Colostrum Immune System Boost

Banjo said:
Steroids?

Good grief. I just read that you have been on it for a couple years. You have to be extremely cautious once you go off the steroids. It seems highly irresponsible of the doctor to keep you on it for that long.

Are you aware that you cannot quit steroids cold turkey? It has to be done by reduced dosage on a weekly basis. Otherwise, you could... well... you know.
Click to expand...
Yes, I know; the body can go into shock. I've been tapered off the Prednisone before. :ty:
 
Oceanbreeze said:
Oh, Reba. I feel for you. I wish there was something you could do for this! I am usually very pro-Western medicine, but I feel just as frustrated as you must be. I sincerely hope you find something that works for you. My only suggestion is be extremely careful about the homeopathic remedies you try (per my other caution). You could try seeing a naturopath, who will most likely put you on vitamins and minerals; which will boost your immune system. I'm not sure what will help the hives, though. I'm sorry. :(
Click to expand...
I'm trying to get an appointment with my VA primary care doctor. I can't go to a specialty doctor or clinic without my primary care's referral. My primary care doctor turned me down for appointments last week and told me to go to the ER. But I know that the ER doesn't solve anything. So I'll try again this week.
 
Banjo said:
Exactly, it can be an useful medication. However, it's always used as a last resort because of the side effects, the ramifications it can have on one's health.

Scary, I know.
Click to expand...
There you go--last resort. :(

In the past (years ago), the Navy doctors prescribed Atarax for my chronic hives (they lasted only one year that time). I didn't find out until later that they gave me double the normal dosage for months beyond the safe "short term" use. I finally told them to quit the Atarax because I felt zoned out, and they didn't help the hives.

Same thing with Benadryl. It makes me worse, not better. The only "benefit" from mega doses of Benadryl is that it makes me drowsy so I can sleep thru the pain. The problem is, if I go to an ER, that's the only thing they want to give me--Benadryl by IV. No thanks. I even told the ER people last time I was there, "NO BENADRYL" but they didn't listen to me. :mad:
 
sallylou said:
Don't steroids put you at high risk for osteoporosis? You might want to consider a bone density test? My grandma has osteoporosis bad because she took cortisone for years. It was sad.
Click to expand...
I've been getting regular bone density tests since age 50. Everything is OK, so far. :)
 
Oceanbreeze said:
Steroids can wreck havoc on the body in a lot of ways.
Click to expand...
Tell me about it. Oh, the "moon face" and thick neck are real cute. NOT! (At least that comes and goes.) Who knows how it's wrecking my metabolism. :dunno:
 
Oceanbreeze said:
I didn't know that. One thing people also must remember is that when taking calcium, you must also have vit D. Calcium cannot be absorbed into the body unless vit D is also present. My guess is that steroids somehow leeches one of key vitamins or minerals from the body rendering the person susceptible to osteoporosis.
Click to expand...
I take daily supplements of Calcium + D, and potassium.
 
Update:

I've had a couple doctor appointments and blood tests since I last posted.

My last test, a RAST, shows that I'm allergic to nothing. (Big surprise.) That was my last hope that maybe I would be found allergic to some common allergen that I could avoid or get shots for. Sigh....

My doctor wants to wean me off the Prednisone. That's good and bad. I'd love to stop the Prednisone because the long-term side effects are terrible.

On the other hand, it's the only thing that's made my hives bearable. (I still have them, and sometimes they are bad but the Prednisone helps me survive.)

I don't know what will happen as I reduce the dosage, and eventually stop. I did that before and it was horrendous, and that was just for a short time.

Please pray for me. :)
 
Reba said:
Update:

I've had a couple doctor appointments and blood tests since I last posted.

My last test, a RAST, shows that I'm allergic to nothing. (Big surprise.) That was my last hope that maybe I would be found allergic to some common allergen that I could avoid or get shots for. Sigh....

My doctor wants to wean me off the Prednisone. That's good and bad. I'd love to stop the Prednisone because the long-term side effects are terrible.

On the other hand, it's the only thing that's made my hives bearable. (I still have them, and sometimes they are bad but the Prednisone helps me survive.)

I don't know what will happen as I reduce the dosage, and eventually stop. I did that before and it was horrendous, and that was just for a short time.

Please pray for me. :)
Click to expand...

You got it, Reba. :) Hang in there!
 
Reba said:
Update:

I've had a couple doctor appointments and blood tests since I last posted.

My last test, a RAST, shows that I'm allergic to nothing. (Big surprise.) That was my last hope that maybe I would be found allergic to some common allergen that I could avoid or get shots for. Sigh....

My doctor wants to wean me off the Prednisone. That's good and bad. I'd love to stop the Prednisone because the long-term side effects are terrible.

On the other hand, it's the only thing that's made my hives bearable. (I still have them, and sometimes they are bad but the Prednisone helps me survive.)

I don't know what will happen as I reduce the dosage, and eventually stop. I did that before and it was horrendous, and that was just for a short time.

Please pray for me. :)
Click to expand...

I will.
 
:aw:Reba, sorry to read about the hives. I have multiple contact, chemical, environmental and seasonal allergies as well as allergy to dairy. Sometimes I've gotten hives and I have absolutely no idea what the trigger was. I will probably go in for a more recent skin test sometime.
I will be wishing healing thoughts for you:aw:
 
dogmom said:
:aw:Reba, sorry to read about the hives. I have multiple contact, chemical, environmental and seasonal allergies as well as allergy to dairy. Sometimes I've gotten hives and I have absolutely no idea what the trigger was. I will probably go in for a more recent skin test sometime.
I will be wishing healing thoughts for you:aw:
Click to expand...
:ty:

I hope you get productive results from your tests.
 
Back
Top