thank you all for your advice, it’s very much appreciated.

I’ve been to see my GP, not my usual one, and she made me cry! She’s previously said she thinks my asthma is panic despite the fact that I’m calm when I have an attack. She said I shouldn’t be having the number of attacks I do and that she’d hoped referring me to the respiratory clinic would help but it looks like they don’t have any answers! She said she doesn’t agree with putting me on prednisone as I’m only young so I will get osteoporosis and I will put on weight but she’ll agree with me this time.

I have my prescription to properly taper off the pred but I’m a little shell shocked!

[hilary39 in reply to RD23]

That sounds so frustrating and diminishing. When doctors don’t understand or doubt what you’re going through it can feel so isolating and scary! I am an American in France which is why I joined this group (I don’t speak French well enough to commiserate with French asthmatics ) so I’m not sure what the system is like there but can you see a pulmonologist and get a second opinion? It sounds like your doctor isn’t quite grasping how severe your asthma is.

[Emer1000]

I was floored coming off 6 pred a day for a week. I had to come off them by reducing by one every few days. I've only had them every couple of years but same thing happened after a severe attack when hosp out me on 12 for two days then 10 ... I was stuck in my house for weeks on 8 a day ... 3 full months to wean myself off them and I was house bound. I will take them if I have to but I try avoid them if I can. Doc have me a diff option before but I had to see him every day for a couple of days for monitoring. I did it and followed his medication plan to the law and it worked. ... but breathing can be so serious I have steroids and I will take them if I get a severe attack. Just remember they have their place and are necessary at times and as annoying as they are .... sometimes we've no choice. But talk to your doc for advice for you as we're each different.

[Hidden]

If you need an appointment but were denied you need to make a formal written complaint and escalate it to NHS England if necessary.

[RD23]

I think my GP was having a bad day as the computers were down and she has an unfortunate disposition anyway! It was an emergency appointment; normally I ask for either of the other doctors and I’ve heard other patients do the same!

I’m going to contact my specialist clinic and see if they can refer me somewhere else as my specialist has left so I’m now on a big waiting list.

Thank you all for your advice, kind words and chivving me along. It’s difficult not to get caught up in feeling sorry for yourself but you folks on here definitely help keep me sane so I’m extremely grateful to you all.