At the first sign of a viral infection (scratchy throat, sneezing, or runny nose) I immediately take extra Vitamin C (maybe one tablet every hour), and I continue taking it frequently and regularly, sometimes for several weeks. The symptoms ALWAYS go away within the first couple of hours, but if I then STOP taking the Vitamin C too soon, the symptoms will return. I also take other immunity-enhancing supplements when fighting a virus, such as Vitamin A,medicinal mushrooms, arabinogalactan, garlic, elderberry, astragalus, oil of oregano, and olive leaf extract. I’m a little hesitant to take not only these, but some others, too, such as echinacea and cat’s claw, because I fear that they may increase the autoimmune problem by boosting immunity. However, with this procedure, I have been successful in preventing a full-blown cold for several years now, even though I’ve been on this immune-depressing corticosteroid drug, prednisone.

Do you think that I am on the right track with my anti-viral regimen, or am I hurting my chances of ever getting off prednisone? [If I gradually lower my prednisone dose too far (yes, under doctor's supervision), my inflammatory markers rise and my polymyalgia symptoms begin to return.]