Steroids

[Coxsar]

Hi can anyone give me any advice in regards to steroids and the side effects. I have read lots of information regarding side effects i.e. Not sleeping has anyone else experienced this ? I'm due to start chemo in 4 weeks after more surgery .

[GBIRVMIC]

Hi Coxsar yes steroids kept me awake all night which isn't very pleasant sitting up alone. I spoke with my oncology doctor and now take sleeping tablets.. Zoplicone 3.75mg. I'm staying on these until all my treatment finishes in March. Love Michelle x

[triplets in reply to GBIRVMIC]

This is interesting as I have only had 2 cycles of carbo so far and noticed on day 2 after each one I was virtually awake all night the washed out the next day. Never thought it could be down to the steroids. I am supposed to take 3 a day for the first 3 days but after seeing the onco she said if I wasn't feeling sick I could cut the steroids down to 2 which I did. Having said all of that I have never had a full nights sleep for many years after losing my son then having triplets when I was 45!! No wonder I am a wreck! x

[Coxsar in reply to triplets]

Thank you for your reply . I'm just trying to totally prepare myself for the journey ... take care x

[Coxsar in reply to GBIRVMIC]

Thank you for your reply . It's difficult not sleeping . I'm already a light sleeper so I'm trying to get as much information from other peoples experience. I'm trying to prepare myself for the journey ahead and maybe this side effect won't affect me but I've read that a lot of people have priblems with not sleeping . Good luck on your journey take care x

[Friscok12]

Same as a above for me got sleeping tablets I could not sleep or shut of on steriods I get them a lot as I have asthma make you full of energy and want to eat more xx

[Lyndy]

Hi Coxsar

The anticipation around chemo is sometimes more difficult than the thing itself. Take heart...it is generally very doable these days and this is partly down to steroids which mitigate some of the really bad side effects . Regarding sleep- I found it best to prepare for not sleeping. I had books and mags on hand. Told my family they might hear me wandering about, making tea etc in the early hours. It took the pressure off and whenever I did feel like sleeping ( in front of cash in the attic) I just gave into it. Xx L

[Coxsar in reply to Lyndy]

Yes I think the anticipation is very frightening and I'm not afraid to say I'm very scared . I'm getting anxious over slot of things primarily that I have just had Abdominal surgery 4 weeks ago but didn't have a full hysterectomy as my consultant gave me the choice after Ca125 was 47 and CT scan didn't reveal anything sinister other than a large mass on left overie .

After diagnosis which in his opinion is stage 1c but not confirmed until after the next surgery .

I start chemo 4 weeks after surgery but I've heard nothing regarding chemo from oncology department so I'm left wondering what / when things will start to happen x

[Choski in reply to Coxsar]

Ring your clinical nurse if you gave one or your surgeons office to make sure that they confirm your pre chemo chat appointment. I had that the day before chemo started so that they can show you around, check you are ok and briefly give you details of side effects etc.

It's doable as others have said, just remember if you do get side effects then ring your Unit as your meds etc can be changed and they will give you immediate advice.

Take care

Clare xx

[Choski]

Steroids made me HUNGRY for the first couple of days whilst I was on both Taxol and Carbo but didn't have that effect when I was on Carbo only.

I used to take my steroids at no later than 3 pm to make sure I wasn't kept awake however I forgot them one afternoon and took them at 7.45pm....I was fast asleep by 8pm so obviously no sleep effects for me then!!!!

Good luck and hope that your side effects will be minimal.

Clare xx

[Hidden]

I hate steroids but they do have a purpose and we're all different and some love them. Good for spring cleaning and planning to end world poverty. I've been fortunate and don''t tend to suffer from nausea so have negotiated down to minimum dose. On occasion I've been prescribed them for the few days after chemo as anti-emetic and don't take them. Just be sensitive to your own response and feel entitled to discuss the meds you're given.

[Rosewall101]

Hi Coxsar, difficult one as everyone has different reactions to the chemo. But steroids do keep you awake and so it can do no harm to have a box of sleeping pills to hand. My oncologist was happy to prescribe. Constipation is very common too. So I took a prescription for that and also ate a great deal of melon, apples and prunes. The prunes for obvious reasons but the other fruit as I found it hard to eat with nausea and the metal taste. Oncologists do tend to automatically prescribe anti nausea medication. But I needed additional pain relief too.

Best to reach out to the hospital about start dates for your chemo too.

Good luck.

T. X

[Coxsar in reply to Rosewall101]

Thank you for your advice . It really helps to know what other people are experiencing and yes everyone is different but it seems to be a common theme with a lot of the ladies on here . Sleeping / not sleeping has a massive impact doesn't it on how we think and feel about ourselves . I wish you all the best with your journey and thanks for your time take care

Sarah x

[Bearup]

Hi , just started chemo a week ago - carbo/taxel. I had 4 steroids tablets each morning for 3 days also had some pumped in intervenously on the day of chemo. I slept the first night but awake for next 3 nights. 4th night some sleep and 5th ( last night) even more.

Going to see oncologist before next chemo and will see if I can get things adjusted. The first few days were awful but feeling a lot better now.

Reading other posts it seems everyone reacts differently to chemo so although I found it tough for a few days you will probably feel differently.

Wishing you all the best, Sarahxx

[Coxsar in reply to Bearup]

Bless your ❤️. I hope you get better sleep tonight .

It's a tough journey that I'm not looking forward to, sleep pays a massive part in how we view ourselves doesn't it ? Take care of yourself and let me know how you are getting on.

Kind regards

Sarahx

[Bearup in reply to Coxsar]

Thanks for your kind message. Feel so much better today. Sleep is a hugely important. Wishing you well. Sx

[Bearup in reply to Coxsar]

Just to say hope your surgery goes really well and keep in touch about your treatment. Very best wishes, Sarahx

[LesleyGreengran]

I had sleeping tablets but it was as I came off the steroids that I had problems. I only took one or two, not always on consecutive nights, and they did the trick.

[Steghart]

Hi. I too took Zopiclone on the days I had steroids. Also my Oncologist let me take all of mine at home (usually they give you a dose with your premeds on chemo suite) as I took them at 6 in the morning with a banana which helped me to sleep much better and reduced my dose to what I could deal with, with my Onclologists permission. hope this helps, good luck, Claire xx