Average Jane Reconsiders Her Noncompliance

I have now been sick for 18 days. I'm on my second course of antibiotics and my doctor went absolutely bonkers with additional prescriptions, including two inhalers, nasal spray and allergy meds. She thinks that my constantly recurring bouts of bronchitis might be due to a combination of allergies and previously undiagnosed asthma, so the one other prescription she provided was for Prednisone to reduce all the bronchial inflammation.

Ordinarily I am a model patient, but I am terrified of Prednisone. My mom died of lung cancer and my mother-in-law died of pulmonary fibrosis, so I am acutely aware of the side effects: sleeplessness, irritability, weight gain, wonky blood sugar, etc., etc. When I got home from the pharmacy last Friday, I started taking all of the stuff that was supposed to make me better, but I just couldn't bring myself to take the steroids. I filled the prescription - I have the medicine - but I didn't take it.

Well, I'm still not feeling better. I'm not coughing as much as I was but when I do, my chest hurts. I'm also losing a good 4-6 hours per day napping, which is not what I'd call a sign of radiant health. I think I'm going to have to suck it up and just take the prescription. 

So tomorrow I'll start the dosing schedule in the morning. The sleeplessness side effect should eliminate those afternoon naps. I'm hoping that the knowledge that the medicine is going to make me hungry will keep me from catering too much to that side effect and maybe I won't blow up like a balloon.

I suppose I should have talked to my doctor about how freaked out I was about the Prednisone, but I doubt she picked up on the magnitude of my reservations when we were discussing it. But she's the highly trained professional in this scenario and I'm the big chicken who's afraid to gain a couple of pounds. I think she wins.

Comments

[Keith]

Poor kid, I'm rootin for ya.

[Marly]

Sorry you're feeling so bad. I hope this medicine works and get you back to normal soon.

[Faith]

Ugh! Sounds awful! Is the prednisone only being prescribed for a short period of time? Hopefully, you only have to have a relatively quick round with it, your body will get better, and then you can go off of it again. I'll send you healthy vibes, sista!

[Joy]

Hi sweetie,

I know you aren't looking forward to being on Prednisone...my daughter, Jenna has been on it several times and wasn't crazy about it either...for the same reasons; but it does work and that's what matters. The weight gain you may have will go away when you go off of it...priorities sweet Jane, priorities. Get well first. Love, Joy (Jory's mom)