[braingonebad]

What is it, Thursday? Okay, I think it was Tuesday I went to the pain doc and told him what was up with me.

I was waking up several times a night, the pain was so bad. Sometimes, and I hate to admit it but I'd be in tears. I wasn't even making it upstairs to bed, but sleeping on the couch. This has been going on since Christmas.

Anyhoo he gave me a dose pack of methyl prednisolone, 6 days. I started yesterday. Last couple times I used these, I got sooooo sleepy, and this time, same thing. I'd eat and take a dose, then take a 4 hr nap. Still pretty much slept thru the night.

Plus I don't think they make em like they used to, they seem really soft. They stick to your tongue and come undone in your mouth before you can swallow em - yuck!

Gives me a stomach ache.

Oh well, at least I'm sleeping.

Oh, and dh got his lay-off call today. He still had to go in, for training (how stupid is that? It's -8!) plus he's going to fill in for someone who called off.

Some of those guys are never going to get called back, and we don't know who or how many at this point. They are shutting down the entire Walbridge yard, last I heard. This has not happened in about 20 yrs - I think it was actually Stanley they shut down then, and only a couple weeks. They don't know how long Walbridge will be moth balled.

The railroaders do not pay into unemployment, so they do not collect, but they do get a small daily pay from their union. Fortunately, there's a rule that the layed off guys are called first to fill in for call-offs.

Dh wants to wait it out, however long it takes, to be called back. People will retire. Also, when the auto industry starts moving again, so will the rails. I support his decision and hope for the best, for all of them.

[weegot5kiz]

sleep then. these are not like the prednisone (sp?)ones, if your body needs sleep it needs sleep, you wont do no good trying to ignore that fact just so you get something done, it will catch up to you and you will still end up sleeping. rest up and I hope the pains ease up for you

didnt mean it to sound so stern Brain, just rest up and get back on track

[Debbie D]

Brain, don't fight the fatigue...let your body do what it needs...
so sorry to hear of DH's layoff...

[tovaxin_lab_rat]

I've not had the medrol dose pak and won't b/c of the stomach issues but if your body says sleep, then sleep. You are in pain and that causes more fatigue...It's a catch 22. We are in the same boat right now!

Are you taking something for the stomach? I hope so.

When I did the IVSM over Thanksgiving, the steroids actually made me worse. We thinks that's b/c it reduced the inflammation and cause the pinched nerve to not have any cushioning. That's part of the problem. The rest? Who knows.

Anyway, sorry about DH's lay off. Hope he gets called in a lot for work. It's tough all around right now.

Take care and thanks for the info on my thread about my arm. It is good information.

[SallyC]

I always thought that steroids and sleep were like oil and water...they don't mix. I could never sleep, while on steroids.

[tovaxin_lab_rat]

Originally Posted by SallyC

I always thought that steroids and sleep were like oil and water...they don't mix. I could never sleep, while on steroids.

I am like Brain, I have no trouble sleeping while on steroids. I have trouble eating...

[Catch]

Bummer and bummer.

Well, I guess it's good you're sleeping, but it's too bad you have to sleep so much. But as others here have said, do what your body needs - It be the boss!

Bummer about the cold! I grew up in the Midwest and I remember those icey cold days of January! BRRRR! A very good reason to hibernate

Bummer too about DH's layoff. I hate to hear about that! I feel so bad for people during such tough times as these. I count myself lucky that I have a job that pays the bills, that I have decent health insurance, and enough money left over to help my son once in a while. I hope your DH gets called back to work very soon!!

I'm weird with steroids. The prednisone doesn't effect me one way or the other. I get tired immediately after each IVSM treatment, but when I was on it for six months, I slept badly.

[Lady]

Hi BGB,
I take steroids in all forms, when necessary. The Medrol pack doesn't keep me up, nor the IVSM. I find a high dose oral Prednisone makes me euphoric and that keeps me up. I sleep three hours and wake three and so on. I do what my body wants to do, like the others above have said.

To avoid stomach upset with oral steroids or any pills for that matter, just wrap the pill in a tiny bit of sliced American cheese. Make a round ball out of it. If I take ten Prednisone pills at one sitting I wrap all ten individually. Take one at a time.

I put the small cheese wrapped pill/capsule in my mouth and put a sip of water in there, to make the cheese smooth by holding it in there, and then swallow.

The pill gets where it should go, without stomach upset, and does not dissolve in the mouth. Works for me, I hope it works for those who try it. JMO

[hollym]

I wanted to say "does your husband know you are sleeping with Steroids" just be a smart **** cause your title cracked me up.

I can fall asleep with 1000 mg of IVSM rushing through my veins. The infusion nurse says it is rare when she sees someone like me. I get really drowsy by the end of the infusion and have trouble keeping my eyes open. Just once I would like to get the normal reaction so that I have extra energy.

I hope this helps you feel better. If you want to cushion your tummy, try taking prilosec or pepcid.

[Curious]

Holly...I smile everytime I read this title. I think the same thing.

<-----Monkey who married a body builder.


mega hugs (((((((brain))))))))