Tapering off steroids
in Health ·
[QUOT=Nicole Chavez5;20011296]After my recent pituitary surgery, I ended up on corticosteroid therapy (three pills a day) which—it seems—is going to be lifelong.
Unfortunately, before the procedure, I didn't think to ask my doctors about the long-term consequences regarding medication... my only priority at the time was just getting rid of the prolactinoma. Now, I'm stuck in a situation where the hormones that were perfectly fine before surgery are totally out of whack.
Talking to others who take corticosteroids for different conditions, I’ve learned (and can definitely see it on my own skin) that they tank your immune system, spike your blood pressure, and come with a whole laundry list of side effects.
But honestly, the worst part is this constant mental load of having to track daily pills—I’ve never even taken an aspirin before this because I was perfectly healthy.
Does anyone know if there are any alternative treatments that could replace this steroid poison? Is there any way to get off this stuff?
I can't tell you for certain if your treatment will be permanent, but if the surgery required removing the entire pituitary gland (or a significant portion of it), then the answer is likely YES.
Here is the reality: the pituitary gland is responsible for regulating the production of corticosteroids in your body, and those hormones are essential for basic survival. If there is a major deficiency or a total lack of them—for whatever reason—it becomes life-threatening.
Unlike many illnesses where people take massive doses of corticosteroids—which leads to all those nasty side effects—you are taking what we call "replacement doses." These are just the amounts of hormones your body would normally produce every single day, which you now lack due to the surgery. You shouldn't expect to deal with severe side effects from these specific doses.
Whatever you do, do NOT stop taking them abruptly, and make sure you stay on top of your checkups.
Good luck!
Unfortunately, before the procedure, I didn't think to ask my doctors about the long-term consequences regarding medication... my only priority at the time was just getting rid of the prolactinoma. Now, I'm stuck in a situation where the hormones that were perfectly fine before surgery are totally out of whack.
Talking to others who take corticosteroids for different conditions, I’ve learned (and can definitely see it on my own skin) that they tank your immune system, spike your blood pressure, and come with a whole laundry list of side effects.
But honestly, the worst part is this constant mental load of having to track daily pills—I’ve never even taken an aspirin before this because I was perfectly healthy.
Does anyone know if there are any alternative treatments that could replace this steroid poison? Is there any way to get off this stuff?
I can't tell you for certain if your treatment will be permanent, but if the surgery required removing the entire pituitary gland (or a significant portion of it), then the answer is likely YES.
Here is the reality: the pituitary gland is responsible for regulating the production of corticosteroids in your body, and those hormones are essential for basic survival. If there is a major deficiency or a total lack of them—for whatever reason—it becomes life-threatening.
Unlike many illnesses where people take massive doses of corticosteroids—which leads to all those nasty side effects—you are taking what we call "replacement doses." These are just the amounts of hormones your body would normally produce every single day, which you now lack due to the surgery. You shouldn't expect to deal with severe side effects from these specific doses.
Whatever you do, do NOT stop taking them abruptly, and make sure you stay on top of your checkups.
Good luck!