12 -day course of prednisone for post-X-mas-time flu bronchitis ?

[Anonymous]

was prescribed antibiotics- Z-pack did nothing. Then upper lungs became super raw and painful, coughing upon talking. Less coughing when I don't talk, yet raw even to breathe. Dr doesn't think I have pneumonia. Was prescribed a 6 day tapered dose pack of methylprednilosone. After 1st day of 24 mg total, felt better, then today on 3 rd day, (8 mgs into the 3rd day), back to square one lung pain. Dr said the dose apparently wasn't high enough, so today prescribed 12 days of prednisone, starting at 60 mg for 4 days, and tapering off, 40 for 4 days, then 20 for last 4 days. Does this sound like a very high dose, or necessary, since smaller does pack didn't work? Worried about scary side effects like steroid psychosis, hallucinations, rage, adrenal crashing, etc. Anyone had this high a does for bronchitis or pneumonia with no ill-effects?

[Anonymous]

I have. Every couple years I get a really bad case of bronchitis that antibiotics alone wont clear so I have to take steroids. I do the 12 days of steriods. For me the side effects I get are that my face gets round and I am extremely hungry so I gain a little weight but that is more towards the end of completing the round. A week or so and I'm back to normal. Minus the hacking my lungs out.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I've done this dosage 2-3 times for post-illness cough with no scary side effects. Sometimes the pred makes me sort of generally crummy -- not a lot of energy, a little grumpy, just overall blah. But I've never had serious side effects.

And some people feel amazing on pred! A friend of mine took it recently for an allergic reaction and felt great.

[Anonymous]

OP here- thanks for replies, PP's. Mr Dr reduced dose to 40 mg early because of leg cramps, insomnia, and sweating on my first dose. Still feel super raw upper lung area. How long does it take for the lungs to heal??? Feels like nothing really has improved much...

[Anonymous]

Have you had a chest X-ray?

[Anonymous]

Not yet.

[Anonymous]

This is what I’ve been dealing with. I’m on week 3 now of fighting this. Was prescribed a z-pack after 2 weeks but continued having issues with shortness of breath and chest tightness and incessant coughing. Doctor prescribed prednisone to try to clear up lungs. I felt immediate relief in my lungs on day one but now on day 3 am feeling some shortness of breath once again. Continue to have tickly cough which is keeping me up most of the night and is not allowing my lungs to fully recover. Have 2 more days of prednisone but not sure what next step would be. Am concerned about developing pneumonia If I can’t kick this. Anyone have any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I’m on week 5 of bronchitis. I also had a sinus infection at the same time do not sure which is responsible for the coughing. Sinus infection totally cleared up after 4 weeks. Bronchitis still lasting. I never had a nighttime cough in this whole sickness. No fever either. Went to the dr. After 2 weeks an they said I’m fine, just wait it out. The first 3 weeks weee bad then it slowly got better. Now I mainly have as morning cough with occasional cough throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

yes, had exact symptoms as OP, like 4 or 5 years ago. I had to be re-weaned off because my adrenals and back were hurting and throbbing. Had some hair loss afterwards. Definitley got angrier than usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes, had exact symptoms as OP, like 4 or 5 years ago. I had to be re-weaned off because my adrenals and back were hurting and throbbing. Had some hair loss afterwards. Definitley got angrier than usual.

wait- this thread was from 2015! might have been me! feel better, whoever revived this!