Tag: steroids

A topic I really wanted to discuss with my psychiatrist was if I should cancel my Cervical Epidural Steroid shot. I was done with steroids. But my psychologist felt this may be different than oral steroids. 

My psychiatrist reassured me that since the shot is localized and not systemic that I should not have the systemic reactions I had while orally taking steroids. However, if it does occur (very slim chance) to call her immediately.

Well, today was the day. I decided to have anesthesia due to my anxiety and vasovagal. It put me to sleep immediately until they rudely awakened me about 30 minutes later. I was hoping to remain sleepy all day in bed. Unfortunately, I seem to react as my son does to being sedated: a surge of energy and inability to sleep. This is not the first time for me. 

The night of my hysterectomy I was washing dishes and putting things away. Today after trying to relax in bed for about an hour, I decided to work for 3 hours. After more struggling, I finally fell asleep for barely an hour. Now, again, instead of sleeping I am typing blogs. 

Fingers crossed this is not the steroids and that I do not have Roid Rage for Thanksgiving!

A few weeks ago I went to a pain specialist due to my chronic back issues. When deciding on when to book the appointment, I told her the following week I was having dental implants and will be taking steroids and antibiotics. I later commented that I had bipolar when discussing current medications. She then forewarned me of the issues that taking steroids on bipolar can have: whirling into mania. 

It worried me, of course, but was glad to be fully aware of what may happen and warn those around me. However, being aware could not stop my rages. Unfortunately, my mania consists of becoming extremely irritable and angry. It lasted longer than the five days of the regimen. I didn’t feel like myself, detested myself, vowed to never take steroids again under any circumstances, and could not wait for the cycle to end. 

After about 1.5 weeks, the mania started to subside. I was glad to have both my appointments with my psychologist and psychiatrist when the weening began. The bright side was being able to reflect on other past episodes that I never understood as being mania. 

It was a week and a half of hell but also of self-awareness.