Prednisone side effects

[Smokey2014]

Need some advice on Prednisone side effects..

When should severe swelling and bruising of the calves, ankles and feet with bruising be of concern?

My both legs are so blown up that I can't get a shoe or sock on..

The pain is terrible and I feel like my feet to my both knees are going to explode..

I can hardly stand on them..

I am on 50mg a day for the past 2 weeks and finished 1000mg a day I.V of prednisone for 3 days for a total of 3000mg in 3 days I.V..

When should I be concerned?

I know swelling and bruising is a side effect of prednisone..

Any advice would be appreciated..

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador]

Hi Smokey,

Happy to hear from you! One hurdle and then the next..all a process and journey!

Sending you healing thoughts.

I am not an expert on prednisone as I have only taken it for a sinus infection, but two friends have had to take it at length; one a renal patient and the other chronic asthma and allergies. Both had swelling; renal patient had what you did.

First thing is to call your doctor and alert him/her to the degree of swelling and discomfort. See what is recommended.

My close friend elevated her feet/ legs as much as possible and was put on medication to reduce fluid if that is an issue for you. So it's really important that your doctors be made aware of this. Everyone is different.

She wore flip flops or lined moccasins when her feet swelled as they were warm and comfortable

Once they reduced her dosage, the swelling went down.

Hopefully, one of our community members who have taken this or administrators will have an idea for you.

Most importantly, if you are bruising- call the doctor; that's what they are getting paid for.

Please get back to me and let me know how you are feeling and the outcome.

It will pass.

Lots of positives and hugs,

Bet

[Smokey2014 in reply to Bet117]

Good to hear from you Too!

I called the doctor yesterday and he put me on 40mg of Lasix twice a day until I see him in 2 weeks...

Damn...

I thought I peed before from renal failure..

Now I go every 15 or 20 minutes..

The nephrologist said just make sure I drink fluid with the water pill because it will dehydrate me if I don't which is no good for kidneys..

I hope things are going well with you..

Thanks for replying back..

Have a wonderful weekend..

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador in reply to Smokey2014]

Hi Smokey,

So glad that you called the doctor! You should not have to suffer like that.

My girlfriend went through the same thing with the Lassix; she was constantly frustrated as she knew all of the restrooms in the grocery stores etc. , but it does slow up. She wore moccasins until her foot swelling went down.

Please keep hydrated as both of us have been down the dehydration road; no saline bags, thank you very much.

I also add a bit of lemon juice to my water bottles to change the scenery...

Take the weekend to relax, keep your legs elevated, watch some great movies and let your loved ones pamper you!

It is raining cats and dogs here with 50 mph winds expected by noon, so we are staying put.

Feel better!..and feel free to reach out to me again.

Sending you warm healing thoughts and a hug..

Bet

[Legomegamind]

Predisone will make you gain weight and depending on the dose you could experience being hangry ( hungry and angry) it happened with me.

[Kbressler NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador]

The good news is that you are on a decreasing dose and your swelling will go away. You can’t just stop taking Prednisone it must be tapered if you abruptly stop taking it your health and well being will be at risk so follow your doctors orders spefically and listen to him only.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Ya, prednisone can be a miracle drug and it can also be...... It helps with swelling and inflammation. That is why so many nephrologist's use it, depending on your cause of ckd. I was on it post-transplant. It made me not able to sleep at night, have a lot of energy, moody and hungry 24/7. I am 19 years post transplant and luckily my team listened to what I was telling them and was able to wean my dose down and was finally able to stop it altogether.

I am so glad that you called your doctor so he knows what was happening. Please know that any time you experience pain like that, you need to get a hold of your doctor, or you need to go to the ER. This is not a normal reaction and could cause problems. When something like that is happening, you need to be your own advocate and let your doctor know what is going on. Please know that 50 mg is a HUGE dose. Right after my transplant I was on 40mg, and after a month it was 20 mg. Then when I finally weaned myself off (8 years later) I was only on 7.5 mg as a maintenance dose.

Best of luck to you. We are here.....

[EYatNKFSvdMYLIF]

Hi Smokey I am so so glad this message popped up! I just left you a reply on our old message to see how you are. I have not been on Prednisone before but I have been on lasix on Dialysis. I love all these replies but I completely agree with WYOAnne call the doctor no matter what seems to appear. It takes getting use to but you are not in your old body. So its really imperative and wonderful that you do call. You are not imposing. We are all use to not wanting to call docs and its easy to not know when to call. I was by myself and let me tell you I did not call some times or almost didn't but because I had friends on Facebook I am so so glad I did! So when in doubt - call. Or jump on the cites like these and it can remind you to call. Not calling is an unconscious thing. I considerate part of our lifestyle changes we have to adapt to. I am so glad you called him! And yes yes yes PLEASE KEEP HYDRATED! It will help you so much you will feel way better than dehydrated! Great posts on here. I learned so much. So so so so thrilled to hear from you and for you reaching out to us. Sorry I haven't been on i didn't get this notification. But let me tell you Smokey2017 you have something so special - Your title of your posts are really written so well it lets us know to come to you. That you need help. Standing out is imperative. Great job! I haven't been on much but I check in. I am so sorry I missed your post. But I am here and will be. On this question I had no real answers but that is what i love about finding all of you and this cite. We all can learn and get through all together Hugs Smokey2014!!!!!!

[EYatNKFSvdMYLIF]

Smokey2014 Hi there ! How are you? I left a message on your original post a few months back checking in on you. Know that I am thinking of you! It's 5 months since we first met! And wow how time flies yet is in slow motion simultaneously for you I'm sure. Know that you don't have to reply until you are up to it. All you need to do is read and let you know you are never forgotten! Hugs! Waiting at the Finish Line for you!

[Carillon]

Prednisone caused my kidney deterioration. Find something better.

[Lupiegrl]

When I was first diagnosed with Lupus one of my legs was swollen 3 times the size and hard as a rock. The doc was shocked I didn’t have a blood clot. I was put on prednisone for the swelling. I was told you’re not supposed to be on it for more than a couple weeks because of side effects. I was in it for 2 years. At one time I had stopped and the next day I woke up and both legs were unrecognizable and I could barely walk. My hair was falling out , I gained 60 pounds. About 6 months after stopping them finally had to get my first mammogram and of course they found something and had to get biopsy. Being on steroids that long raise the risk for just about everything. That biopsy is probably the most terrifying thing I’ve never been through. Luckily it came back fine but I still have to go once every three months to get mammogram. I’m sure everybody reacts differently to them but I would definitely get a hold of your doctor as soon as possible and let him know what’s going on.