Monday, March 4, 2013

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Monday, March 3rd

I am so frustrated with the side effects of the steroids I'm taking...I take 3 different kinds...I'm gaining weight, facial swelling, sweating and diabetes....who knows what else they are doing...

They did slow down the symptoms of the disease...so thankful for that...

There are pros and cons to all medicine...

There is no cure for myositis. However, prompt and aggressive treatment may reduce muscle inflammation and prevent muscle weakness from progressing. Because of the many different kinds of symptoms and a wide range of reactions to different drugs, each person's treatment for myositis should be individualized...

Drugs that are used for treatment include corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to reduce inflammation and improve the body's reaction to infections. Corticosteroids may produce a number of side effects, such as weight gain, difficulties in fighting infections, psychiatric changes, sleeping troubles, water retention, bone thinning, facial swelling, diabetes, and cataracts...

Corticosteroid therapy usually leads to improvement in myositis symptoms within two to three months, after which the dose can be lowered to avoid the side effects. If the dose of corticosteriods is going to be reduced, it is essential to lower the dose over a period of time.  Immunosuppressant drugs are used to slow down the immune system's attack on healthy tissue and improve skin rashes...

Another great day!

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