Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

New here need guidance

Support Forums
>
Allergies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
That's my story and Im stickin' to it!
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 7
Posted 10/19/2007 10:32 PM (GMT -7)
I am looking for suggestions on how to get rid of the weight from the steroid. Is there a forum here you can suggest?
profile picture
Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 10/20/2007 5:14 AM (GMT -7)
Hi and welcome to Healingwell smile No we don't have a specific forum for weight loss. What were you taking the steroid for?

But a few tips are if you are now off the steroid, is to avoid high sodium foods, cut back on the water (but definitely drink enough to stay hydrated), exercise, eat smaller and healthier meals, and I also heard that Hoodia works good to suppress the appetite.
profile picture
That's my story and Im stickin' to it!
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 7
Posted 10/20/2007 7:49 AM (GMT -7)
Asthma, chronic bronchitis, copd, allergies. That's why I asked this question in the asthma section.
profile picture
That's my story and Im stickin' to it!
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 7
Posted 10/20/2007 8:17 AM (GMT -7)
I think I'll wait on Hoodia until further testing is done. All the meds I take now affect the liver, including the prednisone.

This was reprinted with permission from about.com

Q: What are the side effects of hoodia, if any? Most articles I've read about hoodia say it's a gentle and safe and I can't seem to find any information about side effects anywhere.

A:Hoodia gordonii is often touted as a herbal diet pill without side effects, although there's a lack of published studies on the safety of hoodia in humans.

Hoodia marketers often claim that hoodia has no side effects because the San Bushmen in the Kalahari desert of Africa have been using hoodia for thousands of years. But hoodia simply hasn't been around for long enough in North America and it hasn't been subjected to safety testing to uncover any possible side effects, drug interactions, and safety concerns.

Jasjit S. Bindra, PhD, former researcher for hoodia at Pfizer (the pharmaceutical giant that licensed the rights to develop hoodia for $21 million but later returned the rights), stated in a letter to The New York Times that although hoodia did appear to suppress appetite, there were indications of unwanted effects on the liver caused by components other than the active ingredient p57 that could not easily be removed during processing.

Bindra added, "Clearly, hoodia has a long way to go before it can earn approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

If hoodia does affect liver function, it may also interact with other medications a person is taking. The San Bushmen are a tribe of hunter-gatherers, and probably did not take same pills for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, and other diseases, that we do, another reason why unconfirmed reports of safe use by the San should not be relied on.

People with diabetes should be cautious about using hoodia. One of the theories about how hoodia works is that it tricks the brain into thinking that it has enough blood sugar. Without proper feedback regulation, it's possible that a person's blood sugar could drop dangerously low while taking hoodia. And with the regular hunger mechanism turned off, the normal warning signs may be suppressed, until it's too late.

Hoodia is believed to suppress not only appetite but thirst. There have been unconfirmed reports of shepherds in Africa who took hoodia to take the edge off hunger pains, but died of dehydration because they didn't feel thirsty.

And as a general precaution, because the safety in pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with liver or kidney disease hasn’t been established, these people in particular should avoid hoodia.
profile picture
allergychick2992
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 8
Posted 10/20/2007 3:53 PM (GMT -7)
I gained a lot of weight back in elementary school from steriods and never lost it. I'm in high school and I still have to deal with it. I have tried a lot of things but nothing seemed to work until I was off the steriods for about two years and I lost all the weight. I went back on them and gained most of it back. I've been able to very slowly lose weight by getting tons of excersize and eating 6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones. Good luck and welcome :)

18. No lengthy signatures. Limit signatures to 10 lines or less.  Moderators will edit and/or remove signatures that are too long.

Post Edited By Moderator (Red_34) : 10/21/2007 5:39:49 AM (GMT-6)

profile picture
That's my story and Im stickin' to it!
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 7
Posted 10/20/2007 4:28 PM (GMT -7)
I am so sorry you are going through so much at such a young age.
What brought on all your allergies?
I assume you are very young. What is your age?
You getting a lot of support at home?
If it were in my power, I would take all that bad stuff out of your life.
For now, I am just having to deal with all the weight I have gained. The Dr. said, I will never be able to get off these perednisones.
My name is Chris. My wife's name is Margarita and she has a daughter, 11 named Elvia. I have 3 kids. They are old but, I can still call them kids. Jenny is 31 and has a daughter 10 and a son 8. Rachael is 29 and has a daughter 12.
You take care and it was nice meeting you.
profile picture
Another Day
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 1055
Posted 10/20/2007 10:54 PM (GMT -7)

That's my story and Im stickin' to it! said...
Asthma, chronic bronchitis, copd, allergies. That's why I asked this question in the asthma section.

My asthma came on with a vengeance about five years ago and I have had to take so much Prednisone.  I am 5'3" and have gained about 70 lbs.  There will be times when I don't have to take Prednisone for a couple of months (which doesn't happen often) and I will take some weight off.  I have the rounded, moon face and the hump on my back behind my neck.  Do you have any of those signs of long-term Prednisone use?  I will admit I could work a little harder on what I eat and get more weight off, but I just get so frustrated and I'm on Prednisone so much, well I' sure you know how the food cravings are.

If misery loves company, you do have company, but I don't think that is going to help either one of us.  We do need to come up with a good eating plan.  Maybe we could work on it together.

Take care!

Carla

profile picture
That's my story and Im stickin' to it!
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 7
Posted 10/20/2007 11:11 PM (GMT -7)
Ms Carla,
I've been on 10mg, 2x a day for about a year and a half. For the last 6 months, I've been able to stay out of the hospital. Before that, I was being admitted up to 2x a month over a year. Those attacks sure let ya' know what the most important thing in life is.
I have gained 90 lbs in a year. I'm up to 270 now. It's a good thing I'm tall, almost 6'. I don't eat much and am working on the salt thing. I do drink a whole lot of water. I am outside a lot, when I can fight the depression and fatigue. I also do a lot of physical activities cleaning my yard, working on the vehicles, building projects, etc.
If you come up with any ideas, I will be open to them.
And thanks for responding, Chris
profile picture
Another Day
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 1055
Posted 10/21/2007 6:42 PM (GMT -7)

Chris,

Gaining 90 lbs in one year is a lot.  Have you had your thyroid checked?  Before I had asthma, I did gain 60 lbs in one years because of my thyroid.  I would seriously think about getting that checked if you haven't already.

Is your asthma managed by an allergist?  If so, you might want to ask about Xolair.  I take an injection monthly and I think I have been doing so for about four years.  As severe as my asthma is, I have only had one ER visit and no hospital stays.  If I have attacks during that day that I can't control, my allergist will spend several hours working with me in her office to keep me from having to go to the ER.  Not many doctors will do that.  I had to take early retirement last summer after I was diagnosed with epilepsy, since then I haven't had an attack that I couldn't get under control myself.  I was working in an environmentally sick building at a university, but of course, they will never admit that.  It has taken them 20 years to finally agree that the building next to the one I was working in was filled with mold and they are going to tear it down.

Of course you know you do not need to be working in the yard.  That's probably just going to make your asthma flare, which means more Prednisone and more weight gain.

I hate the side effects of Prednisone, but as you know with asthma patients, it sure beats the alternative.  I enjoy breathing, don't you?

Take care!

Carla

profile picture
That's my story and Im stickin' to it!
New Member
Joined : Oct 2007
Posts : 7
Posted 10/21/2007 6:54 PM (GMT -7)
Yes Maam, I sure do hear that!
The VA assigned me a Gen Practitioner here. When I am scheduled for my next checkup, I'll ask him about Xolair.
I take, theophylline, Singulair, and Spiriva, combivent, and albuterall with the nebulizer also. I carry that Ocean Mist and use it a lot. Helps was stuff out.
My legs and feet, especially the right side has been swelling. Cut back on salt but drink a whole lot of ice cold water. Feel dehydrated a lot.
Kinda' depressing talking about all the ailments, LOL!!
I'm not always online, however, if you care to just chat, let me know.
Take care and have a great night, Chris
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply




HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
FacebookFacebook TwitterTwitter PinterestPinterest LinkedInLinkedIn
© 1997-2021 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.