Hot Mess

I’m on Zoladex for life and the hot sweats are always a bugbare. I can’t see my sweats ever diminishing so I live with the clothes and bed cover dance that one has to perform to regulate body temperature. My sweats are sometimes worse for whatever reason but it sounds like your OH is having serious problems. As for the shortness of breath - if there are any other symptoms like pains across the chest or dizzyness then call 111 or head for A&E.

You say he goes to the gym, that’s amazing and good for him. It’s taken me a very long time to listen to my body as I was obstinately opposed to any reduction of my physical ability’s - but that’s changed and my 61 year old body is sometimes asking for an afternoon nanna-nap to cope with the riggers of all my treatments. I can’t tell you how well or bad he’s doing as that’s only possible for him to know. It sounds like he has too much just now to be able to judge a pattern - I’d keep a close eye on symptoms and shout loudly to your cancer specialist nurse who will be able to advise you with clinically accurate advice.

You are rightly observant, ask away your worries.

Hi Mr U Thank you for getting back to me. No pain across chest or dizziness. 

Yes the hot sweats are ridiculously full on, but he can retake his meds and they will be gone. He's always tired like you, nap naps all over the place. AKA power naps. it's the sudden loss of fitness that's quite worrying. I mean it's obviously the loss of steroids, after two and a half years of taking them it will have an effect. I was wondering if its a natural progression of age and feeling aches and pains, because in a way he's been so drugged up for the last two years, that maybe this is just age and getting older? (hidden by drugs) Also I sometimes think we have a weird relationship in that I'm a worrier and he's like a big kid. He tells me he feels unwell - I worry and over think- while he goes out for a game of golf with his mates. Mission accomplished full on attention.  I think it's the side effects of no steroids. I would like to know if theres any Prednisolone men out there that have come off.

Can't speak to this personally because I have not been on the medication, but the NHS says this about steroids:

Withdrawal symptoms

Stopping taking some steroids suddenly can cause symptoms such as:

• feeling extremely tired
• feeling and being sick
• dizziness
• loss of appetite and losing weight without trying
• joint pain
• redness or changes in skin colour (this may be harder to see on brown and black skin)
• peeling skin, or skin that stings, burns or itches

If you were taking a steroid medicine to help with the symptoms of another condition, these symptoms may also come back suddenly.

That can be found on https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/steroids/

Some of those items sound a little familiar from your post.

If it is, then it may be a waiting game.

I have to say that I AM on Zoladex, and there are hot flushes. 

Sometimes I get days with mini-hot flushes ("flushettes" in my mind). Other days, well, hugging is off.

Oddly, I have come not to care about them. I see each one as the medication working and cancer cells going hungry. I take it as a win.

There is also weariness when engaging in anything that requires effort, but that may also equate to the pregabalin which I am taking to mitigate the pain through spinal stenosis which is going through a flare up.

Given the heavy breathing thing, I would persuade him to go to his GP and ask about it. Or drag him there kicking and screaming.

From what you have said, good luck on that one.

Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you have been smoking.

Thankyou mstev2 Steve.

That’s very helpful. I will certainly put the pressure on. We are going to the Lakes for a holiday soon and we usually walk miles, so the challenge will be on!  Absolutely smiling - first stop Lakes Gin -large

Just answering my own post after seeking advice. Apparently it is very common to feel this bad after long term use of steroids as it takes a while for your own body to regulate itself with its own steroid production and of course Steroids stop inflammation, so that is probably responsible for pains coming back.- Basically- get a grip, carry on down the gym and power through. 

Hi BW I think you have answered your own question and was pretty much what I was going to say.  My only other comments are to check that none of the symptoms are getting worse, if they do, then get help.  In pushing through, this is a tricky one, as keeping fit is important but listen to your body.  I know if I push through I can do it but recovery takes longer.  My example is sometimes I get tired walking up a hill, if I stop and rest (even only for 20 seconds) I can then go on again, but if I push through to the top it takes much longer to recover and I can feel it the next day.  

Great advice David, I will relay this to BW.

Many Thanks

Hi L, if T, hasn't shown any improvement after 7-10 days, of coming off prednisolone you should contact your doctor, maybe a new withdrawal plan is needed.

Eddie

Thanks eddiel  

We did have this discussion last night, because he has so little energy, also it's effecting his mood, he's constantly saying things like, "don't include me in those plans, because I'll be dead by next year." and laying about telling me in detail every ache and pain he's experiencing. I think he does need more help coming off now, otherwise he's going to find a big fat cushion being pressed into his face while he's laying there watching sport.

Hopefully contacting Drs today.

Hi L, when I'm feeling sorry for myself, I do occasionally, I get myself off to the hospice, where I volunteer, and spend a few minutes with the little ones which is both heart breaking and uplifting, giving me the good kick up the backside I need to see how lucky I am, maybe a few clouts with the cushion may help, or hide the remote control, good luck with the Dr's.

Eddie