Aa
Steroid Puffyness---GO AWAY!!
Hi, Can anyone tell me how long the huge round face, swollen legs, arms, etc will last? I had 5 days of 1,000mg SoluMedrol. My last treatment was yesterday. I am HUGE! My face looks like a peeds cancer patient. I can't get my wedding ring on (It usually spinns).
I have a lunch thing at my old work on Thursday. They do not know that I have MS. What am I suposed to tell them about all of the swollen parts of me. Actually, all of me is swollen. If I did not know about the steroids, I would say that I look as though I have gained 25 lbs.!!!
Any advice? How long? Will water help?
I have a lunch thing at my old work on Thursday. They do not know that I have MS. What am I suposed to tell them about all of the swollen parts of me. Actually, all of me is swollen. If I did not know about the steroids, I would say that I look as though I have gained 25 lbs.!!!
Any advice? How long? Will water help?
For all with this problem. Opie, really glad to hear it took care of itself.
Please read the Helath Page on "Steroids - Friend and Foe." It's impostant to understand that steroids cause you to retain (sodium) and lose potassium in your urine. I recommend restricting your 1) sodium intake, 2) keeping your fluid intake at normal or higher rates, 3) getting exercise (if you can - walking is fine) and 4) taking a potassium supplement, especially if you have extra heart beats or muscle cramps.
1) The kidneys are directed to retain the salt. They will have a tendency to do this for about a week after the last dose. The more salt you retain, the more water you will retain and the more bloated you will get. If you restrict the salt (knock out processed, salty foods, salty snacks, stop adding salt, easy on the tomato products.) Check online for a list of high-sodium foods.
2) Most people think that if they restrict their fluid intake the body will get rid of the water faster. Wrong - if yu have normal kidneys. The kidneys see the reduced water intake and the beginning of dehydration. They, then, start to hold onto every drop of water they can to protect the blood pressure. The more you restrict fluid, the slower the edema goes away.
3) Moving around gets the blood flowing through the kidneys faster and increases urine production. More water is pee'd out.
4) When the potassium level drops (which can ahppen with steroids), you can get extra heartbeats (palpitations) and muscle cramps. I recommend high potassium food and/or over-the-counter potassium supplements. This is potassium gluconate. The pills are 3% of your daily need apiece, so they are very safe (if you aren't in renal failure). I recommend that you take 2 or 3 pills, twice or three times a day. This usuallly takes care of the problem.
Quix
Please read the Helath Page on "Steroids - Friend and Foe." It's impostant to understand that steroids cause you to retain (sodium) and lose potassium in your urine. I recommend restricting your 1) sodium intake, 2) keeping your fluid intake at normal or higher rates, 3) getting exercise (if you can - walking is fine) and 4) taking a potassium supplement, especially if you have extra heart beats or muscle cramps.
1) The kidneys are directed to retain the salt. They will have a tendency to do this for about a week after the last dose. The more salt you retain, the more water you will retain and the more bloated you will get. If you restrict the salt (knock out processed, salty foods, salty snacks, stop adding salt, easy on the tomato products.) Check online for a list of high-sodium foods.
2) Most people think that if they restrict their fluid intake the body will get rid of the water faster. Wrong - if yu have normal kidneys. The kidneys see the reduced water intake and the beginning of dehydration. They, then, start to hold onto every drop of water they can to protect the blood pressure. The more you restrict fluid, the slower the edema goes away.
3) Moving around gets the blood flowing through the kidneys faster and increases urine production. More water is pee'd out.
4) When the potassium level drops (which can ahppen with steroids), you can get extra heartbeats (palpitations) and muscle cramps. I recommend high potassium food and/or over-the-counter potassium supplements. This is potassium gluconate. The pills are 3% of your daily need apiece, so they are very safe (if you aren't in renal failure). I recommend that you take 2 or 3 pills, twice or three times a day. This usuallly takes care of the problem.
Quix
I'm glad to hear you're already back to your regular size. I know it's kind of superficial to complain about this potential side effect when I can hardly see out of my left eye, but it was a worry.
I had my first Solu-medrol infusion today, with two more in the next two days. The very friendly nurse that helped me get it started today told me that I likely will not get any swelling because the course is so short. She also said that when I switch to the oral steroids on Saturday, I will be "ravenous", i.e. very very hungry. That, I can deal with.
I had my first Solu-medrol infusion today, with two more in the next two days. The very friendly nurse that helped me get it started today told me that I likely will not get any swelling because the course is so short. She also said that when I switch to the oral steroids on Saturday, I will be "ravenous", i.e. very very hungry. That, I can deal with.
It is gone already! I don't know if everyone gets it. This was my first time. The doctor said that it ws normal. I hope that you fare better than I did!
Is this common? Does almost everyone who gets a course of steroids puff up like this?
I am suffering through my first bout of optic neuritis, and my neurologist insisted I get on some steroids so I can get my right vision back faster. I start tomorrow. I don't know what I will be getting, but I know that I'll be getting 1 hour infusions of steroid x for 3 days, followed by 12 days of oral steroid y. Do all corticosteroids cause this facial/body swelling? That doesn't make sense, they're supposed to reduce inflammation.
Am I going to get swollen? I really would prefer not to, I'm going on a trip the second week of March, and would like to look my best for it.
I am suffering through my first bout of optic neuritis, and my neurologist insisted I get on some steroids so I can get my right vision back faster. I start tomorrow. I don't know what I will be getting, but I know that I'll be getting 1 hour infusions of steroid x for 3 days, followed by 12 days of oral steroid y. Do all corticosteroids cause this facial/body swelling? That doesn't make sense, they're supposed to reduce inflammation.
Am I going to get swollen? I really would prefer not to, I'm going on a trip the second week of March, and would like to look my best for it.
I'm sorry I can't help with this question... I'm not yet Dx and havn't been on that amount of steroids to know that answer... good luck ..
take care
wobbly
undx
take care
wobbly
undx
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