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Today I'm starting Medrol dose pack, which apparently is an adrenocortical steriod. Anyone know why we have to take steriods and what the possible side affects are? I googled it but was not able to translate the medical jargon.
Today I'm starting Medrol dose pack, which apparently is an adrenocortical steriod. Anyone know why we have to take steriods and what the possible side affects are? I googled it but was not able to translate the medical jargon.
This comes courtesy of kidshealth.org. I looked for something simple so that I would understand it as well.
Steroids can help with your treatment in a variety of ways:
reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy and radiation
kill cancer cells and shrink tumors as part of chemotherapy
decrease swelling
reduce allergic reactions (before transfusions, for example)
It does help. Thanks, Charley. I've just heard such horrible things about steriods.
Unfortunately, they appear to be a necessary evil in cancer treatment. Just as you will get through the chemo, you'll also get through the steroids. There is life after Decadron / Predisone / your-steroid-goes-here.
Today I'm starting Medrol dose pack, which apparently is an adrenocortical steriod. Anyone know why we have to take steriods and what the possible side affects are? I googled it but was not able to translate the medical jargon.
I'm going to be your Dutch uncle here and suggest strongly that when you are given a prescription for anything you need to ask the doctor or the nurse what it is and why, specifically, do you need it?
Medications have many applications and it's hard to know which one is yours. Then there is the matter of the off-label uses. There is TMI for you to try to figure it out. Especially when you can get the answer by asking the question at the source.
Everyone here is willing to share their experiences. And their survival. And we'll gladly be your cheering squad. Rah, rah! But when it comes to actual medical questions, your medical team is your best, and should be your only, resource.
It sounds like all is going smoothly so far. May it continue thus.
>> Everyone here is willing to share their experiences. And their survival. And we'll gladly be your cheering squad. Rah, rah! But when it comes to actual medical questions, your medical team is your best, and should be your only, resource.
Well, thank you; in other words, don't post medical questions. If you'd read my other thread you'd have discovered that my oncology nurse is incompetent. Now they told me today they're not going to do any more emails, only phone calls. And after the snotty response from the moderator, I'm out of here.
>> Everyone here is willing to share their experiences. And their survival. And we'll gladly be your cheering squad. Rah, rah! But when it comes to actual medical questions, your medical team is your best, and should be your only, resource.
Well, thank you; in other words, don't post medical questions. If you'd read my other thread you'd have discovered that my oncology nurse is incompetent. Now they told me today they're not going to do any more emails, only phone calls. And after the snotty response from the moderator, I'm out of here.
Understandable. I, too, was quick on the emotional trigger when I was starting on my cancer trip.
You are free to post anything you want. I didn't say you couldn't. What I said was you should rely on your medical team for medical questions. Yes, I did read the other thread, and your complaint about your oncology nurse. You present as an intelligent person, but you're in a fragile state right now and that will pass.
You ask questions, and more questions and yet again. The oncology people work for you. And you are entitled to an answer to any question you have. Those answers should come from the person(s) who are familiar with your particular case.
When I started chemo, the head oncology nurse had what they call a chemo teach-in in which everything was explained to me completely separate from the hustle and bustle of infusion, appointments, etc. I was just there (in an office!) to learn about the meds and side effects. Can you demand something like that?
In the very least, I think the most helpful thing for me was that the nurse brought in print outs of the next few months. She wrote all my chemo appointments, then wrote out (in different color markers) which pills I needed to take which days and at what times. You have about a 10 dozen things flying past your head at every appointment - a visual representation of what you need to do was so necessary for me. Could you organize that yourself? IE get a cheapo wall calendar and some markers and bring it to an appointment, and demand your oncologist or nurse practitioner sit down with you and write out ALL of the info, telling you exactly what each thing does, when you take it, and anything you need to know about taking it (ie with food, drinking extra water, etc etc).
Every appointment is about being inundated with information. Unfortunately, all too often it's up to use to run interference. I'm so sorry that you're stuck in the middle!
I had IV chemo and only started taking it orally when one of my chemos caused serious lung damage (effing bleomycin). Steroids made me stereotypically roid rage. What really helped me was to get a mouth guard to help prevent gnashing and clenching of teeth from the steroids while I slept. My first cycle had HORRIBLE headaches and jaw pain - that all stopped once I got a mouth guard. Steroids also made me want to eat everything in sight, then run (walk, crawl) to the store and eat some more. Keep lots of healthy snacks on hand!
Got through the first day after chemo; felt like I was nuts all day. Teaching was fine, though, but they've got me on steriods. Connie on steriods; not a pleasant thought, as I normally have too much energy/strength as it is. Difficult day, really; I was angry at everyone all day, hard to get along with, worried I was going to be sick. On two naseua meds. I HATE having to do this.
The Zofran taste slightly sweet but the steriods leave a terrible taste in my mouth. Anything I can do to contradict that? TIA
I have had minimal side effects from my steriods. I think I get some by IV day of chemo, and then I take decadron the day after chemo. I've noticed I'm a little snarky for a few days, although that could be stress. A lot of people in my support group have trouble sleeping from the steriods, but that hasn't bothered me too much either. I'm told the steroids are to counteract the far worse side effects from the chemo.
Take it easy this week. The best way to make yourself sick is to overdo it. You're at the start of a long journey, and you want to conserve your energy and resources.
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But when it comes to actual medical questions, your medical team is your best, and should be your only, resource.
