Some of you may remember that I came down with a mysterious illness early in the Summer. To make a long boring story short, my left eye started hurting while I was on a trip. It was misdiagnosed as a scratched cornea and, on another trip the following week, it became insanely, debilitatingly painful.
Several specialists and about a million test later, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease that was causing my immune system to attack my eye. I was put on very strong doses of Prednisone and, slowly, my eye recovered. My doctors believed I would have at least a 9 month remission before my illness came back and in the meantime, they intended to start me on daily doses of an immuno-suppressant drug that would keep me healthy.
Unfortunately, before the immuno-suppressant had time to kick in, my auto-immune disease recurred. About 10 days ago my eye started showing tell-tale signs of being attacked including excruciating pain. I was back in the doctors office immediately and back on the nasty, horrible steroid, Prednisone.
The good news is that the Prednisone stops that pain and damage almost immediately. The bad news is that it makes me feel terrible, horribly tired and achey. The lack of energy is the hardest part because I have so much to do and everything is exhausting. I feel like I’m working underwater most of the time and it stinks.
This should be the last time I have to take the Prednisone, since the immuno-suppressant will be working by the time this course of steroids is completed. I’m grateful that I’m on the road to recovery and that it wasn’t something more serious. In the meantime, I may be a bit slower in responding to emails, etc. than usual. I have picked out the 2010 Share colors and hope to have them posted by the end of this week.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like some of the things I deal with with my MS 8-(
Hugs and love, sweetie. Take care of yourself. We can wait.
Hope you feel better soon! I also had a bout with exhaustion and illness (severe asthma), and concluded that being superwoman was not serving me or anyone else…. Please take care of yourself, as illnesses like this are your body’s way of saying SLOW DOWN….regroup, and realize that you are worthy of the very best in life.
Prednisone sounds like fibromyalgia: generalized pain combined with overwhelming fatigue and lack of energy. We can be napping buddies.
Take care of yourself, Susan. Prioritize…
Not fun. Feel better soon!
Susie, I sure hope you recover well and get to be feeling like you old self soon! At least you have a baby house piggy to keep you company and cheer you up!
You know what really helps with that horrible tired, achy feeling?? Snuggling with a baby pig! For real!
susie
feel better
i wish i were closer and could check you out myself
to make more gentle recommendations to help address the CAUSE and possible fixes for whatever’s got your auto-immune system pissed off and in a huff.
USUALLY there are ways to fix this addressing the root cause (everyones different) and correct it.
Till i get a chance to get there….my prayers and love and healing vibes are with u.
…also
sugar
(no hitting)
is
a
no no
(probably the fake stuff too)(i said not hitting)
as it increases inflammation throughout the body
if possible it’s preferable to handle the issue naturally
than utilizing drugs
i only wish i were closer or knew someone in your area who i knew could help–but i don’t.
so anyhoo
lotsa love
heal up
and maybe we can talk about this another time one to one (skype?) and i could ask some questions and make some suggestions.
because (not to be grim) being on immuno-suppressive drugs generally won’t do a body good in the long haul.
(pls. don’t be mad)
love, hugs and b’ bye pain go away.
xo
rona
Ugh, I took several rounds of Prednisone for a herniated disk in my back several years ago. It *works* but the side effects are so awful; I know of what you speak.
Sending good thoughts your way.
The best thing I can say about prednisone is that it usually is a lot better than the disease you are taking it to control, by a long shot. For me prednisone gives me insomnia, which additionally leads to feeling tired all day. But the alternative–don’t want to go there….at least you have quality medical care that caught this problem before the situation got bad..
You know, Susan, this would make another great Huffington Post column: Another reason for the loss of the family farm is the inability of a small farmer (who can’t compete with factory farming, especially that in other countries) to buy things like health care. For this reason, a lot of small farmers whom I know work outside the house or have a spouse with a town job that has benefits like retirement and health care. Your wonderful followers have seen the light and are willing to pay for a quality product from a small farmer. This would make a good column for others who haven’t thought about this.
But no writing about it until your eye is better… Sleep lots, get well.
I’m sorry your having to go this. I understand as I have an auto-immune disease too. My best advice to you is be gentle with yourself.
Prednisone is eeeeeeeeevil. It makes everyone in my family psychotic. We’re up! We’re down! We’re crying the the grocery store! We’re telling secrets to each other that should be, well, secret…Not to mention the doc once gave me too much (I told him so, but he ignored me, and I was only 19 or 20 and didn’t stand up for myself the way I would now) and I ended up with the worst acne of my life–went well with the roller-coaster emotions.
But, yeah, it does clear the asthma right up.
Oh Susan, I wish I was closer and could help with the chores, I may not know much about nothing but I do follow instructions well.
Only up side I can see (no pun intended) is the piglet snuggle time!! If Charley wasn’t rotten to start with, he will be soon enough.
Please take care of yourself, I can’t tell you the pleasure I get reading your blog. I say we start a “Bring Dr. Rona to Susan” fund. So long as you promise not to hit her for saying “No Sugar”… Hey, doc, what about honey? I mean, she has two hives that should be close to being harvestable… Bee better soon!
So sorry to hear that this problem recurred – Owwwww!!!!
Hope you feel better in every way – soon, soon, soon.
Sweetie! I send you loads of love and hugs!
Susie, I’m so sorry to hear this is recurring. My SIL had Iritis a couple times, which is also usually caused by an underlying autoimmune condition. Scary. Best to take it as easy as you can. It’s okay to let email replies go unless they are critical. Your fans, of which there are legion, will totally understand.
Hogs and kisses coming your way…..
I truly hope you feel better soon and that the road to recovery is swift. Hopefully you have helping hands nearby to help you as I agree with Rose, you need to slow down a bit. I know it’s hard when you’re on a farm, but you need to get better first, then you can love your animals with much better enthusiasm.
Feel better soon!
Prednisone is dumb. You’re cool.
O babe – just you go and snuggle that pig of yours!
As another with a compromised immune system, my heart goes out to you. Thankfully, there are now drugs other than steroids to keep us straight. Some people feel thar staying away from foods in the night shade family is also helpful. Good luck to you.
a little honey is ok
especially because it’s (really) local and raw
but a little
it beats the artificial stuff (chemicals>not good)
and
a little goes a long way
(unless u r like me and must be ware not to eat spoon fulls of it!)
i know the evils of which i speak
i would love to help out on the farm too
i take direction well
and will be happy to direct in the ways in which i am well versed/schooled
much love still streaming….always…for everyone and every thing everywhere…
xoxoxo
…hugs
AMEN! to Rona’s ban on the artificial sugar substitutes! Diet sodas, especially! And amen to the sugar elimination or at least severe reduction. We only use a little evaporated cane juice or honey any more, and life is still good. Take care, dear.
I am so sorry you are hurting. I hope the drugs help and become unnecessary.
I hope you feel better-it sounds horrible!
How awful.
I second Dr. Rona’s advice. Though it is extra hard when you are feeling bad and crave those comfort foods….
blech. I HATE prednisone. crankiness, bloating, exhaustion, and insomnia. just do what you can and ride it out.
Don’t you worry about a slow response time. Just rest up, snuggle with Charley and get back to working condition. We’ll be patient. Feel better!
How about an “away message” on your email. “I am happy to get your email and I care about you, but due to the volume of mail and the other pressures on my time I can’t personally respond.” You can say it in your own sweet, loving way that emphasizes that when piglets need to be petted, sheep fed, chickens fed, etc., they have to take priority. Oh and your health, right? Hugs and love!
Wow, Susan. I’m so sorry! This blog was you feeling that way?! Man, you are amazing even with half your brain tied behind your back! Please, God, feel better soon and for good!
I’m so sorry to hear this. Emails, shmeemails — we can all wait! Take care of yourself and snuggle in with that piggie.
I wish you all the best. I had to be on Prednisone for 3 years, but it saved me from permanent debilitation. I had a love/hate relationship with the drug…
So sorry to hear this. I have an auto-immune disease in my joints that also attacks my eyes and skin, so I feel for ya. Get better soon!