2x Emergency Steroids in one month

[porthos06]

Well, if you said to me to stay off work last week, you were probably absolutely right 😂

I got some kind of flu-ey thing which left me wiped out on Monday and then - whoosh - straight to my chest.

I went to the dr on Tuesday and he was reluctant to prescribe me anything because I'd just had a course of steroids but I was back again today and, for the first time in my memory, my PF was at 50%, my O2 wouldn't go above 95% and I had that elusive wheeze 🥳 so I'm back on steroids and also antibiotics.

But the dr did put me on 10mg less steroid this time, which I find a little bit weird because this flare-up is much worse than the last one, but the dr clearly wasn't happy that I needed them again so soon.

Has anyone had experience of 30mg steroids working out for them? I'd love a bit of reassurance because this will be my third night of going to bed with 10x Salbutamol through a spacer just so I can sleep 😒

[Chip_y2kuk]

I've had 30mg, 40mg and 50mg courses of prednisolone and don't like it when they give me 50mg... they give me really bad indigestion but 30/40 mg I just get bad hunger and insomnia

I've also had 40mg gotten better finished them and had to go back because I got worse to the doctor who gave me 30mg for another week and didn't notice any difference between the 30mg and the 40mg

But I do believe the guidelines are 40-50mg for 5-7 days for an asthma exacerbation.

[Ern007 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

When I first started with COPD - 40mg was the norm. I have had twice 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 tablets -- I used to like that, just one GP did that.

[porthos06 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Oh, I'm really worried that the 30mg isn't going to finish this off... I would rather the dr had given me 40mg so I wasn't panicking about this, but it is what it is!

I've never had bad indigestion with prednisolone but definitely get the hunger... I'm never sure how much of that is that my appetite comes back though since I get put off eating by the fact it's tricky to breathe at the same time!

Thanks for the reply

[Homely2 Administrator]

I have always been on 40mg for an exacerbation, except when tapering. However you are on pred and hopefully it should sort it. It tends to help me on the fourth or fifth day, but we are all different.

Your figures for peak flow are getting close for me to where I need some medic support, so as it is a bank holiday be prepared to ring 111 or 999 if they worsen further.

On Tuesday have a chat with asthma UK helpline on 0300 2225800, about next step to take.

Keep safe and look after yourself.

[porthos06 in reply to Homely2]

I would be much happier if I'd been given the normal dose, but I'll just see how it goes...

My peak flow and O2 are never that low - it honestly freaked me out that the O2 was going between 94% and 95% when my pulse was still at 112.

I hate the out-of-hours system but I promise I'll be sensible 😂

Thanks for the reply

[Patk1]

30mg should help reduce inflammation.x

[porthos06 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you for the reassurance and reply

[Patk1 in reply to porthos06]

See how u go. I hope he's given u enough antibiotics to clear the infection - if not,request more b4 they run out.rest up x

[ReedB]

That does seem odd. I've always used 40mg as standard to treat an exasperation. I understand the doctors concern over the use of steroids but if you need them then it is what it is. I've found if I'm not given 40mg to start with I'm on the pred for longer. I hope they work for you soon!

[porthos06 in reply to ReedB]

Oh, help - this is what I'm afraid of... I would rather be on the higher dose and get it sorted than end up on a lower dose for longer. Honestly, I wish my dr had just prescribed me 40mg on Tuesday when I went in, but I do also respect the fact that he was concerned about the side-effects.

Thanks for replying

[Shawshank62]

I’ve had 40mg also but the last time I saw the GP she said the guidelines are 30-40mg so I guess if you’ve only just had them maybe they went for lower dose?? Hope you get it knocked on the head. Just finished mine and now on a ‘come down’ after them 🙄

[porthos06 in reply to Shawshank62]

I hope you're feeling well soon!

That's really interesting that your GP said the guidelines are 30-40mg - I've always had 40mg in the past but it does make sense. My big concern is that this flare-up is worse than the last one, and I had 40mg to sort that... maybe I didn't need that much though?

Thank you for replying

[teddyd]

My average is 2 weeks x40mg. However that varies on my second 40mg I am sometimes starting to reduce. Othertimes starting a further 40mg.In my heath board some people,(I am one of them) has a card that allows them to get a supply of prednisolone and antibiotics at their pharmacy when required. This has been very handy and reasurring.