Pneumonia and Prednisone after surgery. Anyone on it?
Has anyone had experience with prednisone after WLS? I am going to call the clinic tomorrow to see what they think, but I'm just curious if anyone else had taken it post-op as it is (reportedly), very hard on the tummy.
Referral Sent: March 19, 2010
Surgery date with Dr. Denis Hong: December 9, 2010
I have no direct experience with prednisone after WLS, so take this as third-person information.
This was the most credible information I could find on side-effects, and it's not terrible. It's not great either, but
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601102.htm l
Having had pneumonia (five times) in the last twenty years, I can tell you that you do not mess with it.
Had to be hospitalized in each case - once in ICU, and in serious danger.
Prednisone has risks, yes. But pneumonia can kill you easily.
And your system is already somewhat immunocompromised.
You're definitely right to contact the clinic - but NOT going on the prednisone may endanger your health quite seriously.
One last thing - I started getting the penumo****us shot (I've had it twice now) and it was totally worth it - I haven't had pneumonia since then.
This is the second year in a row now that this has taken me down. Sheesh. I will look into the penumoccus shot because if this is going to be an annual thing for me now, then I will take every precaution to prevent it. It wipes out all of my sick days in one shot.
Saturday, I though maybe if I just got up and got moving around, maybe I would feel better- you know after lying around for a while how you feel out of energy and just plain blue. Anyhow, I ran to the store with my hubby to pick up a birthday present, and just the effort of walking around the store for 10 minutes had me sweating and wheezing, and coughing. Honestly, I could have snuggled up in the corner. In the end I had to jump ship and headed out to the car to recline my seat and rest until my hubby had paid.
Referral Sent: March 19, 2010
Surgery date with Dr. Denis Hong: December 9, 2010
Deb
Tracy
Highest weight ~ 360, Surgery weight ~ 280, Current weight ~ 171
Referral to bariatric registry ~ April 29, 2011 SURGERY ~ September 27, 2011
My 
is Gailupnorth.
Karen
Ontario Recipes Forum - http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/ontario_recipes/ 
Referral Sent: March 19, 2010
Surgery date with Dr. Denis Hong: December 9, 2010
Hope you feel better soon.
Kristie
"Don't trade what you want the most,
for what you want at the moment." 
With respect, there is absolutely no need for you to contact your clinic about this. The doctor is right, this is more important than your concerns about your pouch. It's not an NSAID and the risk of it causing ulcers is very low, especially if you take a PPI with it. I'd get on it right away, and then have your clinic document it in your chart so they have the info, but what other option is there? The clinic isn't going to say no to a treatment for a serious illness, you don't really have another choice of an effective drug, so what exactly are you looking for the clinic to say? Just to give you permission? You should start taking it right away, with a PPI.
