Am I normal???????

[copdber]

Moderate copd 55 years young finished 2 rounds or anti b's on Sunday finished a 5 day course of 40mg steroid, today feel wiped out just enough energy to breath, is this normal steroid withdrawal??????????

[azaard]

Don't think anyone can day what is or isn't normal where COPD is concerned as we are all different and react differently to meds

[copdber in reply to azaard]

Thats true azaard I think the drop was just a bit to much for me a lowering of the steroid would have been better I think.

[Hidden]

Isn't 40mg a high dose? maybe it was really sudden?

I've only ever taken steroids for 7 days so not long either, but I seem to remember the dose being lower, but then it'll depend on which steroid of course, mine was prednisolone and in any case I've got asthma not COPD

I'd definitely report it to your doc. Hope things improve soon.

[copdber in reply to Hidden]

Hi kola, I have a high asthma component to my copd and I think most times I've been on steroids and yes it was prednisolone I've come down in 5mg daily. I do think the drop was too sudden. Hope yesterday was the worse and today I'm on the way to getting back to my "normal"

[Hidden in reply to copdber]

Yes, it certainly sounded like a high dose and then suddenly nothing, although 5 days is very short.

The adrenals must have had a bit of a surprise!

Take care, hope yesterday was the lowest point.

koala

[Hidden]

I've not had that reaction to anti-biotics and steroids. But I'd talk to your GP or the BLF nurses tomorrow, if you're still feeling like that.

[copdber in reply to Hidden]

nowheeze, if I still feel the same later today I'll give a call to my dr, hope I won't have to and that I'm back on the road to being well again.

[cofdrop-UK]

Could be the after effects of the infection which is making you feel so drained. This might sound a bit quirky but quite a lot of bronchiectatics I know tapering off steroids eat 'proper' liquorice - not the sweety stuff, but the Australian liquorice usually from health food shops or Panda. Can't remember how or why it helps, but it seems to.

Hope you feel better soon.

love cx

[copdber]

You won't belief this but got a longing for liquorice last night and hubby got me some it was the sweet stuff wonder if there's a connection to what you've said just might goggle that. You could have a point there maybe the infection has left me feeling drained. Still I think it has something to do with the steroid dose being stopped to suddenly. Next time I'm getting a a taper by 5mg daily that's what I think I normally do.

[Hidden]

I wouldn't have thought it was the steroids although they can make you feel very very well, and its fairly normal to just stop at that dose after that length of time. Are you not feeling any better? You should go back to your docs.

Marie

[copdber in reply to Hidden]

IThe infection has cleared and the cough is almost gone I don't know if it's the steroids or could be a flair of my lupus I have an appointment with the rheumy next week my gp never knows what to do.

[Hidden]

I mentioned liquorice last weekend It says on the NHS medicine guide for prednislone steroids that it can interact with steroids. This is because it slows down the breakdown of adrenal hormones in the body.It is for this reason that liquorice is not allowed in sweets aimed at children in the USA. Steroids are designed to stimulate the ad glands to fight infection. I think it mainly applys to the proper liquorice. rather than the allsorts but not 100% sure best to check with manufacterers. I would think by the sound of it you came of the steroids too quickly. I have always had to taper of them slowly and never come straight off them. I know off people that have been really poorly when coming straight 0f them, feeling exhausted muscle pain depression mainly. I hope this helps a bit and I do hope your feeling better today, Best wishes Julie

[copdber in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Julie but I'm still sort of the same. As I said I'm not sure whats going on one thing I do know is I will never come down from 40mg steroid to 0 in one go again. I think it's the lack of steroid has me feeling this way. I'll have to sit it out or as I've been doing sleep it out. I miss comming on here but I'm just to tired right now.

[Hidden]

I finished a 5 day course of Prednisolone about 2 weeks ago. I've only had to take them 3 or 4 times, but each time I've taken 40g a day and then stopped .. no tapering off. I understood that 5 days wasn't enough to need to do so.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That's what I've always been told. 5 days is too short for tapering even at a high dose. Once over 7 days then you might need to taper.

[copdber in reply to Hidden]

Normaly it is't enough time to have to taper off but then again I have lupus and am often on steroids for that.

[moneal]

Are you certain that the AntiB has worked, Some have very little effect on some of the bugs that are around, if you are still suffering ask your health centre for their advice, they would rather talk to you than see you in hospital.

Good luck hope you feel better soon

[copdber in reply to moneal]

Hi moneal, the the second anti b worked and the infection is gone even the awful cough has almost dissapeared. I might ring the dr's tomorrow.

[phillips1]

When I first saw the headline of your blog, "Am I normal?" my first instinct was to put a resounding, Nah! But then I thought I ought to help the afflicted.

I often take Prednisilone, usually spread over 18 days. I start with 6 a day for 3 days then 5 a day for three days then 4 for 3 days and so on. I get no withdrawal symptoms and I only feel a bit washed out because of whatever infection it was that I had.

As Koala said, 40mg seems a bit high. Mine is much lower and spread over a longer period. Don't know if this will help but I wish you a speedy recovery. Love from Bobby xxx

[copdber in reply to phillips1]

Thanks Bobby, and ye I'm not a bit normal who wants to be that I've learned a lot this time about coming of steroids I won't be doing it this way again. Anyway I'm catching up on all the sleep I've miss out on over the years so I'll be looking years younger at the end of all this. xxxx

[Jo_BLFHelpline British Lung Foundation]

Hi copdber

It is natural to feel completely wiped out after an exacerbation or flare up. If you think about it, your body has taken a real battering trying to fight the infection and antibiotics also wipe out 'friendly' bugs. Try to rest and take it easy it may take a while to feel fully recovered. There is sosme information to suggest taking a pro biotic which can be found in drinks and yogurts etc, this may help trying to get the body's balance back.

If, though you feel your breathing is not getting better or even worse then don't hesitate and get medical advice from your GP etc.

Keep well and remember to put your feet up, drink plenty of fluids, eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg and... be kind to yourself.

Cheers

Jo

[copdber]

Thanks Jo, my breathing is ok not much worse than usual for me. I think I'm just wiped out like you said from the infection, drop in steroids or it could even be a lupus flair. I've made an appointment with my dr for tomorrow morning. I should have been taken the probiotic drinks. I think I go brain dead when I'm sick there's things I would advice anyone else to do when their sick I don't even think of doing them myself.