Because I’ve needed prednisone as much as I have, it’s managed to do a number on several of the organs in my body (liver function, weight gain), and has affected my body in a myriad of ways (A1C of 5.8 on some examinations, elevated cholesterol). The newest side effect that seems to have been exacerbated by my need for prednisone seems to have been the gum infection that I mentioned in a previous entry — it’s beginning to look less like a gum infection and more like the beginning stages of periodontal disease, although it happens to be over a bridge in my mouth that I had placed when Bub was extremely young (so it couldn’t have started in a better place, and I mean that, because it is not “over” an active tooth). But the bad thing is that it looks like it is the beginning stages of periodontal disease, because the doses of and frequency at which I have needed prednisone to suppress problematic symptoms of asthma have lowered my immune system that much, and that was one of the trade-offs that had to be made to better my health.

I wish that this was not one of the trade-offs that we had to make, but it appears that we had to make it.

Fortunately for me, the bridge is still cemented into my mouth and does not appear to be showing any signs of “giving”, which is good. Things would be a whole lot worse if the bridge were compromised because of where it had to be placed in my mouth, and it’s not. And the fact that nothing has begun to spread beyond this point is also extremely good, because that is one less thing that I have to worry about. I continue to brush my teeth two to three times a day and use mouthwash, especially “the purple mouthwash”, which is suggested in this situation, and I do try to stay off of prednisone when I can avoid it… but I also acknowledge that in cases like mine, prednisone is a necessary evil, and there’s absolutely nothing that I can do about it.