COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

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captstt 05/20/2013

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what some of you go through after you run your Rx of prednisone. I've been getting these big headaches and I know alot of you say its due to the lack of O2. I hook up my concentrator and suck up the O2 but I still have the headaches. Other than my fore arms looking like I've been in a NFL football game with all of the purple, blue and dark red blotches every time I rub up against anything with the forearms I can deal with the prednisone. My ankles aren't swollen, which is a sure sign that your body isn't getting enough O2. I know they're not migraines or sinus headaches. There's no throbbing and its a steady pain from temple to temple.

What do you all go through? What do you think? Thank you all.

Lauren9 05/20/2013

Depression,lack of sleep, anxiety. Hate when I have to use predisone. Hope you start feeling better soon.

jazzkeys 05/20/2013

Besides depression,lack of sleep, anxiety and just general overall irritability (I get that too Lauren) I find simple bumps and bruises take forever to heal and I also lose my appetite completely.
I think most people don't like taking it. If you google it you will see lists and lists of side effects. I think I got them all except diabetes, which I am grateful for.
Good luck and try taking an advil, it helped me.
Loving thoughts and a calm crashing coming off of it.
Gentle Hugs,
Jazz

debib399 05/21/2013

Prednisone helps but I hate taking it because of the side efffects and coming off it is not fun. I suffer from anxiety, depression, fatigue and SOB. I'm on o2 at night. Are maybe your headaches coming from allergies? I've been having headaches and sneezing the last few days and I'm thinking it maybe allergies. Good luck to you in finding what's causing it.

deleted_user 05/21/2013

Hey Debbie, allergies because we live in the allergy state of the U.S. Yes, Virginia is beautiful, but gosh do we suffer in the Spring and Fall.

Prednisone...the medicine we love to hate. Good luck, and it will get better. Another side effect to watch out for is taking aspiran products. They thin your blood and together with Prednisone it can cause nosebleeds and other problems.

Lauren9 05/21/2013

Yes jnita it is the drug we love to hate. On the one hand it helps our lungs get stronger. Yes Jazz last two times I had to be on the steriods I lost my appitite. First time I was hungry all the time. I actually had a nurse tell me not to look at the side effects because she was concerned I wouldn't take the pills lol . Also causes low potassium and lowers the immune system. Think i'm dealing with allergies myself debib. Woke up with a mild headache & a runny nose.

Be well everyone...

deleted_user 05/21/2013

I'm still on it............so I can't speak for when you're off it.

I still occasionally get a weird headache in the morning................its more like "my head hurts" than a headache, per say..........not sure how to describe it..............but I also take pain pills for my back problems and the help the "head hurt"

I also have the NFL arms............but I started taking fish oil (per someones suggestion here) and using aveeno lotion on my arms and my NFL arms seem to be better...............OR my eyes have just gone bad now too:):)

Seems I really need the low dose Prednisone to breath.........so its a real catch 22.

I have also just had a cancer dx (not lung)............so who knows whats gonna happen now:(

Kanadian 05/21/2013

check that you do not have the O2 too high. I went throught this same thing and never noticed that my O2 had gotten bumped up too high. Headaches ended when I turned it ack to my 2. Hope it helps/

captstt 05/22/2013

The love/hate relationship drug. Ain't that the truth! Every time I start a round of SOB and not feeling good I go to my Dr and he injects me with a dose of prednisone and then gives me the script for the little pills. By the time I walk back to my car, I can feel the difference right away.

Maybe its the COPD we have that causes my headaches. I take Advil and the medication seems to bring the pain level down a few notches but its still there. Then the headaches will go away for a few hours then come storming back. Funny, when I go to sleep, I have no headaches.

Thank you everyone for sharing. Love to hear more on what to do to prevent the headaches. Have a blessed day all.

blueirisnw 05/22/2013

Prednisone can be a wonder drug when we have an exacerbation or lung infection. The problem being that Prednisone causes so many side effects. I hate taking it. My skin get so thin; that I bruise so easily and the smallest scrape causes bleeding. Also, Prednisone makes me swell up; and that becomes painful. Also, it can cause changes in behavior and emotions. I wish you the best; and hope your headaches lessen.

grannie 05/22/2013

Been on the Z pack twice, can't take it anymore I have hallucinations, that was all it did to me, but it was a biggie, never saw such monsters in my life.

deleted_user 05/22/2013

I use prednislone rather than prednisone. The side effects are less severe especially "Roid Rage." I can go a whole 10 days without beating my wife. ;^)

Prednislone is a naturally produced streroid that it a part of our immune system. i.e. Kills bugs.

Prednisone Goes to the liver and the liver processes it into Prednislone.

captstt 05/23/2013

that is very interesting Tom, thank you. I'll ask my dr to prescribe that to me instead of the prednisone. Have a blessed day

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