To what extent can you make your case to the doctors? I don't know shit, but it sounds like prednisone is not 100%   ffa  required and that they are making a choice. Can you request not to take it or deny consent to it? Will you die if not for the drug, because you should be able to insist you take the risk if not? If they just want you for their study, you should tell them where to go. You're not their lab rat. There are times when your desire to help needs to be suppressed.  I honestly want to tell you that it can't be that bad and that freedom from dialysis will be worth every bit, but I don't know. I would never give someone a mindless platitude like that. It absolutely sounds like a nightmare. I don't want facial hair or bloating and my hair is my favourite feature. I also bet you're pretty acclimatised to dialysis at this point so I definitely see the attraction of sticking with it. A steroid could also affect your fertility anyway, no? Apart from hoping for another option, perhaps they would only need you on the drug for a little while. Can you switch to something else after? I would really hope you can just deny it as long as it's not medically necessary. I'm still excited that you're getting your transplant, though.