My body was screaming out - Whoa baby, did we just hit a wall this morning?  Where’s those steroids?

It was these shakes which quickly convinced me that my body needed the taper.  I didn’t feel achy or muscle crampy... yet... but that would come later.  So I took two pills as instructed and followed up with two more in the evening.  Every two days, I stepped down another pill until today I am only taking two pills total.  Tomorrow it will be only one.

Besides the extreme EXTREME fluid retention and moodiness, this round of steroids has been uneventful.  It worked very quickly for which I am thankful.  I’ve been down this road several times before and know that it takes about three full weeks before I will begin to feel totally myself.  Not weak and wiped out from the steroids.

It has been only one and a half weeks though.  I am anxious to feel “normal” again and be strong.  But it will take time to recuperate.  Yesterday was a glorious day outside and I wanted so much to be able to help do some fall yard clean up.  I was able to collect fallen twigs and branches so that someone else could mow.  That took me forever as I rested so much more than I worked during one single hour.

So I guess in re-reading this post, I’m not really talking so much about steroid tapers.  I’m just thinking about taking care of myself.  Listening to my body and giving it what it needs at the right time.  Needless to say, I did NOT go out shopping over the weekend to buy lots of stuff on sale.  I rested and slept...a lot!!

What did you do over the weekend?  Have any good stories to tell?

Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.