"Coping with Prednisone"

The local library finally came through and I quickly read Coping with Prednisone.

This book is invaluable and gives a lot of good advice about how to cope.

Diet tips, like no salt, no sugar and recipes are helpful. Those are simple things I can follow through with.

What was also helpful was reading that Eugenia Zuckerman, one of the authors together with her sister, had so many of the side-effects I had, including some I was ignoring, because I just couldn't believe the effect was related.

I'm referring to the eyesight issue. My eyes could suddenly become blurry and then moments later be OK again. Right now, they're OK...today that is.

Finally, the mood swings. Eugenia devotes a lot of time to this and rightly so.

This by far is the most difficult thing for family to deal with. I have little control of what yesterday's NYTimes Science Section article calls, "my imp."

Oh yes! As the Yiddish saying goes....if it's on my lungs (read heart), then it's on my tongue.

How very apt! Stoically, MyMan takes the brunt. In the book, Eugenia Z interviews her former husband to ask how she behaved during the treatment, and he simply said she was "nuts."

'Nuff said.

I did envy the fact that Eugenia was able to continue to work, albeit with tremendous stress.

Also enviable: the support system of shiatsu massage and chiropractic work. Lucky woman!

One result from reading the book: bicycling will be added to the yoga routine and diet will focus on health, not losing weight right now.

Hopefully, there will be time, G-d willing, after I'm better to focus on appearances. A subject for the next post.