You are right, Cheryl . . . I should have said "potential" side-effects. Some people don't have much problem at all with them . . . although most people attest to having at least some amount of short-term side-effects.

Unfortunately, none of us could know the long-term side-effects until the "long term". I have known far too many people who have suffered devastating consequences from the use of them though.

Every option available is a "choice" . . . but I was just trying to answer the thread question of "why" I do NOT use steroids with flares. I retired at yr 15 (or 28, depending on how you count it) with this disease, and I didn't have MANY flares that kept me out of the workforce for any length of time. I understand why people would want to get back to work quickly though, especially if this is their only way to support themselves.

Cherie