When to take steroids
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi Everyone,
I am confused dot com as I have been given conflicting advice. Can you tell me when you know it's time to take your emergency course of steroids being eight every day for several days please? I have been feeling increasingly tired with headaches and a bit more breathless but I don't have a cold. I shall ask my doctor to visit me for a thorough check up but I'd love to hear from you in the meantime. I take one steroid daily plus one Evacal vitamin tablet daily and one Alendronic acid tablet once per week. Plus the usual inhalers of course. Thanks folks, I really appreciate it.
Bless You
Deanne
0 likes, 9 replies
campbell74456 deanne77778
Posted
It isn't wise as a layman to proffer anything bordering on medical advice Deanne, especially as I suspect we live in different countries (not that the disease is any different but health care professionals may view things differently). It's a topic that perplexes me too but general rule of thumb according to my COPD nurse is that if I get increasingly breathless, start coughing a lot and the sputum is green/yellow or way off colour then I'm probably experiencing an exacerbation and that is when I should take my "emergency" medication. By the way, we're not generally so fortunate in UK to have our doctor call on us!
deanne77778 campbell74456
Posted
Thank you Campbell, that's quite reassuring that I'm on the right track. I'm in UK and luckily our doctor will home visit. Just as well really as I couldn't make it to the surgery and I need to keep away from public places because of the steroids. I wish you well bless you.
georgy0 deanne77778
Posted
HI DEANNE,
AS YOU WILL BE CONTACTING YOUR DOCTOR LATER IT WILL BE WORTH HAVING THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM. ITS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION FOR YOU PERSONALLY, AND NOT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE MIGHT, OR MIGHT NOT, BE DOING.
I HAVE OTHER ILLNESS BESIDES THE COPD SO MY STEROIDS ARE TAKEN WITH THE ANTIBIOTICS FROM THE FIRST SIGNS OF INFECTION. HOWEVER, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO MY SMALL DAILY DOSE FOR ANOTHER ILLNESS.
AS EACH OF US ARE DIFFERENT WE HAVE TO BEAR THAT IN MIND, JUST AS THE DOCTORS DO, FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS. THE ONUS RESTS WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL FOR THEM TO DO THAT JOB CORRECTLY. IF YOU CONSIDER IT LIKE THIS, MY WORDS MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE, YOU WOULDN'T GIVE ONE OF YOUR TABLETS TO SOMEONE WALKING PAST YOUR HOUSE WHO HAPPENED TO SHOW SIMILAR SYMPTOMS TO YOURS, AS IT COULD RESULT IN THEIR DEATH OR CAUSE HARM IN OTHER WAYS. THAT IS THE SAME FOR HOW I AM ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. I DON'T WANT YOU TO BECOME ILL, MORE ILL, OR WORSE, SO I WOULDN'T PRESUME TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU PERSONALLY WHEREAS A DOCTOR WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR YOU PERSONALLY. I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE ANSWER YOU WANTED BUT I BELIEVE IT'S THE CORRECT ONE. PLEASE ASK YOUR OWN DOCTOR AS THEY WILL HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOU FOR THEIR DECISION TO BE BASED ENTIRELY ON YOU.
I WISH IT WERE POSSIBLE TO HELP YOU, AS I KNOW YOU ASKED YOUR QUESTION FOR THAT REASON. HOWEVER, YOUR LIFE IS PRECIOUS SO I CANNOT HELP YOU LIKE A FULLY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED DOCTOR CAN.
WISHING YOU WELL. x
amkoffee georgy0
Posted
good advice I could not have said it better myself. I am curious as to what you take a low-dose Prednisone for. I have something called polymyalgia rheumatica and because of it I am down to one milligram and my body insist I take that one milligram a day. and like you I occasionally have to go on a higher dose for an infection.
georgy0 deanne77778
Posted
HI DEANNE77,
THANKS FOR GETTING IN TOUCH AND FOR ENQUIRING ABOUT MY LOW DOSE STEROIDS, TAKEN EVERY DAY.
FIRSTLY THERE'S A TINY DOSE IN MY PREVENTATIVE INHALER, WHICH IS 'TRIMBOW'. I HAVE SEVERE COPD, YET STILL I CANNOT STOP SMOKING. I KNOW THE TYPE OF IDIOT I AM & NO NEED TO CONFIRM IT. I ALSO TAKE A SMALL DOSE OF STEROIDS DAILY FOR THE AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION I HAVE, WHICH IS CALLED 'SJOGREN'S SYNDROME'. I HAVE IT SEVERELY AND STEROIDS GIVE SOME REPRIEVE TO MY SYMPTOMS. THESE ARE SIMILAR TO RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ON THE PAIN SCALE.
I THINK THIS EXPLAINS IT IN THE EASIEST WAY I CAN THINK OF, WITHOUT GETTING A MEDICAL DEGREE! NOT IN ANY WAY A SCIENTIFIC ANSWER SADLY. I ALSO HAVE A CURVATURE OF MY SPIN, DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE, NERVE IMPINGEMENT, AND OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE SPINE, LEADING TO JOINTS WHERE I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS ANY UNTIL THIS CONDITION DEVELOPED.
THANKS FOR AGREEING WITH MY RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION OF WHEN TO BEGIN THE COURSE OF STEROIDS POSTED ORIGINALLY, IT IS GOOD TO HEAR MY WORDS ARE EASILY UNDERSTOOD.
CHEERS.
deanne77778
Posted
Thank you so much Georgyo for your very kind response. It sounds as if you have an awful lot to deal with bless you. You are not an idiot for smoking, it sounds as if you need your ciggies, non smokers don't understand. I am 73 and a fellow idiot, I smoke for every reason but mostly I enjoy them but I have managed to reduce them by half. My doctor came yesterday and he was very thorough and I felt reassured that I'm on the right track with my meds. Thank you so much again for your support, I don't know how you cope but I really do wish you the very best.
georgy0 deanne77778
Edited
HI DEANNE
I MOST SINCERELY APOLOGISE FOR IMPLYING YOU WERE AN IDIOT, AS THAT WORD WAS REALLY ONLY APPLICABLE TO ME! THE REASON BEING I COULD HAVE STOPPED WHEN TOLD OF THE DAMAGE BEING CAUSED BUT INSTEAD THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS INVINCIBLE. (THAT WAS AROUND 30-40 YEARS AGO)!! HOWEVER, I AM LIKE YOU IN ANOTHER WAY BECAUSE I TOO, ENJOY IT & NOW FIND IT ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK, TO STOP. AT SOME POINTS IN LIFE ITS EASIER TO BELIEVE SOMETHING WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO US, IT ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHER PEOPLE! BUT, MY MOTHER DIED FROM COPD AND THE DOCTOR ADVISED ME TO STOP SMOKING, WAY BACK ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. THESE REASONS ARE WHY I NOW CONSIDER JUST MYSELF TO BE THE IDIOT. I WOULD NEVER PRESUME TO KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE'S LIFE OR REASONS AS EVEN WITH THE SAME STORY THEY MIGHT NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE THEIR OWN FAULT.
PUTTING THAT TO ONE SIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW WELL YOU DO WITH HELPING SO MANY PEOPLE WITH YOUR REPLIES ON THIS SUPPORT-FORUM. I HAVE NOTICED THE MESSAGES YOU HAVE SENT AND ALL OF THEM HAVE YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. SO, I WILL JUST ADD MY OWN APPRECIATION HERE, FOR THE ATTENTION & SUPPORT GIVEN TO ME. THANK YOU.
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO'S PROBLEMS ARE WORSE (AS I WAS TAUGHT TO BELIEVE) AND I KNOW THAT IS TRUE, SO PLEASE DON'T THINK MY LIFE IS ANY WORSE THAN OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE. BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS.
BEST WISHES TO YOU
GEORGYO
amkoffee georgy0
Posted
I have to go on record and say that you are not an idiot because you continue to smoke . I am actually an ex-smoker and next month will be my 13th anniversary. now I live vicariously through my husband and his cigarette smoking! Yes I allow him to smoke in the house and around me because quite honestly I enjoy the smell. I was very lucky when I quit because something happened, I don't know what, but suddenly I wanted to quit more than I wanted to continue smoking. I wish I could bless all smokers with that feeling, but I can't. I did smoke for a good 35 years so I did do damage to my lungs. I had asthma for many years even while I smoked but it was just within the last year that I was given the diagnosis of bronchiectasis and COPD. I guess I didn't quit soon enough.
I too have Sjogren's syndrome I also have a back that is an absolute mess. I have several autoimmune disorders not only Sjogren's but also something called polymyalgia rheumatica. I think autoimmune disorders are like Lay's potato chips. You can't have just one. my Sjogren's does not cause me body pain however I do have a very dry mouth, dry ears, dry nose and dry eyes. polymyalgia rheumatica causes a lot of pain but the treatment for it is steroids. I have been able to taper down to where I'm only taking 1 mg a day. I had 8 broken bones in 7 months last year five of them in my back. Obviously I have a develop osteoporosis from my two years on prednisone. I know you understand the suffering chronic pain combined with breathing problems. I have fortunately been able to wean myself off of oxygen. however I have retained my oxygen at home until I can be sure that I won't need it again.
deanne77778
Edited
Georgyo, please don't apologise, I didn't think for one moment that you were implying that I'm an idiot! But I know I am!! We all know it's not a good idea to smoke but there are people on this forum who have never smoked or who gave up many years ago and they still have COPD. Smoking is blamed constantly but what about the dreadful air pollution? Nobody admits that it is a real problem do they? There are many people who have a drink problem, so why does the government allow pubs and clubs to stay open so late? This causes more problems for the Police and NHS and they are overburdened as it is? So it goes on, nobody lives a perfect life and we all have to make our own decisions. Thank you so much for your very kind words, I'm honoured but I'm sure I don't deserve them, I just speak as I find. I really admire you for your attitude to your problems, I really couldn't cope. You deserve the best.