Anyone on the medication called Prednisone? Could our medical condition be a somatic reaction to ou

[Carolyn252]

One of our BackYardChickens.com members happened to mention in a private email to me that she is taking prednisone for her rheumatoid arthritis; and then I read another post from another member who was on prednisone for her inflammatory condition, and another who was taking it for her autoimmune condition.

I've been taking prednisone daily and will have to be on it for at least a year; my condition is polymyalgia rheumatica; very painful. All of those conditions are similar and related. All of us are privately wondering why and how their particular condition began. I've been imagining all sorts of triggers: Did I get this condition because of something I eat, or because of something in my environment, or because it's familial, or because of lack of sleep? stress? coffee? sugar substitutes? hair spray? diet meal packets? If we knew what caused the condition, we'd know what to do to cure the condition.

One prednisone-taking member wondered aloud to me if she could possibly be allergic to her backyard chickens. She said her condition got much worse each time she visited a poultry show. She's on her way to finding an allergy specialist to get herself medically tested.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing. But the reason for this post is to find out how many of us chicken-keeping people are taking prednisone. It's an anti-inflammatory medication and is used for all sorts of immune system conditions: lupus, scleraderma, allergies, hives, as well as rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, etc. It's a "magic" pill and reverses the muscles' inflammation so thoroughly that the pain is gone. As long as you keep taking the prednisone.

I'd be sad to give up my chickens, but long term use of prednisone has so many dangerous side effects, (osteoporosis, high blood sugar and diabetes, stomach bleeding, etc.) it would be wonderful to be cured just by getting rid of our chickens.

Please post a reply if you keep chickens and have developed a condition that's being treated with prednisone.

Thanks!!!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Autoimmune disease has shot up in industrialized countries as infectious disease rates have declined. This is a huge area of scientific research right now. One group of thought suspects that it has to do with improper immune system development either due to killing off too much bacteria (bacteria is mostly what we are all made up of) or due to the body overreacting in response to too great a dearth of pathogens. The other is leaning towards heavy environmental factors found in industrialized countries, such as pollution, synthetic chemical use, etc. Personally, I suspect the latter features heavily and combines with issues related to the former.


Recently diagnosed with PCOS and have been battling autoimmune issues that have worsened through life. Have found some relief, but am still working towards healing. I've never owned a chicken myself. But that doesn't mean that you are not allergic to something like feather dander, dust mites, etc. Chickens are unlikely to be the actual *root* of your health issues, but if for whatever reason you are prone to allergies and sensitivities, chickens could certainly be an irritant and contributing factor.

Is it possible for you to vacation somewhere away from your birds for a while? That would help you see if their absence will bring any relief.

 

[dawg53]

I believe it's safe to say that autoimmune diseases have been here all along, maybe genetic as well. It has been advances in knowledge, testing and detection that has brought all these autoimmune diseases to light. Whereas in the past, they were passed off as something else...even as death by natural causes for example. As far as prednisone goes; it stopped the hardening of tissues in my previous wifes lower right lung due to scleroderma...and I am grateful for that.

 

[memphis]

I'm on a daily dose of pred for lupus. Was diagnosed 10 years before getting chicken. My mom & two of her sisters had lupus as well. To my knowledge I'm not allergic to anything, including poison ivy. Not sure if there is a link between autoimmune issues & allergies. I'm my case it seems to he familiar. There are a lot of studies trying to figure out what triggers the manifestion of autoimmune diseases.

 

[memphis]

Dawg makes a great point. Only in the last 20 years have they made great strides in diagnosing these types of issues. When I was diagnosed they did a nuclear antibody test. I remember back in the 70 ' s they couldn't figure out what was wrong with my aunt.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Yes, autoimmune diseases have always been around. So has PCOS, diabetes, etc. It is the rate of increase in non-pathological disease that is generating strong scientific interest, as they are finding better medical coverage/testing and simple inheritance are not offering suitable explainations. There is a really interesting study I will try to find and post at a later date that compared two very genetically similar populations with a shared traditional diet. Rates of Celiac's disease increased within the group living in an area that was becoming more industrialized despite these similarities. Right before I moved states, the university I worked at was doing fascinating work with gut bacteria in rats that covered everything from Crohn's to obesity.

I should have said "rates of non-pathological disease and allergies are increasing". I do believe we will find them to be largely linked, but time and research will tell.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

It seems that even though steroids have awesome uses for inflammation, it is a medication commonly used by physicians when other things fail. We see it a lot in the veterinary field. Animals don't respond to treatments so we send them home on steroids and voila, they do well. I often wonder how many times people end up on the same thin because doctors just aren't quite sure what is causing the ailment, or how else to help. Of course, a patient that can speak does tend to make things easier (sometimes! )

I don't think chickens would have much to do with muscle inflammation. If anything, I would expect more respiratory reactions from the feather dust created by birds. It's still a type of inflammation, but generally more acute in nature and may be accompanied by itchiness and redness or hives.

It certainly would be nice to have something easy to do to get rid of symptoms though! I've been a juvenile diabetic for 21 years and I would love a cure! So I can certainly empathize.

 

[appaloosakeeper]

I live with rheumatoid arthritis. Although I don't take prednisone daily I do take it when I am having a bad flare. I have a love/hate relationship with the medication. I don't believe my diagnosis has anything to do with poultry.
Tammie

 

[StupidBird]

Nice to find this as I'm sitting here loaded up on the injection and prednisolone and two inhalers, and an antibiotic. All of which cause insomnia and mood problems, high heart rate and funky blood sugars (low). Currently shaking and twitchy all day with the lovely panicky feeling. The diagnosis of the week is asthmatic bronchitis.

Mine is mostly genetic...thanks both Mom and Dad. Throw in some nasty damage from chemical exposures. Allergic to everything. Going to the specialist referral Thursday to see if I'll ever be able to go back to work. Lost job ten years ago due to constant anaphylactic allergic reactions, etc.

I really hope I am not allergic to chickens.

 

[therarebreed]

My husband has been on Prednisone for a long time, he has gout and has had it since he was a young man. I don't think it's allergy related, but i do know that when he is stressed at work, or any other time, he has major flare ups. Also, when he eats something he shouldn't he'll have a flare up.

I'm curious about the allergy to poultry possibly being a trigger for you.