I spent about 2 hours at the doctor’s office on Monday morning. Blood tests, doctor appointment, chest x-ray, EKG, pharmacy…This is NOT my idea of a vacation, Body. Pull it together dammit!
EKG - Normal!
The verdict: The doctor said it’s probably the return of the Costochondritis which is inflammation in the rib cartilage. I first experienced it last Fall after Hood to Coast.
The doctor also said I could have developed asthma because of the bronchitis I had last month. Who knows? I am just glad that my lungs are clear. I had a bad case of pneumonia years ago and was in the hospital as a result. Ever since that I’ve been extra worried about lung illnesses.
Also because of my hospital stint from pneumonia it’s near impossible for the nurses to draw blood. 🙁 I look like a pin cushion. They always struggle with finding a good vein (thanks to IV antibiotics I have none) and they never believe me when I say they won’t find a good vein. They insist they can do it. I was stuck like 4 times in my arms on Monday. Ouch!
I look like a junkie with track marks! UGH!
The one thing I like about going to the doctor is getting my blood pressure checked. I get so happy when I see the low numbers! It used to be insanely high and seeing that small number now is like a High-Five.
Yippee!
So now for the ‘roid rage. The doctor gave me two options: take a steroid inhaler twice a day for awhile or take a low dose of prednisone. UGH! As soon as she said the words I groaned and just felt dread. I’ve heard all the stories about prednisone. I have a few friends who take it for something and they’ve complained about all the side effects they cause. Mood swings, irritability, weight gain, hunger…
I so don’t want to deal with any of these side effects. But when I told my doc I was leaving on a jet plane she said to take the prednisone. The steroid inhaler would take too long to start to work.
I am not looking forward to seeing the results of steroids on the scale but honestly I’d really like to just feel better so I’ll do anything at this point.
After work on Monday I met my friend Star for a much needed pedicure and then dinner at her house. I took lots of lovely photos of my freshly decorated toes and the yummy dinner….then promptly forgot to save the photos before I deleted them. Dang it! Trust me when I say it was all delicious. 🙂
Now it’s Tuesday and I feel a lot better. I don’t know if the issue healed itself or if the prednisone is finally kicking in. I do know that everyone seems to have their horror stories about the drug. Yuck. I hope my short-lived experience with it will be non-eventful.
QUESTION: How often do you pamper yourself? What’s your favorite way to do so?
Carbzilla
At first I was worried about your Prednisone based on my experience with it, but I’ve decided you’re going to be fine and here’s why: I was already in a weight-gaining cycle when I went on it, I couldn’t walk let alone exercise, and my weight did eventually come off. If you see a blip on the scale, you’ll know that’s it and be able to move on.
Just glad you’re feeling better! Have fun!
Lisa Eirene
I was stressed about Prednisone. Everyone has a horror story. I will still be eating my normal way, I will be stricter about counting my calories this week. Plus I’m taking 20mg a day for 5 days. My hope is that by the time I’m done taking it, the hunger/weight gain will not have kicked in yet.
Becky
I took a steroid for a while with my asthma and I didn’t see any weight gain. Hopefully you get feeling better! I’m glad you were able to get to the doctor and get checked out.
Lisa Eirene
Good to hear that. Everyone else has stories like “I gained 30 pounds in 2 weeks” and so on. Ugh.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
Ugh sorry you have to take steroids, but at least you’re getting to the bottom of the issue! Pampering yourself with a pedicure seems like the perfect thing to do after getting news like that. 🙂
Aj
I would hate to be put on meds with weight gain and hunger as known side effects. But it sounds like it’s temporary. I think if you can tell yourself the hunger is due to the meds and stick to a reasonable calorie count, you should be able to avoid weight gain. I’m sorry though, that does suck!
Lisa Eirene
It’s not ideal, that’s for sure. Plus when the pharmacist described the mood swings as a side effect he used that motion twirling his fingers at his head like it will make me “Crazy”. GREAT!!! 😀
britt will be fit
that pedicure looks divine!
Lisa Eirene
It was so needed. It had been too long since I had a professional one.
Chris
Lisa – First, I love your blog and especially enjoy hearing about your Portland adventures.
Not everyone gains weight. I was prescribed the dose pack for severe poison ivy. I felt wired and had trouble sleeping and LOST 5 lbs. A coworker of mine has the same response to it that I do. The weight loss was a bonus but I hate how it makes me feel (and have refused to take it after that experience).
Lisa Eirene
Thanks for reading, Chris.
That’s good to hear. So far my appetite hasn’t changed much–other than diminishing a little. I haven’t had much of an appetite for a few days in fact. I haven’t noticed any side effects (yet).
Lori
I’m glad you are feeling better. I’ll be curious to see how the pred does for you. It really is not that long of a course, so that is good.
When I hurt my back, I refused the prednisone because I was panicky about gaining weight. I don’t know if that was cutting my nose off to spite my face or what. I just went with prescription muscle relaxants and pain killers.
I love to pamper myself with home facials and reading under a snuggly blanket.
Lisa Eirene
So far I have a lack of appetite, headache and fuzzy brain. I hope that’s the gist of it.
Lisa
Glad to hear you are feeling better! I took Prednisone a couple of years ago when I was pregnant and developed asthma. I kind of needed to breath :). The eating stuff didn’t start till the end, and it really wasn’t too bad. The worse part was the heart racing and feeling like you are about to run out of your skin. It did make my asthma go away and I wasn’t sick again for the rest of the pregnancy, and again I said I don’t want to ever take prednisone again.
I had costrochondritis once and I thought I was having a heart attack. I can’t imagine how you feel after suffering with it for several days.
Hope you have a great time in Arizona!
Lisa Eirene
Did it completely cure your asthma? Whatever this is, it’s not fun! 🙁
lisa
Yes, after being sick for 5 weeks and spending 2 weeks taking prednisone and asthma inhalers I recovered. I had no other asthma attacks while pregnant. After I delivered, I thought I had another asthma attack, so I decided to go to a pulmonologist to find out if I had asthma. I don’t, which is great! I can sympathize with those who suffer from asthma though.
Lisa Eirene
Glad you don’t have asthma! I hope I don’t either.
jane~ Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Costochondritis – I’ve had it on and off since 1988 when I was 5 months pregnant and thought I was having a heart attack. It is not fun. I feel your annoyance and frustration.
I stopped taking the steroidal meds for my asthma 5 years ago and I have not had an attack since – which means I will have one tomorrow for temping fate.
~Jane
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Leah @ L4L
teehee, my doggie is on prednisone right now for an ear infection. she is super deyhydrated and panting and sleepy. I hope you fair better than she is!
Lisa Eirene
So far I am ok…