My Healing Journey

`SIDE EFFECTS ENCOUNTERED'

Getting healed is a journey.I had a very unique and scary journey.The side effects I experienced were a bit shocking and instilled fear in me most of the time.

Increased weight

Taking prednisone increased my appetite.I remember eating like I had just given birth.My appetite was beyond control.I could take breakfast and feel hungry immediately.

Being overweight is not an easy thing.Especially when its beyond your control.The kind of eating I was eating caused a lot of bloating in my stomach.This means I welcomed acidity due to too much food in the stomach.To add on that, the prednisone tablet however small it was, it increased acidity as well.

Being a lady, having a masculine body is tormenting.At some point, my shoulders became broader.I developed a buffalo hump at my back.My stomach became so big, you could think I was pregnant.My waistline grew by 4inches.My hips became exaggerated.

I felt tired all the time.

Increased blood sugar levels

A week after being discharged from the hospital, whenever I drank water, I felt it tasted sugary/fruity.All I could conclude is that the water I was taking was not soft or it had that taste.

My left hand became shaky.I could feel pain in my arms.All I could think of is that my muscles were in pain.Little did I know, I had too much sugar than my body could handle.

Thanks to the doctor, he realized something is wrong during my routine check up.He prescribed Glucoplus tablets, which I took for about 8weeks.The tablets worked well, though they left me abit weak in the morning after doing work outs.I decided to take one orange very morning before doing workouts.

I enrolled in the gym later on.I worked really hard, not missing any of the sessions.The gym instructor understood my health issues, so he worked with me step by step till my body started to respond.I was able to eliminate the excess salts in the body that had resulted to water retention hence increasing weight.

Going to the gym, stabilized my blood pressure as well as improved my breathing system as I used to experience shortness of breath when climbing stairs or walking fast.

Increase blood Pressure

I experienced swelling on my feet due to high blood pressure.I mark this day in my life when I left my ward room to access the upper floor just to exercise and do some walking.I lifted my leg briskly thinking I had the same strength I had before.To my shock, my legs could not handle the lifting, I almost lost balance but luckly enough I noticed early enough before the fall.I held on the rails for support.

The blood pressure increased the moment the prednisone dosage was tappered to a lower dosage.The doctor knew this would happen, so he hesitated to discharge me.

I was advised to take cold water instead of warm water to lower my blood pressure.I gladly took the option which kind of worked though I experience high heart bit rate.

Muscle spasm

I experienced involuntary muscle contrations both in the hospital and at home.At the hospital reception while walking to fetch water from the dispenser, I experienced involuntary muscle contraction on my chest and my back at once, accompanied with a sharp pain on my chest.I almost thought I was having a heart attack.

I immediately rushed to my ward and lay on the bed still in pain.I Prayed and hoped for the pain to disappear.

Sometimes I experienced pelvic muscle movement that was really painful.I could hardly walk.

The far I have come, I can only afford to say it's by God's Grace.All the above side effects and yet alive to write this.

My life was at a cirtical state but God used the doctors and also gave me wisdom to overcome the above side effects and many more.

Bloating

Have you ever experienced bloating till you feel like your stomach might be bursting soon.I reached to this point in time.

my stomach got swollen immediately after eating and had alot of trapped gas.

Going to the Gym helped me have bowel movement.

Eating watermelon eased the intensity of the bloating.

Altered Sleeping patterns

At the hospital with high dosage for prednisone, I managed to sleep at intervals of 3hrs.My sleep could not last for more than 3hrs.

I got into deep sleeps but very short.

To make it worse, I took the meds 20mins before going to bed and the tablet remained in the system for 16-22hrs which means the side effects remained active the entire night.

After discharge the doctor advised me to take the meds at 05.00pm to allow me catch some sleep at night.This helped abit though the state was not 100% normal.Sometimes I could lack sleep at mid-night though better than before.

Acid Reflux

This is the worst side effect I have ever experienced.Burning sensation in my stomach, chest, upper shoulders and lower arms is something I can hardly explain.

I could not eat food of my choice due to acidity.I remember relying on the antacids.Some of the antacids caused abnormal bowel movement.I tried so hard to check on my diet but each day I lived under fear of an attack.

The most effective remedy that worked for me was drinking cold water.

Now amonth later after stopping prednisone, I have had an attack once and Iam slowly learning to overcome it without medication.

My experience with high acidity level in the body is abit scary and foreign for me.I take a chance to learn everyday.I am slowly getting back to my healthy body once again.

By,

Faith Nyanchera Omari