question about "steroid crash"

I had the same reaction as Sherri - total exhaustion but nervous/wired/restless to the point sleep was impossible for more than a few scattered hours a day for several days after biweekly AC.  I think the lack of sleep for me definitely amplified any natural anxiety/depression that goes along with this mess.  Even before BC it was so much easier to tackle any problem with a decent night's sleep, right?  I had my first Taxol/Herceptin yesterday and so far (knock on wood!), no major SE's other than being awake most of the night.  <sigh>  My onc, DH, and I discussed it yesterday (and my extreme aversion to adding another drug to my body, like a sleeping pill) and we're going to try to cut down the dosage/skip the decadron altogether after my first couple treatments this round and see if I can do without it.  At least I'm only getting it with treatment this time rather than having to take it for 2 days afterwards, too, so maybe it will wear off quicker!  Good luck with Taxol!

I had severe depression with the steroids. I didn't have any other SE's to the chemo and didn't have to take all the pre and post meds so I asked they take out the decatron. They took it out and I couldn't tell I even went through chemo- but they only agreed b-c I didn't have other SE"S.

You might ask if they can lower the amount.

i dealt well with the steroids by scheduling intense housework activity while 'buzzing'.. then I'd rest for a day or two.

If i didn't mega work, I was an angry woman.. lots of oomph. 

i actually reduced my steroids (by pill) and did much better while on taxol.  Ask your onc.

Hey Perdue, I have severe asthma and I am on steroids (prednizone) a lot.When I am hospitalized with pneumonia I am on solumedrol and major steroids and yes, the crash you are describing is exactly what I feel coming down off of the bloody things. And I get very depressed after steroids, but I do bounce back.  I think them nec., for chemo but hate the SE's of steroids any time I have to be on them. They used them on my first chemo treatment a few weeks ago-short course-but I hate them tho they do wonders. Sending you lots of love and hugs, this too will pass! Drink LOTS of water! SV

I've had the steroid crash and emotional upset that goes with it for each of the three chemo treatments I've had so far.  Tx #3 wasn't as bad because I spoke to my Onc about it and he agreed to a tapering. So, instead of 4 Decatron, 2 morning and 2 at night the day after chemo, I took 1 1/2  in the morning, one at night....leaving one for the next morning and, finally, 1/2 for that night.  He didn't want me to have any additional pills but instead allowed me to extend them and it did help.  Found the fatigue started coming a day earlier but it didn't hit me like a ton of bricks like before.  I still was emotional on day four but not as bad as previous treatments.  All in all, the tapering worked in my opinion.  My regimen is Taxotere and Cytoxan (with 4 Decatron day before, day of and day after). 

My highs were too high and my lows too low.  It was scary not knowing who I was from one day to the next.  One day very positive & next just the opposite.  It was like I was a total stranger to myself.   (physically, emotionally, mentally) 

I had to wean myself off slower than they originally perscribed.  By the time I had it figured out my chemo days were over.  Thank God.