Blog Beginnings

Hi, I'm Grace. Thanks for visiting my blog!

I started this blog to share with you all my experiences as a long time Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) sufferer, and my struggles to wean off steroids. (Read my first post My Disease Defines Me?)

Hospitalized with kidney problems, gastrointestinal and skin problems, joint pains at 24 years of age, I was diagnosed with HSP, put on prednisone, and my life changed forever. Being so sick, for so long, in and out of hospitals in the earlier years of my illness, seeing fellow kidney patients suffer and die... made me think of what really matters in life. I am no longer the driven workaholic perfectionist that would pass up family time to get a little more work done. Life is precious, life is way too short for that.

This blog details how I guinea-pigged myself trying to find a cure and to wean off the steroids over many years. I relapsed repeatedly, but picked myself up each time, and tried again. The weaning regimen given by my doctors had failed to work for me (I kept relapsing each time I tried getting off the steroids), so they concluded that I would have to take the drugs for the rest of my life. I refused to accept that - steroids have so many horrid side effects, I imagined dying from steroid-related issues before the HSP itself killed me! 


There is not much information out there on HSP and how to wean off corticosteroids such as prednisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, etc. I combed through thousands of articles online and in medical texts, trying to put together something that made sense to me. 'Weaning off Prednisone, Hydrocortisone, Corticosteroids' was the result and is probably what brought you to my blog. 


In case you're wondering, yes, I am better. I have been steroid free for 8 months now and have even competed in a few triathlons. And I feel great!


I'll be updating my blog regularly. Please follow me as I continue to post on 'Health Matters'!


xo Gracie



Gracie is a Blogaholic (and trying to make a living out of it). Below are her other blogs:

Whenever I Feel Like It. My first blog, first foray into narcissism.
We are Family. Family updates.
Putting My Best Foot Forward. All things Green.
Health Matters. Dealing with illness and Beating it! (This blog!)
Ants in My Pants! Roach ranching, bug petting, and insect pest control.
Frugal Girl. Gracie's money saving and money making schemes.
Grace's Tri-bulations. Gracie's unabashed bragging about her athletic achievements.
Faces of Races. Races I've attended/spectated.
Gracie Cooks! My favorite recipes.
P90X does Gracie! Crows about incredible physical feats accomplished by Gracie, such as an actual pull up.
A Legal Alien. Documents my immigration woes and life in the US of A.