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Kenalog injection - anxiety worries??

Posted , 4 users are following.

thomas96833
thomas96833

Hello,

After some advice please?

I have dealt with chronic allergic sinusitis for around 20 months now. It started from a cold that basically wouldn't go away. My sinuses are constantly inflamed and swollen and so far do not respond to any treatment.

Everyday, I am congested, have balance trouble, headaches, sinus pain etc etc and a massive amount of fatigue. My eyes are also black and swollen, it's not a good look. It's really impacted my life and it's making me depressed / my anxiety through the roof. How can you not panic when you are so dizzy and fatigued all the time?

The only tablet I have felt 100% on is prednisolone which is a steroid. I took 30mg for 5 days and my sinus troubles vanished, it was amazing. However, for the 5 days I didn't sleep and my anxiety was on over drive, as in uncontrollable shaking all day everyday as though I had 12 coffee's.

The doctors now want to try an kenalog injection which should offer relief for 3-6 months. (ENTs have been no help). He has however warned me that many doctors won't prescribe this anymore due to risk of side effects. He feels the benefits definitely outweight the risks and given the length of time suffering plus depression, it will help wonders and my mood will pick up once my energy returns and sinus problems clear.

My only worry is that if there are side effects, it's tough. You can't stop the steroid when it's in your body (tablets you can just stop) and I am massively worried about how jittery I was on Prednisolone and how out of control my anxiety was. This injection is basically the same class of medication.. relaxation methods do not work when it's chemically induced anxiety sad

Should I get the needle or not? No idea rolleyes

Has anyone had this before?

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • mac58
    mac58 thomas96833

    Posted

    Personally I wouldn't go near this! I have had courses of steroids quite a few times for asthma and I really do not like the effects.

    • thomas96833
      thomas96833 mac58

      Posted

      I have had a few courses of tablet form steroids, just not an injection that is long lasting. What side effects did you experience?
    • mac58
      mac58 thomas96833

      Posted

      Being wide awake, not being able to sit still, to the extent that I felt I constantly had to get up to do housework.

      Having manic conversations and often saying inappropriate things.

      Shaking hands, feeling weak, unbearable restlessness.

      The trouble was, I had to take them, for severe asthma. One evening, I had a steroid-induced psychotic episode and my partner called out the doctor, who was completely useless. I had to ge through it myself, with no medical support. My poor partner was horrified and also got no sleep because I couldn't stay in bed.

      Oh, I would do practically anything to avoid steroids. The plus side for me was that my arthritis stopped hurting completely while I was on the prednisolone. However, I wasn't presctibed the prednisolone for arthritic pain - it was for asthma.

      Also, one awful day, when I was reducing my dose gradually, under my doctor's supervision, I was having lunch with my whole family, when I suddenly felt weak and dizzy - for six hours. We had to abandon the car and get a taxi home. I couldn't even walk.

    • thomas96833
      thomas96833 mac58

      Posted

      It's making me rethink thank you. The problem is this chronic sinus inflammation isn't clearing, it's been the same for 2 years and the doctor has basically said what's worse, what you have now or the worry of some side effects. It's the only way I can give myself chance to heal by removing the swelling and inflammation.

      On Prednisolone I didn't sleep for 5 days properly. It also suppresses your immune system which is another worry. I have never been so ill after stopping them. It was a horrible flu.

      He has also prescribed diazepam incase of panic attacks which has got me more so worried. I think I am massive other thinking it tbh.

  • dee06451
    dee06451 thomas96833

    Posted

    Hi Thomas , I used to suffer a lot with sinus infections , was always prescribed an antibiotic and  prednisolone steroids starting at a high dose and reducing every 3 days until the tablets were gone. I hated the way I felt on the steroids, shakes, racing heart, agitation and no sleep. Eventually my Dr prescribed for me Nasonex (mometasone furoate monohydrate) Nasal Spray. It  belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids. I use 2 sprays once a day into both nostrils. It has none of the side affects of oral steroids and now I might get a sinus infection once a year but the antibiotic clears it. I am so happy to be without the pain, the severe headache , weird vision and all the other horrible things that are part of sinus .  Prednisolone acetate is available as a nasal spray also. Just a thought that you may like to give it a try and see if it works before getting the injection, it has no side affects of oral steroids but is a corticosteroid. It takes a week or so to feel the real advantage of it but it worked for me and no side affects is a 100% bonus. Best of luck.  
    • thomas96833
      thomas96833 dee06451

      Posted

      Thanks Dee,

      I know what you mean about the suffering and the weird vision. It's a right pain. I am currently in work with a heat pack on my face trying to open up my airways a bit haha and I am also worried about the amount of pain killers I take lately. 

      Nasonex and Dymista both worked well but only for a short time (say 3-4 weeks) and the problem just kept coming back with vengeance. It's like rebound type symptoms but the inflammation is always worse,sleep is a nightmare at the moment as it's just not refreshing in the least. Dymista was brilliant, but it gave me a lot of side effects like insomnia, anxiety and depression, racing heart etc. What's what I am worried about with this injection.

      The doctor genuinely feels that this injection will be the most beneficial and assures me it will work wonders. He has been spot on with treatment for me lately so I have a lot of faith in him. Got to decide by monday anyway rolleyes

       

    • moira43918
      moira43918 thomas96833

      Posted

      Hi Thomas. I had this kenalog injection 6 times over a period of2/3 years until it was stopped being prescribed. I was given it following an operation to straighten my nose and wash out my sinuses. I don't remember having any side effects but then again i don't appear to get side effects from steroids in tablet form. All in all these injections did wonders for me

    • dee06451
      dee06451 thomas96833

      Posted

      Best of luck with it Thomas, I really hope it works for you .
  • mac58
    mac58 thomas96833

    Posted

    Have you tried Neil Med sinus wash? It's great. I always use it. You can get in on amazon.

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