I am 61 and have been taking prednisone for over 3 years without a successful taper. My journey begans with a cardiac ablation for PVC’s , that ended with my heart being punctured during the precedure. I came home after 2 days in the hospital without a problem. On the 3 day, pain in my chest was unbearable. I thought it was a heart attach. Called the Dr., he prescribed a prednisone pack, like you take for poison ivy. A week  so later, I was in the ER with the same pain. More prednisone, higher dose. ER visits have been to many to count by now. Many chest exrays, ultra sounds, echos, with no sign of fluid around the pericardium.

Last ER visit, June 2012, this time it was pleruisy. Seems this inflamation just move around in my upper body. So higher doses of prednisone and send home to taper again. Today I had a bad day, as I have been trying to taper and the pain comes back, this time in my shoulder and right chest. I took 25 mg. today and am pain free now.

My problem other than addiction to prednisone is that no Dr. will treat me. My cardi says its not his problem, even my primary will not treat me. Says she will not prescribe prednisone. An endo. Dr. at John Hopkins prescribed me 1 mg. tablets last year with refil, however, I am down to my last bottle and using fast.. The endo was my thyroid Dr., had the thryoid removed last Aug., anyway, I would like to know if anyone out there knows a Dr. in the D.C/ Baltimore Metro area that they have used that treats prednisone addiction? I am lost to fix this., with no help so far, unless I end up in the ER, then that is only a temp. fix.

I went to my regular Dr. last week, as follow up to ER and she said, ”It sucks to be addicted to prednisone doesn’t it. ”  Told me she couldn’t find anything wrong with me and was ready to leave, Iask if she could at least do blood work, make sure all was o.k., since I was on this drug. She signed the lab slip.I still have it, don’t even want to do that.. just depressed about the entire ordeal at this point.

Thanks for listening.