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I cry more than I like to admit. These dark thoughts come in deep, powerful waves. I don´t know if it´s a side effect of prednisolone or a kind of grief reaction. Today I tapered down the dosage slightly and I feel really lousy. Theres a pale and yellowish tint to my face and my hair looks dead. I could not be at work for many hours before I had to go home again. Can't stand the thought of food, can't stand the thought of anything, just want to sleep. But the dark thoughts is keeping me awake. I lie down on the coach sobbing and crying. Try to knit a little, while I keep sobbing and crying. Put on a washing machine while sobbing and crying loudly to myself. When I meet my own reflection, I sob even louder because of how I look, and even though I feel like a complete idiot for walking around crying loudly to myself, I can not seem to stop.
It is an never ending stream of sad thoughts spinning over and over again. In a particularly dramatic loop of thoughts, I throw myself on the bed. Overly dramatic, but I can not help but push all the buttons I know will hurt. Wallowing in self-pity as tears continue to stream down my cheeks. The pillowcase is dirty and gritty with mascara before it finally comes to a stop. A little later the same day I will get an explanation when I notice in the calendar that "Aunty flow" will announce her arrival tomorrow. In other words, prednisolone taper and PMS is a horrible combination.
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 Since the prednisolone dose was doubled, I have googled side effects like crazy. Moon face and weight gain seem to appear most frequently. Or cushing syndrome as it is also called. In addition, beard growth, mood swings, depression and diabetes are mentioned. As a single woman in my late 30s, I have to admit that I don't want to be transformed into a slightly fat, bearded, "guinea pig" with osteoporosis, mood swings, depression and diabetes.
Vanity, I know, and as the doctor pointed out: "Your focus should be on getting better." And she told me that my looks will probably change a little bit. When I was also told to be careful with sugar to avoid diabetes and try to avoid putting on too much weight, it does not sound very promising. So, can I do something to try to avoid these side effects I asked google. And as you ask, you shall receivce: 1. Reduce salt / sodium intake: corticostereiods messes with the water and the salt balance and makes the body hold onto more water and salt. This is part of the weight gain and can also cause higher blood pressure. Therefore I will make as much as possible from scratch and cut out as many processed products as possible. Soups for example, are light and tasty food that can be made from scratch replacing salt with spices, garlic, chilli, ginger, etc. 2. Limit sugar intake. This was the rheumatologist very clear on. Corticosteroids increase blood sugar levels and in worst case, one can develop diabetes. For a sweeth tooth like myself, this is very bad news! But I guess eating less sweets won't kill me.. 3. Getting enough calcium and potassium To prevent loss of bone, you should ensure that you get enough calcium. I have already received a prescription for this. I read somewhere you need to be a little carefull with potassium if you have a kidney disease, but I have not been told to eat a kidney-friendly diet so for now I think this is probably a good idea. Banana for breakfast anyone? 4. Know how much you have eaten - are you really hungry? Corticosteoroids increase the feeling of hunger and you eat more than you need. If I know that I have eaten more than enough during the day, I will try to go to bed hungry when the evening hunger sets in. 5. Eat food with volume Simply fill the hole in the stomach with lean food that has volume and gives a feeling of satiety. Salad for example. 6. Avoid stress and get enough sleep Cortcosteoroids are stress hormones that puts the body in "fight or flight" mode and these hormones also causes your body to store more fat. Lack of sleep creates more stress. 7. Exercising at the right intensity it's a bit related to the tip above. Hard workouts stresses the body, a bod already in stress mode from the corticosteoroids. Focus on long low impact sessions instead. Someone wrote this in a female forum and it just sounded very smart. |
AuthorA blog about beeing newly diagnosed with lupus. Dreaming of becoming a mum once the disease is under control. I am translating the blog to English so the posts will appear on this page as I go. Archives
November 2021
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