to stop taking my steroid asthma inhaler because I want to lose my baby weight?

[alittlebitwheezy]

Brief backround - I've had asthma since childhood. I don't normally need to take the preventative steroid inhaler as I don't often have attacks.

HOwever, since my baby was born 5 months ago I've been really wheezy so have been taking the preventer (brown) inhaler since he was 8 weeks old.

When he was 8 weeks old I was 13 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, I'm not 21 pounds frmo it having put on half a stone. My appetite has been haywire, I though it was b/feeding but I stopped my inhaler 10 days ago and my appetite has totally calmed down.

AI totally crazy to not be taking my inhaler so I can lose weight?

Yes you are crazy.

Please start taking it again, and if you are concerned about your weight please see your dr and discuss your options with her/him.

You should not stop taking medication without dr's advice.

yes
better to be fat than dead.

Take your inhaler. That's more important. Try to control your appetite by eating filling things like porridge, slow release energy food without too much sugar.

As Yule Witch says, it's better to be overweight than seriously ill.

Its's flu season and an asthamtic getting flu can lead to pneumonia if asthma is not properly controlled.
Can't you just get your arse in a gym or something?

asthma.org.uk

"Will the steroids I take for my asthma make me put on weight?
Steroid treatment is an essential part of asthma management. For most people, a regular dose of a steroid inhaler is all that is needed to keep their asthma under control. This contains a very low dose of steroid and it won't make you put on weight.

Steroid tablets are sometimes prescribed if your asthma gets more severe. They contain a higher dose of steroid than your inhaler. Steroid tablets themselves won't make you put on weight. However, they can make you feel hungry and, of course, if you eat more than usual you'll start to put on the pounds. Stick to your usual eating habits, take regular exercise, and you should be fine"

two thousand people DIE A YEAR

you are being ridiculously nob headed

you are silly

and misinformed

a steroid inhaler will not make you gain weight or prevent you from doing so

I am like you have had asthma since I can remember and am on a red inhaler - flixotide i think. I came off it as I have taken it for 20 years . I was worried about the long term effects. I spoke with my gp and he said give it a go as I had not had an attack for five years, but within a week I had had an asthma attack and had to take prednisalone (sp?). I think it is easy to be lulled into thinking you are ok but not having the protection you get with taking an inhaler.

I would ask your GP as you might be able to reduce your dose. I think if I remember right, it takes 10-14 days for the steroid to work its way out of your system.

Its horrid being wheezy isn't it? I found being pregnant made it better and after my ds was born it got worse again. Maybe its hormone related. Hope you're ok though.

How have you been in the last 10 days?

Obviously it's pretty stupid to risk hospital just to try and lose some weight.

But if you're okay after 10 days maybe you don't need to be taking it every day. I'd still speak to your GP though to double check if you're okay to be cutting your inhaler out.

How much preventer are you taking? I'm assuming from the fact it's affecting your weight and appetite, that you're taking quite a lot.

I would definitely go back to the docs in that case - if you're taking lots, you may need to add another drug in too and that will control the wheeze and may mean you can reduce the steroids safely. But you will still need them.

Don't stop taking them, that is very very silly.

Agree with all the above.What Asthmatics don't seem to realise is they aren't wheezy because they are well controlled on their Inhalers.When you stop them the symptoms usually creep back.

In the past I've never taken the reliever, always, always avoided it and only got wheezy if I'm run down or have a cold.

I think I just need to adjust to not taking them again. Being overweight doesn't help asthma anyway, that could be why I'm wheezy now and wasn't before.

I had mild asthma since childhood, too, and never get attacks.

I'll be frank.

I know two people who have died from asthma attacks. Do you want to be the third?

Just take your inhaler and let the weight come off gradually.

OP, go and get yourself properly educated about your condition.

Is there an asthma nurse at your GP practice?

Can you have a good read of some national asthma websites?

You sound dangerously ill-informed about what the meds actually do.

Preventer = inhaled steroid. Is absorbed into the systemic bloodstream in minute quantities so will not have an effect on your weight. Oral steroids such as prednisolone, which you will have to take as rescure treatment if you don't take your inhalers properly will. They must be taken every day regardless of any/no symptoms to dampen down inflammation in the airways. They have no immediate effect on a tight chest.

Relievers, eg Ventolin, Bricanyl. Have an immediate effect on a tight chest. Must be taken if you feel any symptoms.

Being overweight is likely to make your asthma worse, not the other way around.

Why not go and see your doc and see if there's another inhaler you could switch to?

But seriously (and I'm talking as someone with mild asthma who ended up in A&E last month on a nebuliser following an asthma attack) don't just stop taking it without talking to your doc.

That's right anyfucker - being overweight will make my asthma worse. Hence wanting to lose weight, that's what I said.

, I suggest your weight gain has nothing to do with steroids? I am still carrying an extra 2 stone 8 months on and it's because I ate all the pies

Amazing nobody has suggested excercise.

Yes you are. FWIW my sister has chronic asthma and does the steroid inhaler twice a day and she is very slim indeed

Your asthma can become milder or more severe after a pregnancy - it changes. Plus, asthma is cyclical: you can have good and bad years as an asthmatic.

My asthma is actually quite bad, but had years as a child and young adult where I didnt' take any kind of preventer or took it sporadically - through sheer negligence. Then it gradually gets bad again and then it can get out of hand scarily quickly.

In the last 5 months your asthma has been worse.

We are now entering the worst part of the year for respiratory problems.

You want stop a minute dose of steroid, that is controling your condition because you have gained weight!

With the risk that this could easily land you in hospital and away from your child, because of your vanity.

Yes being overweight does not help asthma but not taking prescribed medication helps it even less.

The amount of steroids in the inhaler is miniscule. No way could that affect your appetite.

If you want to lose weight, follow a low-gi diet and exercise.

(I have exercise-induced 'asthma'. Ok, I've not used my steroid inhaler for a while, I only use it if my asthma comes on from the cold or a bug, rather than just exercise. I do use my reliever before exercise, and never have an attack.)

alittlebitwheezy, you said you wanted to stop your steroid inhaler because it was preventing you from losing weight

are you taking any of the advice on this thread on board ??????????