Steroids...

chevy88grl

Heh. Not the kind you associate with Arnold or other extreme body building.

I was taken to the emergency room tonight with two massive asthma attacks within 30 mins of each other. Inhaler did not help as it has in the past.

Two breathing treatments (one was a double dose treatment) and 60mg of steroids later - they told me I need to be on steroids for the next 5 days and then I need to use a steroid based inhaler indefinitely (or at least until allergy season ends). I'm supposed to continue taking my Allegra since my attacks are USUALLY illness induced (which basically means I have something else going on that triggers the asthma attack).

I know the side effects of steroids is an increase in appetite and often a weight gain that doesn't always disappear after you've finished the meds. I realize that I'm only going to be taking the tablets for 5 days, but I am supposed to use the steroid inhaler indefinitely. I'm not sure if the side effects of the inhaler will be the same as the tablets, but I am still concerned.

I have reached my goal weight (143-145lbs) and I am happily maintaining it. I do not want to gain again, but I know that my health HAS to come first.

Has anyone been on steroids for something like this? Did you gain weight? If so, were you able to lose it easily afterwards? Is there ANYTHING I can do to counteract the side effects (other than trying to not overeat - which I won't do because I actually feel sick when I eat too much).

Any advice would be great. I know I need to continue eating healthy and all of that - I'm just overly concerned about the side effects as I've heard that they can be pretty nasty (and I'm on a high dose of the steroid to try and keep my airways clear and lower the inflammation in my lungs).

TDGee

That short of a run of steroids should not affect you. You need to prioritize now. It's more important that you can breathe, than it is for you to not gain weight. Hope you feel better soon!

taso42_DELETED

Not sure of the answers, but as an expert calorie counter, you're well equipped. Sorry about your experience tonight. Asthma attacks are truly horrible. Glad it's now under control.

chevy88grl

That short of a run of steroids should not affect you. You need to prioritize now. It's more important that you can breathe, than it is for you to not gain weight. Hope you feel better soon!

Even with the steroid inhaler? My old inhaler was not a steroid and this new one is - I think that is my greatest concern. I don't know much about steroid inhalers (other than the dr said they can cause throat issues if you don't use them correctly).

I know I need to focus on my health - but I feel like my weight is just as much part of this as breathing. I don't want to pack on weight - which will make the asthma worse. It's a double edged sword for me.

Thank you for responding. I won't worry about the tablets.

albinogorilla

I never gained weight. Advair for last 7 years. One big episode had me on prednisone for weeks and solumedrole injections 2x a day for a week. Those shots made me break out and my vision blurry while getting them though. No weight gain though! Hope this helps!

chevy88grl

Not sure of the answers, but as an expert calorie counter, you're well equipped. Sorry about your experience tonight. Asthma attacks are truly horrible. Glad it's now under control.

Thank you. I feel better now. Not 100% because the meds make me jittery and all that, but better.

chevy88grl

I never gained weight. Advair for last 7 years. One big episode had me on prednisone for weeks and solumedrole injections 2x a day for a week. Those shots made me break out and my vision blurry while getting them though. No weight gain though! Hope this helps!

Awesome. Thanks!

I'm on predinsone for the next 5 days. Just looked at the scrips they gave me - they gave me one for FloVent and then one just for a stronger albuterol regular inhaler since they determined the one I had wasn't strong enough.

taso42_DELETED

Is the inhaler something like Asmanex? I was taking it nightly during the majority of my weight loss and it had no apparent impact. Getting onto that sort of inhaler was actually a life changing experience for me because it actually got my asthma under control. Indefinitely doesn't mean forever. I have not been taking any inhaler regularly for many many months now (just here and there "as needed")

macylane4

This is so funny....the same thing happenned to me about 3 months ago...they put me on steroids, and told me it could increase my appetitie...the inhaler I eventually quit taking because I didn't need it anymore?!? It was weird...anyways...just remember it is the calories you take in and put out that determine if you gain weight...I didn't gain any on them, and the inhaler for sure won't do that...it just opens your airways because an infection, or something is constricting it! I use the inhaler maybe 1 time a month now, but when I get sick...I'm right back on the steriods, and the inhaler.

chevy88grl

Is the inhaler something like Asmanex? I was taking it nightly during the majority of my weight loss and it had no apparent impact. Getting onto that sort of inhaler was actually a life changing experience for me because it actually got my asthma under control. Indefinitely doesn't mean forever. I have not been taking any inhaler regular for many many months now.

One they gave me is FloVent.

I'm feeling a lot better about it now that I'm hearing from people who've been in the same boat and didn't have any weight gain. I know being able to breathe is important (lol) but not packing on weight is important too.

Thanks for coming back and responding again. Many thanks!

chevy88grl

This is so funny....the same thing happenned to me about 3 months ago...they put me on steroids, and told me it could increase my appetitie...the inhaler I eventually quit taking because I didn't need it anymore?!? It was weird...anyways...just remember it is the calories you take in and put out that determine if you gain weight...I didn't gain any on them, and the inhaler for sure won't do that...it just opens your airways because an infection, or something is constricting it! I use the inhaler maybe 1 time a month now, but when I get sick...I'm right back on the steriods, and the inhaler.

The doctor warned me that he's seen people gain some weight while being on steroids. So, I started to panic. He told me "Be prepared for an increase in your appetite and weight gain is normal". Uh. No. I don't want to gain weight. I can control my eating that won't be an issue.

Thank you very much for responding. I'm feeling better about it now. Was freaking out a little. lol.

TDGee

The inhaler is more of a topical steroid antiinflammatory agent, where the prednisone is systemic. Meaning the inhaler is somewhat similar to putting steroid cream on a bug bite or rash. Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, but like I said before, a week isn't anything to stress over. Remember to rinse out your mouth after using the FloVent, the throat issues you are referring to is commonly called Thrush, an uncomfortable yeast infection. Rinse well to get the medicine out of your mouth after you take it.

chevy88grl

The inhaler is more of a topical steroid antiinflammatory agent, where the prednisone is systemic. Meaning the inhaler is somewhat similar to putting steroid cream on a bug bite or rash. Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, but like I said before, a week isn't anything to stress over. Remember to rinse out your mouth after using the FloVent, the throat issues you are referring to is commonly called Thrush, an uncomfortable yeast infection. Rinse well to get the medicine out of your mouth after you take it.

Thank you. I appreciate all the information. They ER doctor didn't go into too much. And this is a new experience for me as I've never had to go through this for my asthma before. Usually breathing treatment and my normal inhaler solve it. This time - not so much.

Thanks again!

cjw6

The steroids from the inhaler aren't absorbed into your blood stream to a significant degree, so they won't affect your weight loss- and taking that regularly will reduce the number of times you have to have systemic (oral) steroids like prednisolone. The pred COULD make it more difficult to lose weight if taken over a long period, but a short sharp 5 day course should be absolutely fine. You need it anyway- you certainly won;t be doing any exercise if you can't breathe!
Hope you feel better soon.

angiolm

I'm on Advair as well. I have been for 2 years - was on another steriod puffer before that for 10 years. Can't say that it contributed to weight gain...but it's not impeding my ability to lose the weight. I just started MFP so take this with a grain of salt. Ask me again in two months from now.

Also, I noted that you said you had the jitters - I used to get the jitters bad when I was on the other steriod puffer (can't remember what it was) but when I switched to Advair, the jitters went away.

Take care - I know what it's like not to be able to breath - scariest experience ever! I'd have to agree with the others when they say breathing and getting the asthma under control is your first priority.

MzBug

One other warning about inhaled steroids...do not use alcohol based mouthwash or you WILL get thrush. The combo of the steroid and the bacteria killing alcohol kills off the good bacteria too. Pick up a probiotic to keep the good bacteria active in your system. No matter how well you rinse your mouth with water after using the puffy, you will swallow some, and that will affect your digestive tract as will the 5 days of pills. You may also get a mild vaginal yeast infection with the pills, but the probiotic should help with that too.

Good to hear you are feeling better.