NewSarah!'s Journal, 26 May 2014

Hang in there. 

Prednisone is not fun for some of us. Most people feel like they are on top of the world while on prednisone. I'm like you and it majorly screws with my blood sugar levels (which really sucked when I was on it more often then not and without it I would have died). Most of that 10lbs is water weight from the steroid and will drop once you go off it. The jittery and heart racing is probably from a hypoglycemic reaction. Dairy products are really helpful for dealing with low blood sugar. Try to avoid anything that has straight sugar in it, that will cause a crash. That includes being careful of some fruits, like apples. Go for more complex carbs like those found in grains, dairy and veggies and stretch out your eating over long periods of time if you can. That helped me the most was eating a few bites at time over an hour or longer. So your body is getting a constant supply of complex sugars slowly. Just hang in there and wait it out. It will get better within a day or two after you are off the steroid. 

ugh, I'm with you I just started it today and I already can feel all those negative side effects....I hope CalynLZ is right and it's all water weight! Hang in there!  

Momfield, it'll be water weight if you're on is short term and keep your eating under control. Rokki is right about the increased appetite though (another side affect of the blood sugar issues), so you really have to watch your eating on it. As long as you are watching your eating and know you aren't going over your intake, then that extra weight is water weight and will shed off very quickly after you stop taking it. Watching your salt intake while you're on it helps too. Hope you both feel much better and are off it soon! 

Thank you, CalynLZ! It will be a struggle I'm sure. I've already been struggling with eating more than I need to so I'm concerned about the increased appetite I already feel on 2nd day. If I do well in the day I wake up at night (sleeping terribly anyway but steroids make it worse) hungry and eat...thanks for the info and encouragement!  

Thank you, CalynLZ! It will be a struggle I'm sure. I've already been struggling with eating more than I need to so I'm concerned about the increased appetite I already feel on 2nd day. If I do well in the day I wake up at night (sleeping terribly anyway but steroids make it worse) hungry and eat...thanks for the info and encouragement!  

Im not sleepng well either, Im also on an anti biotic that Im not allowed to have dairy with. And Im on steriod inhaler plus singulair and Ventolin for a rescue inhaler. Its been a rough month. I've been sick w pnemonia since March, and it turned into Plurisy and I've basicly been a useless blob. Its depressing - and none of my clothes fit. Im really uncomfortable and just want to cry. I start to lower my dosage tomorrow, so I hope its better soon.  

sarahduke, that sounds awful, I'm sorry it's been so rough. I hope it's better for you soon too. Take care of yourself just means finish those meds for now if that's all you can do.  

i just refuse to log my 161.5 lbs now... will not accept that! I will get back to the gym in a few weeks, and back on track - it just is hard to look at my body and see all the hard work ive done slipping away. 

Feel better soon Sarah. Momfield is totally right, don't even worry about your weight right now. Just get well. Also wanted to say the dairy rule is only for 2hrs befor and after taking those antibiotics. As long as you are outside that period you can have dairy. The issue is that dairy interferes with the absorption into your bloodstream, once they are there it won't affect them. I hope you are right as rain really soon <3