Pred - does it cover up important symptoms?

[gamba]

I’m in the middle of the very worst asthma flare up that I’ve ever had due to stress/virus etc.

Last time I had something like this I was given pred and I felt instantly amazing, to the point where I leapt out of bed and did all kinds of things, delivering big presentations, cleaning the common stairwell and everything in between.

Problem was the steroid masked how ill I was and the day after I came off them I had another bad bout and was diagnosed with pneumonia and had more weeks off work.

Since then I’ve been reluctant to take pred, prefer to ride it out and take extra inhaled steroids. But now I’m so ill I feel like I’m dying and the dr told me pred would make me better. But I’m scared I’ll cover up the illness again, go back to my life and get ill again as soon as I’m off them.

Can anyone relate to this? I feel so ill, I can’t breathe and I just want to be actually better.

[ALUK_Nurses Partner Administrator ALUK Asthma Nurse]

Sounds like your asthma is really playing up again.

Prednisolone tablets are the treatment of choice when asthma has flared up and you are needing to use your reliever inhaler (normally blue) more than 4 hourly.

It is not uncommon to feel extremely well/energetic whilst taking them. It is essential that you take a long enough course (minimum 5 days) until back to normal/ not needing blue inhaler anymore.

It is also important that after a flare up/ chest infection that you allow yourself time to recover fully, which may take several weeks, and don`t over do it. Many people feel on `top of the world` whilst taking steroid tablets and notice this feeling disappears when the course is finished.

Be kind to yourself and allow your body to recover gently as you will find normal everyday activities could be challenging for a while.

Hope this is helpful.

Asthma UK Nurse Team

[gamba in reply to ALUK_Nurses]

Thanks Asthma Nurse. I’m taking the pred and I also saw my practice specialist nurse today too.

I am not good at being able to tell how unwell I am and I’m not good at taking it easy as I have a 5 year old and I’m also a workaholic/love my job. I just need to be strict with myself and be patient.

[hypercat54]

Hi it is very common to feel great when on steroids, think you are better, then do far too much so you feel very ill again. The secret is to remember this and to make sure you get enough rest. I have never heard of steroids covering anything up.

It is also common when you have finished a course or nearing the end to get the lows. There is a reason they call them the devils pills you know!.

I hope you are feeling better soon. x

[gamba in reply to hypercat54]

Thanks hypercat - I’m ready for the crash!

[hypercat54 in reply to gamba]

You are welcome. A few people don't crash or they do it at different times as we are all different. I know that I feel exactly like you when I start taking them and when I stop feel very lethargic and tired for a couple of days afterwards. I hope you avoid this! x

[gamba in reply to hypercat54]

I definitely felt worse after taking them last time, but I was brewing pneumonia. Fingers crossed this time I’m just tired.

[Wheezebag13]

I am exactly the same pred gives me a false "wellness" and the mindset to climb mountains and usually push myself to the limits determined not to be beaten. But it beat me this time and I ended up spending Christmas in hospital with pneumonia which gave me a massive reality check, so no matter how difficult it's going to be I am going to slow my life down, as I too live and breathe work, am bit of a control freak and do very little delegating, which burn the candles at both end. I'm going to take up tai chai to assist my breathing and mindfulness and have just purchased a Himalayan Salt Pipe which was suggested by a fellow asthmatic. I'm in preventative mode ...... Let's do this 😁😁

[gamba in reply to Wheezebag13]

I’m glad I’m not the only one! Pred has now kicked in and I really want to clean the stairs and tidy the garden!

[Wheezebag13]

Don't do it!!! Chill.... 😁😉😎

[gamba in reply to Wheezebag13]

I’m trying to!

[Capt1va_Crapt1va]

Hi there yes im in the same situation

I was put on pred a couple of years ago for a bad asthma flare up also at the same time i was having a lot of pain with my left foot from an old injury so bad that i could hardly walk on it, and whilst taking the pred it cleared my foot pain up so well that i had no pain the swelling went away and of course i was breathing normally, but then the course of pred tapered down to zero, and the pain and swelling came back in no time, so i continued to take the pred only 10 mg.. i was on 25mg until they ran out I went back to my doctor he quite flipped it me and told me of all the nasty side affects pred can bring on even though it is the most marvelous medicine works wonders...and he gave me another prescription for pred but only 5mg tablets to taper down off them which i did .. and then i got very sick i got a cold that went to a chest infection that turned into pluralcy and my asthma was awful.

[gamba in reply to Capt1va_Crapt1va]

It’s a horrible cycle isn’t it. How you’re feeling better now?

[Capt1va_Crapt1va]

Hi

Im starting to fell better but i still get a bit breathless when i do stuff and not much either just like vacuming moping anything that raises my heart rate ive never been this sick before and its all caused from the pred unfortunately it lowers ones immune system so any fight your body would naturally have isn't working..i feel so crapp im anxious and nervous i have no energy but i realize its the way pred can make you feel i really need to keep reminding myself that I ill start feelin myself one day

[Janny1]

To some extent I would agree. I've been there and have always been reluctant to take oral steroids. However I'm on a course now and where I thought I would get a quick result like you described (I am waiting to feel amazing) but it hasn't happened. I now looking at it differently in that I need to give my body time to recover. Been feeling like this since December 13th. Took 2weeks off but then had Xmas so perked up a bit but now fallen flat again.Went back to work but now off again from sheer exhaustion when trying to breathe with tight lungs. I actually think I got the virus thats currently going around again from my family who I had probably given it in the first place! Try and eat well. Get some fresh air, I took my dog for a long walk yesterday, coughing like an old man all the way and had to stop a few times(only to find my dogs ball mind) but felt so much better. Slept a bit better too and actually only woke once to cough and wheeze! Look after yourself x

[gamba]

Hi Janny, your experience sounds like mine! If the weather is good tomorrow I think I’ll go for a walk. Got to start getting better and active somehow as it does help once the virus has cleared out.