Oral steroids and asthma

Yes, I have a great knowledge of Steriods having taking steriods for my asthma for Fifty years. I was in the military and had to undertake icewater training in Norway.This consisted of a six mile run at 6am in the morning and on return from the run we broke the ice on the Fjord and jumped in. The first day straight in and out which was slowly increased as the days went by.This was to acclimatise us for a later expedition.  I came out of the military two years after and suffered a very bad asthma attack and was found collapsed at 2am in the morning. I was rushed into hospital and the wonder drug then was steriods. I was given all different types to try to help me with my breathing,ACTH made from the pituraty gland of a pig and so on. Anyway what happened was I became addicted to steriods,my adrenal glands stopped working because they produce the adrenalin for your body, when they see that you are taking steriods they just give up and stop altogether. They cause Ostoeporosis,and I became diabetic because of taking the steriods. I have other side affects but I think I have said enough. On the plus side they are very good at helping with breathing problems but must be very strictly controlled. Taking them for long periods of time then they start working the other way and start harming rather then healing. Finally, in short very controlled doses steriods are good,but do not treat them lightly. If you have any questions please do ask

I agree ,I have only been on them for 15 years but as well as the side effects you mention I have gained about 6 stone in weight .The consultant only admitted a year ago after I was transferred to a different hospital further away that it was the steroids causing the problem s At least he was honest with me from the start unlike my old consultant you kept telling me my weight gain and all the resulting problems were nothing to do with the steroids directly .I have tried at he hospital suggestions reducing them but could not control my asthma , so I guess in effect I am addicted .We have just started a longer term programme to try and reduce them.

I have just been to see my gp as I was struggling with my asthma he put me on oral steroid perisidone I think If I spelt it right also a double strength preventer of fostair. Touch wood  so far so good but I am using the preventer 3 times a day so will have to wait and see when I go back to using my normal preventer.

Jazzy c mentioned the weight gain,which I forgot,I went up to a tremendous 21 stone within a year of taking Steriods. One year ago I was informed that my Adrenal glands have now stopped working altogether as taking steroids is the very substance the adrenal glands produce for the body,and because the steroids are being taken they just give up working and do not ever start again. I now have to have a Hydrocortisone injection available at all times in case of major trauma to my body or system. I am on the ambulance list of people who have to have the cortisone injection if involved in an accident or sudden illness. in conclusion try very hard to ween yourself as low as possible dose of steroids. I know it is hard but in the long term it is worth it. Something I discovered experimenting, if I keep my bedroom at a constant 65/70 F degrees my breathing improves, I have halved the amount of inhalers I use since September Last year. My asthma was caused when in the military I was subjected to ice water training and the shock o the freezing water after a six mile run was quite something to bear,this being the onset and cause of my asthma