My Rheumatologist did it again!

She started tapering me from 15 mg's about four months ago, and was dropping me by 2.5 every other month. I did it and got down to 10 mg's. I called for a refill the other day and she dropped me 2.5 mg's again. This time I wrote her an e-mail and told her that I was in the middle of packing my house for a move on March 31st, and also packing up my mom's house since she passed away in January. I'm doing most of it on my own and cannot possibly tolerate that much of a drop right now. She had her cranky nurse write me back and she agreed to stay at 10 mg's for another month, then drop by 1 mg every month until I get to 5 mg's. I've been on this for 13 years! Cranky also stated in the e-mail that I have not been compliant with my tapering. THAT made me mad because when she calls in a script, I have no choice BUT to comply since there are only so many pills in the bottle. She has to take stress into consideration here, but doesn't want to hear it. Obviously they don't understand the danger of tapering too fast. I guess I'm going to go Rheumatologist hunting again.

Ugh Sandi, I'm sorry to hear about the problems with your doctor. Of course she decides to drop things radically when you most need your adrenal glands to be as happy as they can be!

I hope you find someone who can help you have a more gentle taper. Doctor shopping (for specialists in particular) is the WORST. You wait forever for a new patient appointment, and then you may not like the doctor after waiting months to get in. I hate it!

Hang in there and good luck with all of the moving. I hope you can get lots of help!

I would love to know how many of these medics have actually taken Pred themselves. Maybe if they had they would understand tapering and how difficult it can be. As for the none compliance aspect I'd be straight back there demanding an apology that is SO unprofessional.

They really get nasty there. They prescribed Norco for me for years, four per day. One Friday, I was out of pills and had called in the script days earlier. They made me physically pick up the scripts all the time so I went in thinking it would be there. Nope, the doctor left with it laying in her in-box and would not be back until after the weekend. They expected me to go the weekend without the pills. I was livid. Cranky nurse just shrugged and said, "I don't know what you want me to do". I said, "Stop dropping the ball with patients"! This was a drug with serious withdrawal. I've since changed that script to a pain management office.

I don't just have normal withdrawal when I taper. Because of Lupus, the pain is ten-fold. Even with 10 mg's of Prednisone, I have problems doing daily things. When I run errands and get to the parking lot, I sometimes sit in the car for 10 minutes because getting out and walking is painful, especially in the winter. I can take pain, but every single day for 13 years really wears you out. I still keep going but at a slower pace.

They are unprofessional, MrsB. I e-mailed Cranky back and thanked her for letting me know, then said that the taper was better but not as slow as it should be. I then said, 'surely someone in that office knows how dangerous a fast taper can be". What is wrong with these people? Her goal is to get me down to 5 mg's. After this many years, it's not gonna happen.

I am sorry you have to deal with this but this office does not seem like a good fit. It is one thing if they do not medically support what treatment plan you want (I have been involved in that scenario on a professional level) but there is not reason to be nasty or suggest you are non compliant. And if their error caused you to do without medication it is their responsibility to correct it.

Good luck with everything. The stress of moving one house, much less two is a lot to deal with even without any medical issues.

Wow,this is just awful. Those of us who have been on many tapers know how bad it is. The doctors and nurses should have a more professional attitude and also empathy for the stress of moving as well as trying to cope with daily demands when someone has lupus or any autoimmune disorder.

I guess they think I don't have anything to do except sit around. I've been waiting for that chance for years. Way too many stressful things going on.