Okay, so my doctor wants me to stay on some steroids that she has give me. I hate them they are going to make me gain weight and have a fat face! I already HAVE a fat face

What will happen if I just don't take them? She wants me on them because after the cancer, I can't seem to keep pneumonia away except with steroids...they seem to kick it in the butt, but I don't want to I'll get all fat

Help

Hey there little puppy, do what your doctor tells you to do.
I guess I am really out of the loop because I didn't know you have cancer, and boy do I feel like a stupe. I knew had had been ill, but I thought it was...well, I had no clue.
Anyway, the effects of the drugs do bite, but you won't be on them forever, or will you? Even so, I guess it depends on the drug and the dosage. I put on A LOT OF EXTRA ME when I first was on prednisone, but that was 25 mgs a day. I'm down to 2mgs a day and I have lost all the extra pounds.So, don't worry. Do as your doctor tells you. For the record, though, it is a very bad idea to quit taking steroids suddenly, you can really harm yourself by doing that. When my doctor started decreasing my dosage, it was only 1 mg a month.
so, be good and do what your doctor tells you!

I knew you guys would say that

Guess I trust ya'll more then my doctor I haven't stopped taking them, but it sucks! So far, I've not gained any weight, but I'm waiting.....

Thanks LVLF

Do not under any circumstances stop taking steroids at once. In order to avoid all sorts of complications (from a sudden change in your blood sugar levels to adrenal crisis where pain, dizziness and even coma can occur to even death), you must slowly be weaned off of steroids. You will end up with far more complex problems than pneumonia if you were to do stop them on your own.

I was on intraveneous steroids during a hospital stay and had to watch what I ate due to becoming diabetic (due to the steroids) but my blood sugars became normal after I was weaned off of them. The bloating and weight gain are only temporary as well - and again, it is due to the steroids and the fact that they make you very hungry all the time. Watch what you eat, follow the doctors orders and in due time, you'll be back to yourself.

Good luck Lau!!!

Yes ma'am (ya know I always listen to ya)

(still don't wanna keep takin' em, but I will )

Yeah puppy, you got to follow doctor's orders. I know we don't want to sometimes, but we want what's best for us. I don't think all people gain weight from taking steroids, so maybe you'll be one that doesn't. Good luck.

God Puppy, I knew you'd had a bout with pneumonia some time back but had no idea you'd had cancer. So very sorry to hear that.

Have you asked your doctor about a pneumonia shot? I was getting it every year with out fail until I got the shot 4 years ago..No problems since.

As to the steroids, was on prednizone around 12-13 years ago for serum sickness. It was the only thing that ended up helping me.

Talk some more with your doctor and if he still wants you to take them stick with it. Could be the only thing that will work for you as well.

BTW my weight remained the same with them. So- I don't think everyone ends up gaining.

Thanks Di! That's good to know

I'm in total remission, by the way WOOHOO!!

The steroids are the only thing that will kick the pneumonia in the butt. It seems like when my doctor drops my dose, I relapse. My ammune system is still vulnerable I supppose, that's what she says anyway.
Hopefully I won't gain much weight. I lost some while I was really sick, so I can stand to gain a little, but not much!

Thanks everyone

Just hang in there Puppy, weight gain or not!- remember we all love ya and are pulling for you.