Hello Constance, never a truer word spoken. When I was first diagnosed with this condition I was lead to believe that this was one of the most simplest conditions to treat. It all began with unbearable pain and stiffness but now you've been prescribed prednisone, all you have to do is follow the tapering guide, that was written by someone who clearly has never had this condition and clearly does not understand it, and within oh, at a push, you'll be clear of it within let's say two years at a push!!!
Well for all of us sufferers we know it's not as simple as that. They forgot to tell us about the flare ups and of course that the condition, because it's a stubborn little bugger, can be with each of us for many years, far exceeding the "oh, just a couple of years"
but as you say, it's visiting sites like this that make us realise that we are not the odd one out, we are not the difficult or different ones, in fact we all have a condition that has a will if its own because we are indeed all different too.
we are educated to understand that there is a much better tapering system, one that's been written by a fellow sufferer, yes it's gonna take longer, and of course they'll be hiccups along the way, but it should see us right in the long term.
i'm still on 10 mgs after a year of this body invasion, and I don't like it, but it's here to stay for a while and and like many others have said, although this is a pain in backside, literally, when it comes to diseases, and medical conditions, things could be a whole lot worse.
thanks to everyone on this forum that writes to my aid when I'm feeling confused and a bit down, especially Eileen whose replies have straightend things out in my mind.
i also would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and all best wishes for the coming new year. Regards, christina, cornwall, England.