Just a heads up - Steroid Therapy SUCKS

I started the predinisone 20mg (3 times daily) for the platelet stimulation.

And, can I just say it totally sucks ! ! !

Not only am I horrifically irritable, and cranky, thirsty

I'M HUNGRY. . . NOT head hunger, HUNGRY!

I knew this was going to happen, and I realize it's a side effect from the pred, but it's killing me. I have not been physically hungry since my revision. I hate hunger. It really scares me.

I've already hit the 30lbs gained mark which is right in the middle of the recommended weight gain for me from all of my doctors. I have a mere 24 days to go until Tatum arrives, and I swear I'm going to gain another 20lbs in the next 3 weeks! 

I'm making good choices. I'm drinking over 100 ounces of clear fluids (80oz of pure water no crystal light, no decaf tea, just straight up water). I'm already in the bathroom every 45-60 mintues, and now I live in the bathroom it seems.

I'm on the same dose for the next 2 weeks until I get my platelets rechecked. If they remain the same, I wean off. If they respond, I will remain on the 60mg dose (which is actually 15mg less than the normal dose, my high risk ob was trying to be conservative to help prevent me from bloating and retaining water) and too much more weight gain.

BUT, can I just say how grateful I am that I am able to take steroids and it's ALL because of VSG ! ! !

Ugh, steroids are such a double edged sword...hubby has taken them on and off due to asthma and they are great at doing their job but the side effects...oy vey!

Glad your ob is being conservative with the dose and even if you do gain some more before she arrives, look at it like this...it's the LAST time you are going to have to lose this amount of weight! And it's all for a good reason, not because you are overeating but because you are growing a healthy baby.

You are on the home stretch, you arethisclose to achieving everything you set out to do when you first started down the path of WLS. And thank GOD for the VSG that your tummy is normal, just smaller!

Hang in there Tiff!

I'm thinking about you Tiff.

And, I am cheering you on!! 

You are almost there! 

Yeah, I take a lower dose but every day of my life. It does have a certain level of suckage.

Once you have Tatum in your arms, though, every cranky, thirsty HUNGRY minute will have been worth it.

Meanwhile, you're in my prayers!

Wow, I really feel for you! Steroids are really tough on you. You are already showing how wonderful of a Mom you are going to be b/c you are willing to do what it takes to keep this baby safe. I really hope the next 24 days fly by and you get to truly enjoy the happy ending to all this craziness that you've had to endure! Hang in there!

Oh man Tiffany this just sucks.  I totally get you about the hunger thing...that's one of the reasons I stay on my PPI.  Yes, I do have bad acid, but it mimics hunger too and I don't wanna go there.  Hang in baby, it's almost over.  You will not gain another 20lbs, you will not gain another 20lbs, you will not gain another 20lbs.....

Laura

sounds like you got a really good team, working for you and listening to you and your needs...

I hope that the next few weeks fly by for you, so that you dont have to rest so much, and can start enjoying  life as a new mum again.. cant wait to see pics of you and baby Tatum

Thank y'all so much. . . I'm not sure what's worse; the hunger or the pure ***** mode I'm in. I'm sure my husband would say ***** mode HA!

I don't think I've ever been so ready for anything in my life.

I really appreciate you all ! ! !

One of the main reasons I had VSG was to stop the hunger cycle if I have to go on another high-dose cycle. I put on 150lbs, took it off when I went off the steroids (and maintained for a year). When I went back on steroids, I put it all back on in a year, again. I couldn't do the hard work to lose it, AGAIN, only to do another big swing up.

My only advice is to keep your carbs as low as possible while still keeping Tatum properly fed.  Ultra low-carb is the only thing that ever curbed the hunger for me. I've taken 80mg of pred a day for periods lasting 6 months to a year on several ocassions before tapering off.  The hunger is all-consuming, almost indescribable.  I feel for you, Tiffany. I genuinely do. I've been there.  Thinking of you and Tatum.

Thanks so much ! ! ! I'm not allowed to drop carbs below 100-150gr per day at this point. And, well it just sucks!

I just have to make through the next 3 weeks, and that's what I keep repeating to myself. The water just isn't cutting it, my mouth feels weird again, like a constant film, not ketosis fuzziness, but just a film.

It'll be okay, and I know that once I can get off those all will be right in my little world!

Now, if we could just decide on crib bedding, we'd be set HA