Can anyone here explain how steroids

[happywife]

can make you feel better immediately? How is the response so quick? What does it do to your body?

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2016 21:11:20 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

It decreases inflammation.

This.
The sucky part is that they have a lot of unpleasant side effects for a lot of people.  (More so at high doses)

[happywife]

Dec 16, 2016 21:12:37 GMT -5 @blueyes623 said:

Dec 16, 2016 21:11:20 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

It decreases inflammation.

This.
The sucky part is that they have a lot of unpleasant side effects for a lot of people.  (More so at high doses)

I'm one of the lucky one that has good side effects. I need less sleep and I don't feel tired while on it. And it gives me a sense of well-being. LOL. But that's only for a tapered 6 days.

[happywife]

I didn't mean to be insensitive, I am sorry some people have to use it long term with bad side effects.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2016 21:18:41 GMT -5 happywife said:

I didn't mean to be insensitive, I am sorry some people have to use it long term with bad side effects.

Not insensitive.  Steroids help so much with many things.  Unfortunately, like many other helpful meds, they can have shitty side effects.
I'm glad you're feeling better!!!! 

[05heel]

We used to refer to Prednisone in the clinic as vitamin P. Everyone feels better with a hit of steroids...at least temporarily. They also have effects beyond reducing inflammation.

[jlt19]

Dec 16, 2016 21:17:27 GMT -5 happywife said:

Dec 16, 2016 21:12:37 GMT -5 @blueyes623 said:

This.
The sucky part is that they have a lot of unpleasant side effects for a lot of people.  (More so at high doses)

I'm one of the lucky one that has good side effects. I need less sleep and I don't feel tired while on it. And it gives me a sense of well-being. LOL. But that's only for a tapered 6 days.

I was on steroids for a rash when we went on a trip last May and it was perfect. I was so much more energetic.

[mich1]

Use of high levels for prolonged periods have been associated with a vascular necrosis, so not just short term side effects, but those that destroy joints.

Sometimes, they are unavoidable....but You've got to weigh one risk against another.

[jezebel]

Dec 17, 2016 16:01:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Use of high levels for prolonged periods have been associated with a vascular necrosis, so not just short term side effects, but those that destroy joints.

Sometimes, they are unavoidable....but You've got to weigh one risk against another.

My sister was on a high dose of steroids after a major medical emergency and she eventually had to have a hip replacement because of it.

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2016 16:01:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Use of high levels for prolonged periods have been associated with a vascular necrosis, so not just short term side effects, but those that destroy joints.

Sometimes, they are unavoidable....but You've got to weigh one risk against another.

Yup.  They can also make people psychotic with hallucinations when the doses are large and over long periods.  (Like in some cancer patients or for  autoimmune disease flares)

[MixedBerryJam]

Dec 17, 2016 16:01:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Use of high levels for prolonged periods have been associated with a vascular necrosis, so not just short term side effects, but those that destroy joints.

Sometimes, they are unavoidable....but You've got to weigh one risk against another.

I don't think my mom's dose was particularly high (I don't recall what it was) but she was on it for years before she died, and she had that tissue paper thin skin that is a side effect of prolonged use. We had to put up a "No adhesives" sign over her bed because a nurse took off a bandage and ripped the skin off, too. It took months to heal. Because another side effect of steroids is slowing down wound healing, I think the doctor told us. I can't keep all the side effect straight, tbh.

[bonquiqui]

And when you are on steroid infusions and have to taper on pills, it is horrible. You feel like you want to jump out of your skin. They make it so you can't sleep for days.

I will never take them again unless I can't see or walk. They can weaken bones. They broke my back. I thankfully had no idea. I get that that is high dosage steroids

[mich1]

Dec 17, 2016 16:05:35 GMT -5 jezebel said:

Dec 17, 2016 16:01:42 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Use of high levels for prolonged periods have been associated with a vascular necrosis, so not just short term side effects, but those that destroy joints.

Sometimes, they are unavoidable....but You've got to weigh one risk against another.

My sister was on a high dose of steroids after a major medical emergency and she eventually had to have a hip replacement because of it.

I belong to a hip replacement group where the vast majority of people have AVN.  There was recently a roll call as to what caused it.  Most was prednisone use, due to asthma or autoimmune disease.  Doesn't make the choice of using it elective, IMO.

[mcsangel2]

I'm wondering if my mom (75y.o.) has or will eventually develop something due to the steroids she was on as a child. She had rheumatic fever and was hospitalized for a few months. The change in her appearance between her 4th grade and 5th grade class pictures is astounding - she's like 6 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier.

She always tried to take care of herself though, she was a nurse. She does have rounded shoulders now, and is a few inches shorter than she used to be. I wonder if there's a correlation.