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Judy's Story

I was dxed with Grave's Disease in October of 2004 and then Thyroid Eye Disease January 2005. I have been on between 60 and 80 mgs of prednisone for over a year.

In December 2005 after a second orbital decompression surgery on my eye orbits, I started a wean down process because of the side effects of the prednisone. I have suffered with vision loss and color loss due to the swelling pressing on the optic nerves.

My Endo insisted that I HAD to come off the prednisone. I have been in so much pain, muscle and joint with the weight gain, huge moon face, camel hump, purple marks, etc. The Opthamologist told me to drop 10 mg every 5th day and I went from 80 to 40 and thought I was going to die! I could not function and just laid in bed staring at the ceiling. I called my Endo, and he changed that really fast. Since then, I went 40 mg for 2 weeks, then 40-30-40-30 fo 2 weeks, the 30 for 2 weeks, then 30-20-30-20 for 2 weeks. I am at the end of my 20 mg's for 2 weeks tomorrow. (I see my Endo on Monday)

I have felt so bad and I am on Mediboard Grave's Disease where I have learned so very much. One of the moderators, after seeing my pictures before and after suggested that I could have Cushing's. I certainly have almost every symptom! The prednisone side effects are so similar, it is confusing to me. I decided to investigate this and found this site. I had the purple stripes around my breast for over a year, but in the past 2-3 months, I now have them at the top of my legs, my stomach and back. I have a big hump on my back, and my neck is getting huge. I look like I could play linebacked for the TN Titans! My body build is so manly.

I will be talking with my Endo on Monday about checking for Cushing's. Anyone here have prednsone induced cushings?

Thanks,
Judy