So Frustrated >.<

[Guest ~Jamie~]

So I've had problems with my spine on and off.. well, mostly on, for years now. Because of this I've been on and off... well, mostly on, steroids for years now. Not the kind that make you grow muscals and act agressive, but the kind that make all your emotional responces kind of loopy, and makes you hungery all the time. Seriously, all the time. Like eat dinner, walk into the other room and flick on the television, and I am ready for a snack.

So... I started steriods again yesterday. All day today I've been starving. I feel like I am losing my self control and it's just crushing my self esteem. I've been doing so well, I've been losing so much weight and feeling great. Today though, I've over eaten at each meal and I've been eyeing my roomie's tub of ice cream for the last two hours.

The worst part is that the lower I feel the more I want to eat. My stomach's been growling and cramping basicaly any moment that I'm not funneling food into it. I'm not exactly sure why I'm putting this out there. I guess I'm just sort of hoping for emotional support, as I understand this is a physical reaction that's eating away at my willpower and I can't do anything to stop it until I'm done with the dosage pack. Stupid spine >.<

~Jamie

[JJ]

Jamie,

It turned out that I was extremely sensitive (Dr's term mine is allergic but technically it's sensitive) to Prednisone, one of those cortical steroids, when I was put on it for Lupus, asthma and back problems and I gained 165 lbs. No matter what I ate or how much I worked out I gained weight. and it wouldn't stop much less come off. Apparently am unusually sensitive to it-my mother had problems for 20 years after she took it, not weight gain but other side effects. The Dr, had said that was unusual and I should be fine. When I confronted him about the weight gain he admitted large weight gains weren't unusual and there was a possibility of a genetic component in "sensitivity" to Prednisone so it could be long term. (It was)To be fair I am much more sensitive than most and the amount of weight I gained was well outside the norm. But I do well understand your pain and frustration.

It is a hard choice whether to be in pain or to take a medication that affects appearance as much as steroids can. My heart and sympathies are with you. This all happened to me over 15 years ago and I stopped Prednisone and have refused to take it again even though my Dr has been adamant during Lupus flares but we each have to chose.

It isn't your fault that you are hungry -I hope the time you will be on the steroids is short. For most people the weight comes back off quickly once they discontinue them.

Hugs!

Johnny

[Guest ~Jamie~]

-sniffle, hug- Thanks JJ, I appreciate it, I really do.

[Guest Amberley_Vail]

I know exactly how you feel, Jamie. Im on steroid inhalers and tend to find myself with a constant nagging background hunger.

I tend to deal with it by loading myself full of pepsi max. not the best way forward but at least its sugar free!

Maybe try upping your water intake? So long as theres something in your stomach it might take the edge off?

xx

[Guest ~Jamie~]

Thanks for the advice Amberley. I think if I drank any more H2O I'll die of water poisoning, I already take in between two and three gallons a day ^.^"

My main trick is keeping a strict eating schedual and sugar free gum. Lots of it. My porblem is I already have to use these ticks to deal with my standard nagging hunger. Being on the sterroids changes it to an actualy physical pain that needs to be fed. Drives me up a wall. I have considerable willpower... well, most of the time. I just have to make it two weeks then I get my control back. I may have messed up last night, but I'm sure I'll make it without more incident.