Meganmania

[meganmania26]

I have been put on six steroids a day to help my breathing have they helped anyone else ?

[O2Trees]

Yes, hugely. What prednisolone does (assume that's what you're on) is to reduce inflammation which narrows the airways making it harder for enough air to travel in and out of your lungs. So hopefully you'll be breathing better soon. Dont be alarmed if you find it hard to sleep as that happens to a lot of people who take steroids - it's a standard side effect, irritatingly. But they really do work. Best wishes

[meganmania26 in reply to O2Trees]

Thank you for your response

[Caspiana]

Hello meganmania26 .

Six steroids? Do you mean six tablets? I am on a maintenance dose and yes it helps me. But I am on a minimal dosage because I am waiting for a lung transplant and cannot be on a high dosage pre transplant. Some people have them only during an infection and others, like me are on them all the time. Being on them constantly is necessary for some people, but there are downsides.

I hope you are having a good weekend so far.

Cas xx 🙋🐕

[2greys]

Yes they do help you to breath more easily, they suppress inflammation of the airways. Unfortunately it is not a good thing to have to rely on them as a full time treatment, re Osteoporosis, there can also be some nasty side effects too, for some. I have just finished a course of six a day and now need another course of 8 a day, but we have to be able to breathe. Straining to breathe puts a lot of undue stress on the heart. I also have a heart condition, which is not unheard of with the more advanced stages of COPD.

Take them as early in the morning as you can in case they give you insomnia and can't sleep at night.

[meganmania26 in reply to 2greys]

Thank you for your advice lt is greatly appreciated

[corriena]

Yes they realy are life savers. On the down side the side effects are awfull and veried. I dont sleep well and have a increased appetite and i get moody and short temperd. The first week isent to bad but it gets worse the longer i take them. usually 6 x 5mg. But i do beleave i wouldent be alive if it wasent for steriods.

[Burs]

Hi, i have found steroid tablets great and awful, not very helpful i know but i think you have to decide if the good outweighs the bad like most tablets. If the side effects arn't too bad they can really help. Love burs xxx

[BrianTaylor]

Helped me hugely on many occasions. Get well soon 😊

[redannie]

I do but only as part of my rescue pack of antibiotics and steroids but when I do - they are useful and work

[Donie]

I have been on steroids for 5 mos. They do make you breathe better and take away aches and pains. The only problem is you cant sleep and they make you want to eat. I am slowly weaning off the steroids and started at 100mg. but have now made it to 5 mg.

[soval]

You bet, but when you have to come down to 10mgm or 2 daily it's a nightmare.

[Lalasworld]

Hi Meganmania

I was put on 8 x 5mg of prednisolone tablets per day back in Nov when I saw consultant after diagnosis of hypersenitivity pnuemonoitis, I was on 8 for 2wks, then 6 for 2wks then 4etc, I've been on 1x5mg since 1 Feb.

I had hellish breathing before starting them, within 2 days breathing so much easier. Now not so much but not any where near like I was pre treatment.

Like some have said there are side effects, different for everyone, mine's where the upper body sweats and red face (My son nick-named me Hellboy!),mood swings and the hunger pangs in the evenings even though I knew I'd just eaten, I sucked on ice. I did have to be taken off beta blockers I'd been on for 12+ years for anxiety but I have got through the withdrawal of that.

I'm back at Respiratory Consultant tomorrow for repeat of lung function tests and what his plans are depending on results.

Hope you find they help and I'm sure you'll be well monitored throughout.

🕊💫Lorraine x

[Bella395]

What is your respiratory condition? Reversibility to steroids is usually better in asthma. People with COPD tend not to be as reversible to them although they might feel better during an exacerbation due to the anti inflammatory effect. In these cases short courses are useful. However, long term steroid use needs to be considered carefully due to the many unwanted side effects.

[Pwkav1]

Hi Meganmania, everytime i get chest infection help hugely, hope you get well soon. Xxx

[Didgeydo]

Hi

I am on 8 tablets of steroids a day to ease my breathing, I think they have got a lot weaker to when I used to take them, I have been on and off of them all of my life I started them when I was 7 and in my 70's now, and they do not seem to work as well, but you have to keep taking them to have any effect, I have been on the 8 tablets now for three week and am now cutting them down, so hopefully in a weeks time I shall be able to breath a lot easier, they also make me want to eat more which is a problem with trying to lose weight, but that is my least problem at the moment as long as I can breath without pain, I am not bothered about weight as that can always come off when I am better. I do hope the steroids help you, I was on them at one time for 2 years and not very good, as they tended to give me mood swings, but luckily of late, I have only had to have short periods of steroids.

Good luck for you and the best of health also to come your way.

xx

[wheezie]

My own experience with steroids which I use when I have an exacerbation is it is a vicous circle.You can`t do without them but they cause so many other problems most of which as far as I know wont actualy kill you so I just grin and bear it and I can breathe much better for 3-4weeks,until I have another exacerbation,rinse and repeat.