Roid rage and hunger pains

Steroid therapy is an important part of treatment for ALL. Steroids are substances that are naturally produced in the body but can also be manufactured artificially as a drug.

Steroids can be used:

• As part of your treatment to help get rid of Leukaemia cells
• To help reduce an allergic reaction to some Chemotherapy drugs
• In low doses to reduce nausea (feeling sick), and to improve your appetite.

Steroids can be given intravenously or as a tablet. Prednisolone and dexamethasone are the two steroids most commonly used as part of treatment for ALL, I am having the latter. Common side effects are:

• Mood and behaviour changes (mood swings)
• Increased appetite
• Raised blood sugar levels
• Build up of fluid (or what Harriet has coined as, steroid face)
• Tummy pain/indigestion

Having taken steroids for 10 days now, I am definitely feeling a few of these. There are moments when I feel like I could take on any of the Man vs. Food challenges with ease, and have room for pudding. This isn’t too bad, I love my food… But in the mornings (6 am) I am woken by hunger pains for my tea and biscuits, when I really want a bacon sandwich! Roll on the extra 10 lbs before Christmas ?

The second side effect I am experiencing is random roid rage. I have never been a very ‘hormonal’ person, and so these new mood swings are a bit of a learning curve for me. I have moments when I can feel the build up of rage for no reason at all, it soon passes, but these feelings do come and go without warning. I attempted a yoga video today to try and centre my mood and body… I think it worked in the morning, however, I must apologise to my Mum and Mike, think you got the brunt of my rage this afternoon. I’m sure the effects will settle down, and I am hoping my family and friends can forgive me for any unexpected outbursts and snappiness… Here’s a cute snappy turtle to apologise ? – is this working…?!

“See the rage and angry thoughts… Let it pass through your mind like clouds” – advice from Harriet, the mindfulness expert.

‘Namaste’, from Alex (roid rage) Milligan