Steroid Withdrawal

peachespm
peachespm Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi, I live in Raleigh, NC area and am a little past  halfway through treatment. First four were ACC and last will be Taxol. I read about Steroid Withdrawal. How long after your last treatment will you feel the effects and what can I expect?? How long will the steroids stay in my body? I was on WW and I want to get back into it, but want all the meds out of my body first, if it is possible.

Told people when started back in Sept I was going to get skinnyLaughing ( a long way to go to that concept plus I have put on some weight) and I was going to get curly hair(well that is still possible but hair hasn't even began to come back so that is a wait and see).

Seriously any help on the steroids would be welcome, and refresh my chemo brain and remind me why we are on steroids???? LOL

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited November 2008

    Well, I can tell you my story. I took the steroids with the taxol too. I had 12 weekly taxol.

    I took 4 mg steroid the night before chemo.. and 4mg the morning of.

    I had chemo day...and the day after where I was SPUN! Then Wed... was a kind of coming down slowly day. Thursday-Sat... were very hard days... not ever time. I really crashed those days and cried a lot! It was best for me to be around people. After the crash was over.. I had Sunday to feel good... and then all over again.

    I did not gain any weight... ate like crazy the day of chemo though... could not get enough food.

    My onco told me I was on the lowest dose and most do not react as bad as me.. ( the boo hoos)...

    We take those steroids so that we do not have the bad reaction to the taxol. Steroids prevent that. :)

    Like today... I had my last chemo Monday!!! WAHOOOOO... and I just got done crying a mop to my poor hubby over all this... I am sure the end of the steroids are leaving me.

    Most ladies do not seem to have my troubles... NO one here where I live do. A few on here have talked about it...

    Good Luck and God Bless!

    Laura

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  • unique
    unique Member Posts: 554
    edited November 2008

    Hi!

    I think you will not have much steroid withdrawal because we are on a fairly low dose, just for a few days after each infusion. My Dexamethasone sez on the bottle to take 4 tabs day before, 4 tabs day of, 4 tabs day after, but I crashed on the next two days that I taper (often done with steroids). My doc said this was okay but didn't think it would make a difference. It does for me, the taper lets me down gently and really improves how I feel on Days 4 and 5. I take 2 tabs eve before, 4 tabs day of infusion, 2 tabs day after, and 1 tab each on the next two days. Much, much better. Give it a try.

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  • peachespm
    peachespm Member Posts: 13
    edited November 2008

    Thanks for all the feedback.  Estepp WTG on the last treatment. I can understand the tears, had a few myself. Makes me feel a little better knowing some of symptoms. I do not eat out of hunger, I eat out of stress or just edginess. I have only gained 8 pounds so not stressing to much.

    Unique not sure wat dose I am on. I do know that right before the taxol they give me a benadryl drip and does it zonk me. I brought a dvd to watch and gave up becaus I kept nodding off.

    I appreciate the information you two gave me. I really does help.

    Hugs and Happy Holiday Season

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  • kerry_lamb
    kerry_lamb Member Posts: 778
    edited November 2008
    Christine I hated the 'letdown' after steroids more than anything else during chemo...even the hair-loss. By about day 5 I was starting to feel ok and in the 2nd week I felt pretty good. The 'sads' and the 'boo-hoos' were more like crashing to the centre of the earth for me. I learned to put it in perspective and ride it out (This will pass! This will pass!) but it was really hard. I got the hang of just in time to finish chemo!     Remember!! This WILL pass.Laughing
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  • MarieE
    MarieE Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2008

    4 AC treatments every 2 wks followed by 4 Taxol treatments every 2 wks... (dose dense) had nausea controlled by meds for the AC..... Many more problems with the Taxol... 2-3 days after Taxol, i had muscle pain which hurt worse than the neuropathy.. but it only lasted approx 5-7 days.  got a common cold a few days before the final Taxol... and a flu shot the same day as Taxol #4.... the final Taxol treatment was over approx a month ago... yet the foot pain/neuropathy has not subsided... i am working full-time but once I am home, I  want to lay in bed as that provides the only relief... Has anyone else had continued pain after the last Taxol?  (is it the cumulative effect as all other Taxol side-effects ended before the next treatment. The side-effects of the last one are still hanging on.. a month later...Will this end or will this be a continuing problem....?  is there anything i can do? Anyone have any hints for treatments or remedies?  If so, it would be much appreciated....Thanks!

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  • peachespm
    peachespm Member Posts: 13
    edited December 2008

    Hey everyone, thanks for the feedback. It puts things into perspective. I too have different side effects on Taxol then I did on the AC. Pain being one of them(lasted a few days and then went away).  I am having  treatment today because Monday was too soon after the last treatment and DD mentioned that I had a cough, so the PA listened and sure enough there was some wheezing and my WBC was up. She put me on a z pack and today, Thursday, Dec 4 I am having treatment zans labs. Funny thing I notice most of us are er/pr positive and her negative.

    Marie, Oncologist has told me to take an over the counter for the pain unless ti gets to bad... so far not problem. I have been taking Advil and Tylenol arthritis and Tylenol fast acting capsules. I do not take the advis as much anymore. I also found when I get into a hot shower( I do not let the water run on my left arm) and let the water run on my legs and feet it helps. Just remember not to hot. One other thing that is good for the soul... Hot Tea with artificial sweetener and skim milk.

    Well let me get this off to ya'll if not I can go on forever.... I have the gift of gab... LOL.... and my writing takes the same form...

    Hugs to all

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  • mahometmom62
    mahometmom62 Member Posts: 132
    edited February 2011

    Hi Girls I am new to this forum. It took me awhile to get on and talk I just finished chemo - taxol last Monday Yeah!!! But now I wonder how long before I feel better? Fatigue and painful legs! I did errands yesterday and was out and about for about 5 hours and when I got home wow was drained! Reading all your post I now realize why I cried about the 3 rd day after taxol - unrelieved dex in my drip only. Also THE BIG question fluid retention when does that stop? And I did ac held my weight fine but on taxol I am up 15 from 147 URGH why? Taxol is a lot different than AC! Any advice is good thanks. And if anyone on here from Champaign IL area and gets care at Carle give me a shout. I am pr+/er+ her2 neg 1/12 nodes IIa.

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