#steroidssuck

Being on steroids is the worst! I am on them for my ear! It has been hurting and I have fluid in it. Typical for me! Anyway, they make me so freaking hot! I feel like I am having a hot flash everywhere I go. Ugh!

I opened the front door on Saturday and the slight chill in the air stole my breath. Yet, I kept going. I wanted to see my mother in the hospital, with my own eyes, to know how she was recovering from surgery.

My friend Jay offered to go in my place on Friday on his day off. But, I thought with more rest I could go.

I made it down my 12 front steps. I was winded. My lungs burned. Clear mucus…

“I have to take a new round of steroids to get rid of this ear and sinus infection,” I said as my voice started shaking and tears streamed down my cheeks in the middle of Rite-Aid. “Why can’t I just have a good stretch? I’m going to get another infection. It always happens when I take steroids; that’s how this occurred. I took them so my back would heal and I developed a cough. I took them again…

I’m not fine… and that’s okay

“Excuse me ma’am, do you have a cold or asthma?” a black woman with a natural hair do and pink book bag asked as we sat on an NJ Transit train.

“No, actually I got this dry hacking cough after taking prednisone. I take it to deal with my autoimmune condition after all else fails.”

“You might want to try ginger, honey and lemon tea; that helps me when my asthma acts up,” she replied. “Your cough…

The steroids I’m taking to resolve the nerve root inflammation causing burning pain that prevents me from walking, sitting and sleeping with ease following two nerve burning procedures has triggered annoying side effects. The Methylprednisolone is behind my stabbing abdominal pains, nausea and insomnia. Since I started the pack, I haven’t slept more than three hours at a time despite cups of tea, CBD oil, a sleep mask, and anything else I could think if short of taking Ambien. The lack of sleep combined with the burning pain is now more debilitating than the #chronicpain in my back that nagged me for three years.

I know the steroids are working. I feel less tingling, numbness and burning each day. So, I can do nothing but wait until my body returns to its normal and shakes the adverse effects of the drugs I’m taking. When it does I’ll be ready to resume all the things that are on pause right now. If takes too long, I’ll find a work around.