Prednisone and IFN

[simpleman]

I called my doc yesterday but he wasn't there because him and another GI go to Central America a couple times a year to treat people for free. A commendable thing to do ,but it makes them short handed. The nurse told me to call my family doctor. The colchicine for gout isn't working. It has moved from my toe to my elbow and REALLY hurts. The doc gave me a shot of prednisone and a pack of pills with 1 less per day for a week. My question is I think prednisone is an immunosupprecent and IFN is the opposite, so are the two drugs working against each other? Idon't want to jepordise my treatment but I don,t think I could handle the pain  for another 10 weeks. Vicoden didn't help at all. Don't have to touch it , just look a little too hard at it really makes it hurt.

[MichaelT]

I don't think you will have any issues for the short duration (1 week) of treatment. One worry with prednisone is masking of infections - you already know about and are treating one.

[oldhippiechick67]

www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/diseasesandconditions/invoke.cfm?id=DS00090

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/gout/gout.htm

I checked out these sites, and they both recommend Ibuprophen, Advil, Motrin for the gout (rather than Vicodan) plus the stuff you were taking without relief (colchicine).  And the short term use of the prednisone - that 7 day pack of pills.  Sounds like that is what you should try since the pain is unbearable and your Hep Dr is out of town.  Maybe Erin can give you her ideas on this since she is more familiar with the tx drugs & all.   Good luck to you in relieving your agony!   OHC67

[latrobe]

hey
saw your photo oon the hepsong website. i also posted under dragondays a new self portrait that is post treatment...think it will make you and others laugh.
funny you kind of look like what i had in mind--except your hair is not as dark....you look great.
after being here daily--or six or ten times aday--for over a year it's really fine to see some faces.
best
m.

[Steve']

Hi there I am eager to see all the pictures & stuff you all talk about, our happy HCV family from this forum are on it apparently ... I went to the hepsong site but couldn't see anything about us, what am I not doing wrong..Somethings wrong, is there a hidden section I don't know about or is there a password to get in... I'm fogging up here hahaha help appreciated ........

[AK - Hepper]

silly Aussie, just click where it says photos on the left side of the page :-) haha

[Galen]

Only members can view the photos.  It is easy to join, just click on "Join this Group" toward the center left of the page.
Once you are a member, you will need to sign on each time you go to the site.

[oldhippiechick67]

Thanks latrobe, glad you got the picture....hahahaha lol, anyways, remember CHAT TONITE at  ....  brain fog....uh I think 9PM Central, 8 Mountain 7 Pacific  errrr ummmm 10 Eastern.  I had the URL all fixed and figured out, went back to find the time and came back, my post had vanished....grrrrr  its
   www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/hepsongs/chat   I THINK!!  see ya there!!  OHC67

[simpleman]

Thanks everyone. I can't believe how much beter a shot of prednisone and 24 hours make you feel. I can remember my Grandpa having gout. He was a lineman back when they actually climbed poles. I don't think he ever missed work. They didn't really have anything for gout then. I can't imagine how he did it Makes me feel like a wimp. That generation must have been some tough ol birds. Everybody have a great weekend.