Anonymous wrote:My wife of 19 years was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017. Through a course of radiation and immunology treatment she now has no evidence of cancer. The problem is she continues to take prednisone and other hormone therapy. She has insomnia, has all the side effects of prednisone (weight gain, swelling), is very lethargic, is very short with me and the kids. She really stays up all night, sleeps until noon, then does her job from home. She is usually on the couch with wine by 7:00. Of course, sex and intimacy has been non-existent for the last two years, she generally falls asleep on the couch. I feel like she isn’t doing the types of things she needs to to actually go on living. If you research on line, she should be trying light exercise like yoga or Pilates, she should be going to a counselor, and I question whether someone can stay on prednisone for years. I don’t know why I am writing. It’s just hard. I’ve previously had doubts about our relationship, and this has really been a challenge for what seems like a long time. Is there hope? How do I suggest she talk more to the doctor about the medication? Or ask her to do things like go on walks with me, etc.? She doesn’t want to talk when I bring these things up.

Anonymous wrote:No evidence of cancer after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis is a freaking miracle.

Anonymous wrote:At her next check-up, you should accompany her to her doctor and ask whether she has to stay on Prednisone.

If she is lethargic with weight gain, it could also be due to hypothyroidism, which causes weight gain, fatigue and depression. So she should get bloodwork to test for thyroid function as well as anemia and any other common condition that might explain her current state. Hypothyroidism is very common in women after a certain age, so what you're seeing could be hypo + prednisone. Someone who is severely hypo will not be alert enough to go to the doctor on their own.

DCUM has a tendency to jump on mental health causes, but first, you must always rule out physical causes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At her next check-up, you should accompany her to her doctor and ask whether she has to stay on Prednisone.

If she is lethargic with weight gain, it could also be due to hypothyroidism, which causes weight gain, fatigue and depression. So she should get bloodwork to test for thyroid function as well as anemia and any other common condition that might explain her current state. Hypothyroidism is very common in women after a certain age, so what you're seeing could be hypo + prednisone. Someone who is severely hypo will not be alert enough to go to the doctor on their own.

DCUM has a tendency to jump on mental health causes, but first, you must always rule out physical causes.

Prednisone causes weight gain, plus she's at that age.

Anonymous wrote:At her next check-up, you should accompany her to her doctor and ask whether she has to stay on Prednisone.

If she is lethargic with weight gain, it could also be due to hypothyroidism, which causes weight gain, fatigue and depression. So she should get bloodwork to test for thyroid function as well as anemia and any other common condition that might explain her current state. Hypothyroidism is very common in women after a certain age, so what you're seeing could be hypo + prednisone. Someone who is severely hypo will not be alert enough to go to the doctor on their own.

DCUM has a tendency to jump on mental health causes, but first, you must always rule out physical causes.

Anonymous wrote:My wife of 19 years was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017. Through a course of radiation and immunology treatment she now has no evidence of cancer. The problem is she continues to take prednisone and other hormone therapy. She has insomnia, has all the side effects of prednisone (weight gain, swelling), is very lethargic, is very short with me and the kids. She really stays up all night, sleeps until noon, then does her job from home. She is usually on the couch with wine by 7:00. Of course, sex and intimacy has been non-existent for the last two years, she generally falls asleep on the couch. I feel like she isn’t doing the types of things she needs to to actually go on living. If you research on line, she should be trying light exercise like yoga or Pilates, she should be going to a counselor, and I question whether someone can stay on prednisone for years. I don’t know why I am writing. It’s just hard. I’ve previously had doubts about our relationship, and this has really been a challenge for what seems like a long time. Is there hope? How do I suggest she talk more to the doctor about the medication? Or ask her to do things like go on walks with me, etc.? She doesn’t want to talk when I bring these things up.

Anonymous wrote:My wife of 19 years was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017. Through a course of radiation and immunology treatment she now has no evidence of cancer. The problem is she continues to take prednisone and other hormone therapy. She has insomnia, has all the side effects of prednisone (weight gain, swelling), is very lethargic, is very short with me and the kids. She really stays up all night, sleeps until noon, then does her job from home. She is usually on the couch with wine by 7:00. Of course, sex and intimacy has been non-existent for the last two years, she generally falls asleep on the couch. I feel like she isn’t doing the types of things she needs to to actually go on living. If you research on line, she should be trying light exercise like yoga or Pilates, she should be going to a counselor, and I question whether someone can stay on prednisone for years. I don’t know why I am writing. It’s just hard. I’ve previously had doubts about our relationship, and this has really been a challenge for what seems like a long time. Is there hope? How do I suggest she talk more to the doctor about the medication? Or ask her to do things like go on walks with me, etc.? She doesn’t want to talk when I bring these things up.