Prednisone was My First Medication. I started on 60 mg.

In November, 3017, I was diagnosed with CLL. Prednisone was my first daily medication for over one year. I started on 60 mg daily and beginning with the 2nd day the amount was reduced to 30 mg. Over the next 12 months the amount of Prednisone I took was decreased steadily as my Hemaglobin rose from slightly more than seven to around eleven. My Oncologist was concerned that I get off Prednisone as soon as possible so she scheduled me to receive four injections of rutuximab - one per week. I was still taking a small daily dose of Prednisone. My Hemaglobin rose to over eleven and around the beginning of 2019, my Hemaglobin was over twelve and one- half. When it reached over thirteen, to nearly fourteen, she finally discontinued the last of what little Prednisone I was on. I have been Prednisone free since January.

Due to the impact on my body from taking Prednisone, my body and face swelled greatly. The Prednisone increased my appetite and due to the extra amounts I ate, I gained over twenty lbs. and became a Type 2 diabetic. So I have been on Met Forming medication for the last 6 mos. My blood sugar is now in the normal range and my primary care physician is encouraging me to keep up my daily dose because my A1C has dropped substantially.

I am hoping to get off Met Formin altogether in the near future.

[thb4747]

Hi,

My guess is that you were being treated for auto-immune haemolytic anaemia - a condition where your own system kills red blood cells - rather than CLL. Approximately 15% of people with CLL are likely to get AIHA. I know this because I’ve had it 3 times! 2006, 2013 and 2017. Prednisone is the frontline treatment for AIHA. Glad to hear you got through it ok.