first, it's delightful to see melinda here.

second, i was on prednisone for years. the last few years of it, i was
at 2.5 mg/day and i still had the moon face (and moon belly). the moon
face and hump back and excess weight went away quite quickly after i
got off it. (unfortunately, i've managed to keep the belly, but it's
not prednisone's fault).

diane

Melinda,
I was going to email you personally today - so glad to see you posting.

I agree with you - prednisone and the low dose antidepressants  they put me
on over the years to try for chronic pain have put the weight on me.  Even
on less than 5 mg.  Prednisone slows metabolism and increases appetite.  I
lost a bit on enbrel because I had more energy and could cut back on my
prednisone.  Unfortunately since the neurological problems I am now up to 10
mg of prednisone and on lyrica.  Both cause weight problems - and now they
are suggesting nortriptyline again but I am turning them down.

I am trying chinese herbs and am really leery given my history or reactions
to mainstream meds.  I trust my accupunturist though and that is working so
into the unknown I go.  I have been taking a combination of 16 he has made
up since Thursday.  We are also talking about upping my accupuncture time to
twice a week (my husband and I - haven't discussed it with Brian yet).  So
far it is all that is working and the neuro stuff and the RA stuff is at a
9-10 pain level most of the time.  The accupuncture time is my best time in
a week.  He is wonderful.

Anyhow Becky I think you can probably blame the prednisone not the enbrel
and you can control it a bit.  Lots of water, no sugar if possible, and try
for as much exercise as you can without pain.  Water exercises work for
some - I have my own program that I have devised through the years - it is
unique to me and my physio approves and actually is now asking me to cut
back.  That is hard.  I am going into the acute stage of my RA again so no
isometrics and cut back repititions of the exercises - mainly range of
motion in most of the joints.  Back on go the wrist splints, finger splints
and the scooter is ordered and should arrive this week.  Walker in the house
at all times - which I am not good at remembering.  I am trying hard to at
least use the cane.  My gait is off when walking on my own and I am
stressing the joints.  Problem is the walker and cane piss off me and my
wrist joints.  Guess I just need an attitude adjustment.  I am working hard
at doing all the pain control stuff again - you know the ice, ice and more
ice routine and the relax, relax and then relax some more and the visualize,
visualize, distractions, road blocks for things that are repeating in your
mind.  My stress map is off the wall - looks like it did when I first got
the RA so am working on all my old skills which actually have been doing all
along just need to fine tune.  And of course work through the anger and the
grief and all the information.  So much information and I seem to be the one
in charge. Hopefully that will change tomorrow and my RD can clarify who is
going to lead the rehab and the next stage in my life.  Of course we have to
get through the next stages in both the RA and neuro stuff.  not easy
because there are no meds available right now to me in the RA stuff unless I
can talk him into 5 mg dose of mtx tomorrow.  Fingers crossed as rituxamub
needs mtx if I am to get compassionate approval when it is approved by
health canada.

Anyhow off to bed with my relaxation tapes and my many pillows.  Pat has
moved upstairs - my snoring and restlessness doesn't work well with him
working his butt off!

So glad to see you here Melinda - a bright spot in my day!  Your posts
always cheer me as they are so level headed.

Kelly