Here we go again - you know I was so happy last year when my doctor had advised I no longer had to take this drug called Prednisone. I started to go back to a some what normal life without it. I was living with ITP however didn't need to medicate and it actually felt great.
I suppose when you first find out you have ITP all you want to do is tackle it head on and take conventional treatments options because you just want to get rid of it. I think this is a normal reaction, when something is bad we remove it from our lives, it's an instinct almost. However once you learn more about this condition and the effects of medication, along with understanding there is no cure, you start to understand that if your platelets levels are at least above 20,000 then it's ok to live without the medication and although you are a little more cautious you start to ignore you have ITP and start getting on with things. Obviously apart form the hospital checkups or should I say check ins.
I will never forget my reaction when my doctor had told me Kylie you've had a drop in your levels which means we need to put you back on Prednisone. I was just sitting there shaking my head and saying "no thanks I feel fine, no need for that - I'll pass thank you very much." However it was my mother whom talked sense into me and said "Kylie your levels are too low hunny it's not an option." I suppose I could have chosen other conventional treatment options however my doctor already knew that prednisone was a more comfortable option for me especially since I haven't given up hope on having another baby therefore prednisone is the safest option.
My reluctant reaction to taking prednisone again is due to the side effects I had experienced on the first round. I was a real mess, easily irritated, not sleeping well, cranky and a real bitch. I honestly was not myself but I couldn't control my reactions. I even lost some friends over who I was when on prednisone because they didn't understand- well they knew what was happening however couldn't comprehend that a drug could make someone not themselves. But when I think about it were they really my friends considering I was going though some very personal issues in regards to my health and they didn't stand by me? Clearly not.
Even my husbands reaction when I told him I had to go back on prednisone was bad. I believe his first words were "oh no not that one that made you a cranky bitch." I replied back "yes hunny that is the one, strap yourself in."
Thankfully those whom are my family and true friends understood and know that I am not myself when I'm on prednisone. My bestie even came down the other day and asked my husband "so she's back on prednisone - has she been rageing?." My husband replied "she hasn't been as bad this time around."
This round of prednisone is complete and I got to say it was much better then last time. Fingers crossed at my next check up that my levels stabilize above 20,000 and I can get back to living without medication and be nice Kylie once more.