two part question, quitting hydrocodone and quitting smoking

[remedyz]

In short I had a vicodin/5 habit of up to 6 a day for 2 1/2 months, i was also on prednisone, and on valium to help me sleep. i CTd off the valium and vicodin, was dropped off the prednisone very fast and went thru hellish withdrawals for 2 weeks. after beginning to feel somewhat normal again, i became obsessed with wanting fo feel how i used to feel. i relapsed for 8 days with lortab. The withdrawals the second time were not as bad but the not sleeping part and RLS were 10x worse for some reason. This friday will be 3 weeks since i used an opiate. I am just beginning to be able to sleep again i think. I am still depressed and have some anxiety. I decided to quit smoking 2 weeks ago as well. I did the patch for 2 weeks and am now on day 2 of not taking the patch. My stomach is in knots and i feel like it has made the depression and anxiety worse. Oh, for the last month i have been taking Remeron 45mg to help with depression and anxiety. How long until the nicotine withdrawals are done, and also how long until the post-opiate depression starts to subside? I didn't have very long of a habit. I know I am an addict now though, and I struggle to stay away from the pills every hour of the day almost, because i get these urges to get high. Honestly looking back i think it was the combination of prednisone and vicodin that changed me... that is what i miss. When i took the pills again, it just wasnt the same. I wasn't instantly happy or anything. It was sort of a let down overall to be honest. I feel like i am forever changed in a way, but i worry about the depression the most.

[benharper]

I know what the depression and anxiety feel like when withdrawling from opiates (perc, vik) but one thing I have found to put me in a better mood is remembering that all-satisfying feeling you felt while you were on opiates, and listen to a song that you really like. If you listened to that same song alot while you were on opiates you actually can feel that same way my psych. taught me this method for relaxing when i feel like things are too much. Your not on alone in this confusing and sometimes lonely situation.

I am only 17 and I feel like Ive aged so much withdrawing from a 2 year vic addiction. Being a soccer player turned me on to them at 15, they gave me a pain tolerence and stamina of unmatched levels, I was a star when i was high on vic. Once the season ended I found I couldnt be happy without them, so I would pay up to 15 dollars a day for enough vic to make me happy. After my recent overdose in class which nearly got me busted I am going cold turkey with no help but the threads on this forum and my psych.

[remedyz]

Man, I feel for you... you are so young, you will bounce back in no time though. You have so much ahead of you. I am 26, still fairly young, but it's hard taking care of a house by yourself, working a full-time job, and trying to keep a relationship going when depressed or going through withdrawals. In the past I screwed around with pills occasionally to get high and escape, but i never got addicted. Only once I actually needed them for pain temporarily did I get addicted. Now I wonder when the hell I can ever feel normal again... Thanks for the tip though, i will try that to try and relax at times.

[remedyz]

Thank you Doc, that does provide me with much insight, and I appreciate your advice in dealing with the urges, it really makes sense. I was on the prednisone for ulcerative colitis and associated iritis. I've had it 3 times but never needed pain meds during it until now. Unfortunately I am one of those people that requires a lot of prednisone to suppress the inflammation, so I started at 20mg in the morning, 20mg at night and once it was under control, tapered slowly from there, because too fast of a drop initially led to inflammation returning. Once i was down to 10mg in the morning 5mg at night, they dropped me to 5mg in the morning and 2.5mg at night right as i CT'd off the other meds. That felt like a big let-down as well.

[emmy22]

hey guys, sorry to cut in on the thread, but as usual i couldnt post...its so busy in here :)  Anyway, does anyone know anything about the cough syrup Guaifenesin w/ codeine? How much codeine does it have in it? It doesnt say on the bottle. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks

[justalittlehelp]

I am off opites for over a week, and feel sluggish and sleep bad.  I was on them for 8 years and took 40 Lortab/10 a day.  To help mentally I look at all the stuff I payed no attention on the pills.  I look at music different, studies have been done on the soothing of favorite music.  I look at the world different.  I see people in the streets talking and laughing, and think to myself I am glad to be back in the real world.  Problems are a part of life and were not made to pop a pill for every little problem...I did that.  I see birds different, the smell of fresh cut grass.  Of course these ma be hallucintions becuase my sleep has gone to ****(j/K)...I know that even though I dont feel 100% I will feel better each day.  I now live life for myself and to help others intead of living life controlled by a bottle of pills.  I will take a few weeks of feeling blah in order to get my life back.

[Erika_Ann]

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR RESPONSE.I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW YOU MADE ME SMILE TODAY AND I NEEDED IT. BUT YOUR WISDOM YOU SHARED IS TRUE AND ON THE DOT!
TAKE CARE
ERIKA

[justalittlehelp]

I do have a question...can anyone recommend some books or writings for people with or overcoming addiction.  What about books once you are clean?  Any suggestions would be so helpful.

[skipper]

hey people:
for what ever it's worth.....
all of us answer to 3 (actually 4 entitys)...
they are (and not necessarilly this order)
(1) god
(2) the tax man
(3) blind joe DEATH
(4) opium jones

so....you all like the alternative???

keep an angel on your shoulder (you will need it)
kio

[AmberHunter]

this is an awesome forum, and i want to marry the forum doc but until then... a few weeks ago i started a really simple forum for drug addicts going through whatever it is we are going through, good or bad or in between.......... this is just a very simple to use hang out place and if you are interested PLEASE email me at ***@****...

i will email anyone interested the link.

as for the person quitting smoking and opiates, one thing at a time... that is just my opinion, but damn, i could not have quit both at once. but if it is working for you than hang in there. i figure it will be sometime before i give up both... opiate w/d is hard enough and in itself is so difficult, i just don't fight ALL of my battles at one time! but i wish you the very best!

amber

[oxic]

I can't believe how lucky we are having Dr. Bozian here.
Its one thing to answer, but to really ANSWER is another thing, and topped off with some compassion and caring.

percs

[mrmichael67]

It IS nice.  I can still remember Dr. Steve's wonderful, in depth answers.

[bmac]

Oh youz guyz are so sweet! LOL
Sorry Percs,that shoulda been hey ey!
     BillyBob

[oxic]

wassup billy???
Hows the w/d's; and the knee pain ??

you getting nervous yet.........couple more days

[bmac]

I am about to pop here Bubba! LOL
I am doing fine. I will tell you all about it when I call.
Friday morning at 9 am I will be off my brother! One day I'll turn northwest! Real far northwest!

[rodewc]

Both of you have mentioned N/A. I hated A/A. There is only one here (A/A). One group/place w/ many myg times, same core group of people, though. That's beside the pt. I want to try N/A but am afraid for a couple of reasons.. that it really isnt anonymous and/or some pharmacist/nurse/doctor/or like/ will recognize me and not give me meds if i really did need them later in life. I truly believe I have the resolve to sray away from docs (never have gone the street route) but I can't, for example, have a root canal "straight" (I dont need any surgery currently, etc) but as I age, I will and I see this as cutting off nose to spite face. Any thoughts? Almost Friday on a Hols. weeeeeekend! rwc~

[pammy0690]

If you go way up northwest to see Greg you better stop in PA on the way! Pammy

[peaz]

.....And stop by MN and take me w/ you.........:-)  ROAD TRIP!!!

[terter]

i WAS CLEAN FOR 10 DAYS!! uNTIL LAST NITE, i FEEL i DIDN'T RELAPSE BUT i WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS i NEEDED RELIEF, i FEEL GUILT OF COURSE FOR GIVING IN BUT i HURT SO BAD i COULDN'T LIFT MY HEAD OFF MY PILLOW. i'M NOT ABUSING THEM (YET) i REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE PILLS AGAIN, mY GIRLFRIEND IS HOLDING EMERGENCY PILLS FOR ME AND ONLY GIVES ME WHAT IS NEEDED, i REFUSE TO GO BACK TO DOCTORS FOR MORE AND i'M ALMOST OUT 10 LEFT. eVEN TAKING 2 i STILL HAVE PAIN BUT I REFUSE TO TAKE MORE AT A TIME. IF I HAVE TO TAKE WHAT I HAVE LEFT AS PERSCRIBED WILL I GO THROUGH W/D AGAIN AND CAN ANYONE SUGGEST A GOOD PAIN MED THATS NON NARCOTIC OR IS THAT THE GOLDEN QUES. i HAD A NECK FUSION BUT FOUND THAT I STILL HAVE 3 MORE BULGING DISC'S ALSO I HAD 2 CARPOL TUNNEL SURGERY, THE DOC SAYS MY MEDIAN NERVE WHICH CONECTS FROM WRISTS TO NECK IS MORE THEN LIKLEY SCREWED UP I GO FOR A NERVE TEST ON TUES. i WAS TAKING ALEEVE AND IBUPROFEN THE LAST 10 DAYS AND IT HELPED BUT THEN MY HEAD FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE AND i FELT PAIN ALL THE WAY DOWN MY BACK. iF ANYONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH EXTREME PAIN WITHOUT NARCS. I REFUSE TO GET HOOKED AGAIN, oH YEAH THE DOC ALSO SAID THAT SINCE I HAD INDOSCOPIC sP? CARPOL SURGERY THAT 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES THEY END UP DOING IT AGAIN WITH A SLICE THROUGH MY PALM.  MY HUSBAND WILL BE WILLING TO REGULATE ALL MEDS IF I NEED SURGERY BUT I'M STILL SCARED, THIS IS A WORK COMP CLAIM AND THEY WONT LET ME BACK TO WORK UNTIL THE DOC SAYS AND I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK. AMBER DO YOU THINK I TOTALLY SCREWED UP BY GIVING IN TO THE PAIN?  THANKS TER

[Thomas03]

If a doc, nurse or pharmacist (the thought amuses me no end) sees you at an NA meeting, that means they're an addict too. I doubt that they would risk their own anonymity by hassling you. I have limited experience with NA, but I know in AA many people use pain meds in connection with medical conditions and/or procedures. The difference is that fellow AA-ers help them to use the meds responsibly and lent moral support when the time comes to discontinue them.

However, I have heard stories about people in NA being ostracized for using pain meds, even for legitimate needs. These groups are generally obsessed with sobriety dates and use the threat of "revoking" someone's sobriety date as a means of discouraging pain med use.

I don't believe that this is an official policy of NA or AA, but like many systems implemented by lay persons, fanaticism and cultishness can seep in.

Thomas

[rodewc]

K, thx. That fanaticism is why I hated the A/A here. When I tried it, it was so pretenious. I cant even x-plain it. I gave it a long shot (2 yrs). The other thing is that after I quit A/A, when I would be picking up a six, or a bottle of vino, I felt (and still do) like a criminal. To this day, if possible, I ask my hubby to buy any alcohol that comes into this house. And other than Christmas-time, where we hit that cholestoralic (sp) yummy egg nawg as hard as we can, I bet we down a six of beer every month or 2, between us, So if buying a bottle of wine so many years later makes me feel like a criminal, God knows what filling a scrip for Vikes would do after say- bone spur surgery, or whatever. That's why I am scared of N/A, but wonder if it isnt worth the gamble.. Just my thoughts on yours, thomas.Thx. rwc~

[hippy]

hey all,as you may know , i have been going to na for many years,my experence  is that , there is nothing to worry about
regarding seeing someone you may know, when ever this situation
has arisin it has always been a positive.
i would say that mostly all the people in na who are clean
and living a productive life are honest people who are very happy to have thier lives back and they are happy to see  others
on the same road, addicts are extreemist we go from being
hardcore addicts who lie and minipulate to get drugs to productive members of society, who change thier way s in a 90
degree swing twards the better.
i notice there are more then a few people here at the fourm
who are addicts and they go to aa, from my experence  as addicts
we may find some problems in aa , some aa meetings do not tolerate addicts sharing about drugs and such.
i have found in my own life that it is not the substance that is the problem, but rather me.
for many years i was told , put down the drugs and all will be well, this has never been the case, when i put down the drugs
i am stuck with me and i still have the same problems that led me to use in the first place.
na  the last resort for addicts, after we try everything  in our power to get our act together on our own, after we have seen all the shrinks, been to detox, been to rehab,
when we find ourselves in a place where we don't want to live anymore. then na may appeal to us.  

[Thomas03]

Greetings, my good friend. You are indeed the sage of this forum. I wish you had been in my NA meetings.

When we get caught up in minutia, you bring us back to the heart of the matter.

Thomas

[gracie97]

You asked for some reading materials:
Rational Recovery
A Million Little Pieces

I was able to find Rational Recovery at Barnes and Noble here in town, if you are ready to be truly honest and look a things quite differently than 12 steppers, than this is a book to read. He is also the author of The Small Book, an alternative to AA or NA.
I have no personal opinion on either book, I take what I need from every source and leave what doesn't work.........

This forum has definately helped me, along with our sources. Today is the 1 month celebration!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mystere, are you out there??????????????? Lostsoul, also thinking of you!

Peaz, thanks for everything!

[lisabet]

Hi Gracie....I'm almost finished reading "A Million Little Pieces"...awesome book, IMO.  What is Rational Recovery about?  Do you remember the name of the author?  Gracie, hope you're doing OK; always happy to see you posting.  Love, Lisabet  xoxo
HI PEAZY!!!! Love you bunches!!!

[gracie97]

The author of Rational Recovery (The NEW cure for substance addiction)is Jack Trimpey. The book is vey different than any 12 step program, it is subtitled The Revolutionary Alternative to AA. He does not really believe addicts have a disease. He believes/teaches us self control. I will let you read the rest, and then tell me what you thought.......
Frey is the author of A million (little) pieces....

No matter what, something is working be it the books, this forum or my past 12 step experiences.......I am truly now starting to feel like the old me...........And am tab free

[lisabet]

Thanks Gracie....will try to find the book this weekend; sounds like a great read.  Have a great holiday weekend.  Love you, Lisabet

[Please Help Me]

This is my first time on a "forum" and I have throughly enjoyed everyone's comments!  I am desperate for help right now and I am living in quite a bit of fear.  I have been in AA for 7 years (clean and sober) until my recent encounter with Vicodin.  I recently had surgery and the doctor prescribed these pills.  In the past, I listened to people in meetings share about their Vicodin addiction and I always said to myself, "now there is a 'yet' for me..."  Well guess what?  I have discovered for the first time in my life that after taking these "magical" little pills that I am able to finally relax my normally anxious bi-polor self.  I found an "external" superficial peace within myself that I am not willing to let go of...and I am terrified that I am losing my sobriety.  It has been almost 2 months since my surgery and I ran out of pills last Sunday.  I went to see a Psychiatrist and was prescribed a variety of anti-depressant (including Valium) but to no avail.  Nothing seems to be working for me right now.  My mind is paralized with fear and my spirit is crying out to God. I finally broke down and called my MD and lied to him to get more pills.  I even called an old friend who was willing to steal me some pills, but only if I slept with him.  I can't believe I have turned into this person!  Please help me someone!!!

[lolli]

Since 1994, I began taking Hydrocodone 5/500s. Just started one a day for pain. Liked the feeling. Today, 5-23-03, I am up to 18-20 per day of Norco 10/325.  I am so tired of counting pills, spending all our families money (the kids wonder why we never have money or go on vacations) to cover my habit; keeping track of doctors appts and online counsults and refills.  I must say I have become very resourcful over the course of the years.  Just today, after much thought and consideration re going off the pills, I finally told my husband.  He was bugging me about smoking.  I finally told him that I had a bigger problem to deal with than just smoking..........then I told him.  You know what??  He said he knew??!??  He never ever said anything to me.  I havn't told him everything I've been thru yet, but I told him after I get sober, I'll talk about it.  This week-end, Begins my detox.  I'm so scared.  I don't know what to expect except that I'll be sick.  I have felt withdrawls before when I've run low and had to budget the Norco's but I know this will be worse cus I'll be cold turkey.  My plan is to start NA meetings online or go to one after I get cleaned up.  I'm going to really need some support.  If there's anyone out there that is going thru the same thing and would like an email pal, I could sure use one, especially while I go thru this.  Well, I'm going now...........any advice from anyone, or to tell of your experience if similar, would be appreciated.

[theGolden1]

I will try to help ... although I need alot of help myself right now, I have some knowledge and experience with alcoholism. First, you have not "turned into" anything. You have always been like this. We all have. I know there is a certain point that we reach in our use of opiates that causes a change to take place. This seems to be an individidual thing as far as exactly when, but trust me, sooner or later a person using opiates will get to it. Some kind of brain mal-function takes place and we become obsessed,  and it takes over our lives. Actually, opiate addiction is alot like alcohol. Just apply the same principles you use in the AA program and it will hold true for this substance as well. Same with the recovery. If you need pain meds as in surgery, you have about 4 days before it starts to get a hold on you. It's a tough thing, because most of us will need to use pain meds at some time. Don't let down your guard. The euphoria you feel on opiates is not a real state of being. The object is to feel good naturally. Maybe you were mildly depressed before the opiates, and didn't realize it. No matter what, you don't want to go down this road. Keep working with your doctor and if you stay off it for 30 days .... you should be ok. Stick with the program and use the antidepressant if necessary. Take some vitamin B as well ....  Keep reading this forum. It should put a good scare into you ... I hope I helped a little .... Goldie

[peaz]

Yo-----This is a mass mailing (LOL) 'cause I don't have a lot of time this morning, but I wanted to check in and sey "hey" to all a ya, and say CONGRATS on 1 month to Gracie and Anne  (where ARE you, darlin'???)  That is SO AWESOME and I knew you could do it!!!  Lisabet and Alexis--you two are always in my thoughts and you hang in there, ya hear??!! Pammy--my  Fellow P---you know  how much I love ya, Doll.  Passenby---?donde estas?  Let me hear from you. Are you okay sweets?  Do you need me to come deal w/ your soon-to-be-ex?? I'm buff--so don't you forget it!! LOL

ALL you chicks have a great weekend and I love ya----Peazy

[remedyz]

I am around a computer a lot, due to my job... I also have several that are on 24/7 at home. If you need support or need someone to talk to via email or instant messenger, just email me at ***@****. I know my habit was barely a drop in the bucket compared to you, but I know the mentality, and for whatever reason the withdrawals were REALLY bad with me. I was so depressed and anxiety ridden, that for several days I was convinced I had somehow lost my mind. I never even knew I was going through withdrawals when I first stopped. I thought something else was going on with me... that I had suffered from a mental breakdown due to coming off a steroid or something. The doctor had to tell me I was going through withdrawals. And because I was coming off 3 drugs at once, it was just really hard. Looking back, i see how the pills went from legitimate use to abuse, and I see the timeframe of when as well. I also see how much they boosted me, and how I sort of knew it and relied on it, maybe not completely consciously. I abused pills recreationally before, like Oxy's and so forth, but it was rare and I never really got hooked. Now that I've been hooked and felt the daily use of Vicodin, it's a struggle to not want to do them again casually... See, I was not big into drinking or pot or anything. I just liked to relax and take a pill every now and then. Now I cannot do that because I've been hooked.

[Please Help Me]

First, I want to thank you, "Golden 1" for your beautiful words.  And yes, in the short time that I have been reading this Forum, it has helped me tremendously (as well as scaring the life out of me)!!  Also, you were correct in your assessment.  I was VERY depressed before my surgery and I even thought about relapsing, so really, it is no surprise that this has happened.  Right now I am only taking 2 to 3 Hydro 5/500s a day and I hope that this weekened will be the last!  To Lolli:  I would love to be your email pal!!  My heart cries out to you and I could only imagine what you are going through! Me, on the other hand, has a husband that can justify Hitler's actions!  He means well, but he really is no help when I am trying to tell him that I have a serious problem!!!!  He is the "king" of excuses, perhaps because of his own secret longings.  Lolli, you can email me at: ***@****.  If you live close enough, I will even join you for a meeting! Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers!!

Much Love to you All!

[justalittlehelp]

lolli,

You can email me and I will support you, I am almost 2 weeks clean and starting to feel the best I have felt in 8 years before I started the pills.  I was a Lortab 10mg(40 a day) and Ultram(about 40 a day)user...I quit c/t and went through hell but kept positive and angered.  I made myself get so pissed at the control the bottle of pills had over me I grit me teeth and prayed for the next day...If you want I can give you my e-mail, just let me know.

[hippy]

hi all, just was reading all the post today,
nice to see so many people here getting better,
recovery is change, and the begining of  recovery
is to want it, the key being want!- willingness,
we may not be where we want to be , but just having the desire
to change and get off the pills is the way it starts.
there are different approches to recovery, 12 step programs,
the one here rational recovery,  it seems to me they all work,
but it is our willingness to get better that gets us better.
the principle of reciprocity- we reap what we sow is one
of the big ones, all the recovery programs are about us
getting in touch with reality/ the truth about ourselves and our lives.
there are positives and negitives about addiction,one of the big negitives is denial or blame, the oppisite and positive
of them are acceptance , getting honest and accepting
who we are is a big step.
all the programs are about growing up, most of us  stopped
growing up at some point in our useing, part of growing up
is taking responsabilty for our actions.and getting in touch and learning about spiritual principles, such as honesty,
openmindedness, willingness,acceptance,humilty,
religion is not  the same as spititualty, if it was
we could all get better if we just went to some church.
most of the addicts i have known personaly who have tried the religion route, wind up with a bible in one hand and a playboy in the other.
one extreem or the other,that is the nature of addiction.
wether addiction is a disease or not i do not know,
iwe call it a disease for lack of a better term.
hate,  and racism are acids that destroy the jar that holds them
the 12 wstep programs are based on an awakeaning of the spirit,
that awakeaning is setting aside our differences and coming together as equals, what drugs we used is one of the things we use to seperate ourselves from others, along with age , race ,
religion, lack of religion , sexual preference,
it is not what drug we used that makes us an addict , but rather why we used those drugs,
getting better is about awareness, who we are , where we are wrong, where we will be wrong, and how we can address this problem, it all starts with getting clean, here at this fourm
there is a lot of help with this problem, there is many with a lot of experence, one of the books that helped me in early recovery was THE FOAD LESS TRAVELED BY SCOTT PECK.
also a book called  AWARENESS BY A. DEMELLO.
both books are about spiritualty, since addiction is a spiritual
problem once we put down the drugs, finding out about these type
of solutions are important.in order to stay clean
another good book is  THE SPIRITUALY OF IMPERFECTION..

I DO NOT BELEIVE there are any chance meetings,  we all wound up here at this fourm for a reason, this place is a stepping stone to grater things in eachof our lives, we can get better
and make the world a better place, the more we give the more we get,
peace!!!!!!!!!hippy , sorry for rambling
it is just good to see everyone getting better baby step
bye baby step. we need to remember that we are notso different,
then anyone else here, or at any other recovery program.
addiction is a matter of life and death and it affects lives,
so lets try to be kind, loving and good to all we meet.
we can change the world, just for today. it starts with
one addict helping another.

[theGolden1]

Did you say you quit CT a 40 a day habit of ultram? Was that 40 millagrams or 40 tabs? did you take Lortab with the ultram? I'd like to send you email ... I have a few questions. ***@****

[MrsRat]

I emailed you, but am gonna paste some of what I told you in the email here and add on a few more thoughts.  Not sure how many others here are on Pred, but maybe my experience with it can help you and others.

You said you didn't get the same feeling when you took some painpills after your detox.  I would say that is because you were looking for the feeling we get from the Pred, not the painpills.  Painpills give most a high, but they don't give the 'speeding' feeling that Pred does.  I still take Pred off and on (20 mgs once a day) to keep my eczema under control when it flares.  My Crohn's is in remission at the present time.  I just took some this morning when I got up and I can assure you it's a totally different feeling than I get from the Oxy and Vicodin I take for my pain.

You also did a detox WAY too fast off the Pred.  You should only drop by 2 mgs. every week or so at the most once you get down to 5 or 10 mg. of Pred a day.  Then the best way we've all found to get totally off of it is to take the dose you are on one day, the next day take 1 to 2 mg less, the 3rd day take the higher dose again, 4th day take the 1 to 2 mg less, and do that varied approach for as long as you need, as much as a week maybe, to adjust to the next lower dose.  Once you are ok, then stay on the lower dose until stable ... then do another varied drop.  Continue this till you are down to 1 or 2 mg. a day, then totally stop.  Once you are down to below 2 mg. your glands that have been shut down since you have been on Pred will start to function again.  It takes them awhile to restart, so you may be uncomfortable for a few days, but it's not anything real bad if you have done a slow varied taper while getting off the Pred.  I tried a regular taper off the Pred when I was on it full time for a few months and it didn't work.  When I tried the varied taper (2 mg. drops) I got off of it real easy.

My glands did start working again fairly quickly, but it took me awhile before I could get around someone who was sick and NOT get 3 times as sick as they were, due to my immune system being compromised when on the Pred.  Even these days only taking Pred maybe a couple days a month I will get sick very easily.  It's a nasty drug, but it sure saved my life when my last Crohn's flare hit.