@Bernadette 

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Bernadette

Steroids for relapse. Experiences please

I am in the midst of my first noticeable flare up. Last year I was seen in a relapse clinic, although my symptoms were not as bad as they are currently! I turned down steroids because I had a very low mood at the time and I did not want to face being on a downer after I came off the steroids. I was fearful then and I am fearful now. I also worry about not being able to sleep during the course. My symptoms are more debilitating this time around and I need and want to get through this flare up soon. I'd really appreciate hearing from those of you who have been through the steroid experience. My treating hospital is in central London and their practice seems to be 5 days of oral steroids. DId the steroids speed up recovery through that event? Did you have insomnia? Were you very depressed for a while after? Would you take steroids again or avoid ?
@Vixen

Hello there. I only got diagnosed this year. I felt so ill at the time that I begged for steroids but they wouldn't without a diagnosis. By the time I was Dx the relapse was recovering. 10 years ago I had another auto-immune illness and had steroids. To me at the time, being so ill, they seemed miraculous. I felt better. Had loads of energy. Roaring appetite and they certainly got me 'over the hump'. However, my dose must have been greater than yours is, as I think I took for a month and then took 5 months to wean off again. Then I had to cope with weight gain, and they did flip me upside down in that I was up at night and tired in the day. But it sounds like your dose wouldn't be like that. It also depends what your principles on medication are too. I'm sorry I'm not being very helpful, just giving my story! I really hope you feel better soon, steroids or not!

@Bernadette

thank you vixen for replying, and you have been helpful. I had forgotten about an appetite boost...that would be a help actually. The steroid dose they give is '500mg-1g daily for 3 or 5 days' which is a HUGH dose in comparison to any normal regimens for other medical problems. Hence my caution and fear that 1] it may send me crazy 2] I may get a steroid 'moonface' you helpfully reminded me that i have the option of course to ride it out, but, but but...have felt utterly dreadful some days that I question my judgement. It would be great to have a responsive hospital to advise me; help is not forthcoming at the moment sadly.