Hi!
First, please don't apologize if you have a lot to say; it may just indicate that people may not have been listening to you! Having things that need to be said is NOT a social faux pas!
In addition to being a patient, I am also a Psychologist (retired). I do not believe in 'somatization disorder'; nor do I believe in 'psychosomatic' illnesses. People who use tired, worn-out old phrases such as these are revealing much more about themselves (and their ignorance) than about soave knmeone else. Notice that you never hear anything about 'somato-psychich' disorders (suggesting that a physical illness causes emotional problems), and it is well-documented that anything that causes pain, especially chronically, can CERTAINLY cause 'emotional' problems such as depression and anxiety!
I consider myself knowledgeable about Prednisone from an educational standpoint, but mostly from a personal one. My advice to you is; heed the conventional wisdom about it -- use it for the short-term only. From painful, personal experience, I can tell you that long-term use of it can do exactly what the Patient Information sheet says -- it can cause osteoporosis and seriously disrupt the endocrine system. I am an old woman; I had Rheumatic Fever as a child, and was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age five. That was only the beginning; since that time, I have had additional diagnoses as I developed conditions secondary to the original autoimmune condition. One part of the endocrine is called the 'HPA-axis'; hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal. Such a vital part of the body's functioning! When I was young, the only 'treatment' for RA was bed-rest! So when Prednisone was first on the market, I, in my teens, eagerly tried it. Wow! For the first time in my life, I could do all sorts of things I could never do before; I was limber and energetic! Best of all, I was pain-free for the first time in my memory! However, I was only allowed to have it during severe exacerbations. However, when I became pregnant at age 19, I was completely symptom-free (ignorant as I was, I assumed that I was 'cured'! Unfortunately, just hours after giving birth, my body became cruelly, horribly contorted. I was in agony and BEGGING for Prednisone. They gave it to me, as it was considered a 'wonder drug' and, from then on in, I took it whenever I could convince a doctor to prescribe it! It felt so GREAT to be free of those horrible, crippling symptoms! In my twenties, I became very athletic; I was a runner, a fencer and a tennis-player. I was involved in equestrian activities and various forms of dance. By my forties, I had added weight-lifting! I thought I was Superwoman! Little did I know that I would cause my endocrine system irreparable harm. I developed symptoms that were MUCH worse that RA -- severe weakness, loss of consciousness and, worst of all, cognitive problems. I became easily lost and often could not figure out where I was or what I was doing. I was in graduate school by then, and had to drop out -- several times. Not only because of terrible short-term memory problems, but because I couldn't drive. I got lost! I would end up driving around and around aimlessly because I could not remember where I lived; eventually, I could not even walk around the block alone! Truly! I could not remember how to get back! I went to doctor after doctor and got that wonderful IAIYH diagnosis; 'It's all in your head' !! I got weaker and weaker, smaller and smaller - I weighed less than 90 pounds! My BP plummeted to dangerous levels; still, since no doctors knew what it was, I got the label of a Depressed Woman. You know------"psychosomatic". Even the psychiatrist agreed that I was nuts!! I knew, however, that there was something organically wrong with me; I simply could not convince anyone else. In those days, owing to the influence of the 'wonderful' Sigmeund Freud, all women were assumed to be hysterical. I knew very well that I was dying, but I just kept getting those awful diagnoses; anxiety-ridden, depressed woman. After more than 2 years of that, having lost my school financial assistance, my job and more, I was finally admitted to a hospital. After nearly 3 weeks, I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease; I was producing ZERO cortisol, and cortisol is the only hormone which humans MUST have in order to live! I was right all along! I later learned that un-treated Addison's is always fatal! I was put on Prednisone right away and was all right within 2 days; ALL symptoms had disappeared!! I had to have supplementation from that time on -- only it should have been Hydrocortisone, which is not nearly so hard on the body.
Eventually, years later, it was found that the damage was worse than anyone had thought; technically it was NOT Addison's; instead, Prednisone usage had affected the pituitary!! So my diagnosis was - and IS - Hypo-pituitarism. Look it up and see if you want to risk having that! I also developed osteoporosis - in my 30's!
I cannot say that I wish I had never tried Prednisone; I CAN say, however, that I wish I had taken the warnings seriously !
The fact that you feel so much better tells me that you have something else in addition to (or instead of) Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). There is no apparent medical reason that Prednisone should affect FMS at all. I hope you, first of all, see an Endocrinologist and have your entire endocrine system checked. You will need to get levels of cortisol, ACTH, all of the estrogens, testosterone, DHEA and more! (BTW, I do not produce any testosterone at all; I lost all of my ancillary hair and my libido at the same time. I have to have everything artificially supplemented; and supplementation does NOT nearly approximate the real thing! Also, having to take fistfuls of pills, injections and creams is not my idea of fun.
It IS a wonder drug, as they told me back in the 1950's; it is also a killer and should be used only occasionally.
Lastly, I hope that you get some Psychological counseling as well; with someone who has knowledge of the 'emotional' effects of somatic illnesses. Currently, I believe that the best-trained people are most likely medical social workers -- MSW's and LCSW's. If your city has a NASW chapter, that would likely be a good source for a referral; another idea would be to call the Social Work Department of local hospitals; try to get someone associated with a hospital or medical practice.
Please feel free to contact me at any time; please take good care of your Self - it is the only Self you will ever have.