hi everyone,
i found if i took my first dose of steroids early in the morning, then the second dose about 1.00 p.m. i may be lucky enough to get a few hours sleep,
if i left the second dose any later i would be awake all night,
just a tip.
love liz xxx
i was told to take mine at 8 am and again at 8 pm not had one nights full sleep but would have nap in day but felt very sick after taking them but never been sick thank god i dont have any more to take for the next 2 weeks
I was told to take mine before 1.00pm. Still had disturbed nights sleep though. And red face.
I used to take mine 7am and 1pm - still didn’t sleep. Had to take a sleeping tablet and then only got 4 hours sleep. And red face.
So does everyone get steroids in tablet form in the UK from the very start?
I only ask because I’m in France, and I get a small dose of steroids in the drip when they start the chemo, and then that’s it, nothing more.
The upside is that I have no trouble sleeping, the downside is that despite Emend, I have terrible nausea for the first week.
I was offered steroids in tablet form only after I complained (bitterly) about the nausea, but as I’m diabetic (and the steroids in the drip alone send my blood sugars through the ceiling) I decided against them.
I took mine at 6.00am and loved it, energy, took the dogs out walking and then take second lot 12.00pm do more dog walking and would sleep like a log. I tried to use the steroids to my advantage.
Kittiekat we get given steroids 1 day before chemo and for 2 days after in tablet form. We also get given it in the drip. I also am pre diabetic and my blood sugars went through the roof but gp didnt worry about it as they fell soon after the couple of days on steroids. Im borderline type 2 diabetic so wouldnt like to say if your insulin diabetic.
Hi mine are given to me during chemo and then for three days after in Tablet form. I take them at 8.00am and then at 2pm. They make me hyper, and whilst I have lots of energy for a couple of days they also stop me sleeping for about three nights. You are so lucky Hatty that you can sleep.
Kittiekat, I had some blood tests recently and my sugar levels had gone sky high, and they put it down to the steroids. Just waiting for further results as they decided to redo them just before the next chemo session to see what the difference was. I am not sure the steroids stop the nausea, as when I was on FEC the nausea was constant despite taking the steroids. I think steroids are to stop you having allergic reaction. Adi
There are different doses and schedules for steroids, as well as different types of steroids. Some of this depends on the type of chemo, but the dose and timing can usually be adjusted. I tried stronger tablets less often, but less strong more often and a bit longer turned out to suit me better. If you can’t sleep or react badly, be sure to discuss it with the oncologist. I had 3 a day tablets, and tried to take the last one around 4 pm with a cup of tea and a small amount of food. This seemed to work reasonably well. I took two other tablets at supper time, which covered the evening.
Cheryl
Steroids and lack of sleep - this is so hard to cope with. In the end I had sleeping tablets for the 3 days with steroids to help me feel like I could cope. They were wonderful for me - I slept and did not have any after effects just felt good the next day and able to cope with other SEs… I resisted having sleeping tablets for ages but now wonder why I was worried - they might be worth thinking about and asking GP or hospital to prescribe.