On steroids and eating for Britain... any advice on how to control this?

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I have never been on meds for any length of time before so I am scared that the appetite thing is going to get out of hand and it being Christmas soon....

I was in hospital for a week with suspected Pnuemonia (released a fortnight ago) and diagnosed with Inflammatory Lung disease, the steroids seem to have really helped and I am going to keep taking them for at least another 6 weeks but possibly a lot longer on a hopefully drastically reduced dose (currently 50mg).

Can anyone with experience give me some idea of how to manage my anxiety about the side effects of steroids. I have had a warning that I cannot take my good health (for the previous 37 years) for granted and I am all kinds of unsettled.

IME you can't control steroid appetite without making yourself utterly miserable and hungry all the time.

You are only on them for 6 weeks - not a lifetime, and it's more important to get yourself completely well again, than worry about your weight.

Once your course of steroids ends you can tackle the weight gain, if any, and it will be easier than fighting your appetite now. Just try and eat healthy things, and avoid unhealthy ones, and don't fret about quantities. If you are well enough, keep yourself fit too, even if it'sjust going for a walk every day, so that after Christmas it will be easier to burn off any excess weight.

Thanks one hand - I suspected that I would be stuck with it - I wouldn't mind so much but I already had a big appetite (I get grumpy without regular feeding) so I am a bit alarmed at the new hunger.

Still if I get a load of nice fruit and veg in maybe I can manage it better - thank you.