Steroids: How did they affect your food cravings, sleep, etc?

Posted by treehouse5437 @treehouse5437, Mar 27 5:48pm

I've never taken steroids until my MM treatments started- take Thurs before treatment starts and another dose Fri morning after treatment.

Crave fish and chocolate milkshakes?? not together thankfully! 😂 treat myself to a milkshake once a week after treatment.

What are the crazy things steroids do to you during/after treatment.

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nana120 | @nana120 | Mar 28 12:29pm

Anytime I am having steroid shots for my knees I can always count on a sleepless night!

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 28 5:33pm

@treehouse5437 I take a steroid dose every Saturday morning, as part of my myeloma treatment plan. Increased sense of energy by late afternoon that continues usually to Monday morning. Poor sleeping on Saturday night. Better appetite from Saturday to Monday.

Everyone can have different responses from steroids. What are you taking, and at what dose? My oncologist told me once we established a routine, that he wanted me to take the lowest dose possible to get the same effects.
Ginger

treehouse5437 | @treehouse5437 | Mar 29 7:56am

In reply to @gingerw "@treehouse5437 I take a steroid dose every Saturday morning, as part of my myeloma treatment plan...." + (show)

Dexamethasone
4mg
x 5 Thur before treatment
x 5 Fri day after treatment

I'm type 2 very controlled my blood sugar average #100- 130 but the steroids definitely raise it a few days. 🫤

merrle | @merrle | Mar 29 9:55am

Mood and energy elevation! I get a lot of things done, and will talk your ear off. It’s not as extreme as it used to be, but I still enough to appreciate the productivity. And the eating of course which works out OK because I tend to lose little weight on chemo. Wish I could be on them all the time but of course that’s not a good thing. And I don’t appreciate the fat face.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 29 11:59am

In reply to @treehouse5437 "Dexamethasone 4mg x 5 Thur before treatment x 5 Fri day after treatment I'm type 2..." + (show)

@treehouse5437 After a bit, ask your doctor about perhaps decreasing the dose a bit. I started at that same 20mg and am now at 12mg. A long term effect of the dexamethasone is enhanced chance for cataracts. While I have a family history of that, my oncologist and eye doctors both agreed that taking the dex did nothing to prevent them! In July 2023 I had the cataract surgery on both eyes.

As for your blood sugar levels rising, ask your endocrinologist if you should be doing anything for those few days?
Ginger

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