About 10 years ago, my MIL was on a long-term low-dose steroid

[mcar]

to deal with something in her blood labs report. At the time, I was the PR director at a small community hospital so I asked the lab manager what the high # meant. He said it signified inflammation somewhere in the body. But, given that my MIL was a senior citizen, that could have meant basic arthritis.

Regardless, her doc insisted on her staying on this low dose steroid.

She came to visit us in FL, from NJ, for a couple of weeks after she was months into this medication. We immediately noticed a difference in her - she was much more high-strung than usual, angry and argumentative. She was not herself.

I talked to that lab manager after we talked to her about her behavior. He's not a doctor but, given his experience, didn't understand why she'd be on this steroid for so long. He noted that, of course, it could cause these changes. Plus, her lab #s hadn't changed.

She called her doc and said she wanted off the steroid. He weaned her off it and within a few days, she was back to her old self.

I am relaying this incident because she was on a low dose of a much less intense steroid and we saw the changes in her.

IMPOTUS is heading for a big fall.

[KatyaR]

1. I was on steroids for a week or so

when I had an episode of Bell's Palsy. By the time I was ready to start backing off, I was raging. It was awful, and I wasn't on nearly the dose I bet he is.

[mcar]

4. I bet you weren't

That must have been an awful experience.

[Ilsa]

6. I get it. I was on a 10 day course of corticosteroids to

treat poison ivy or poison oak. Really nasty case of it. I nearly checked into a hotel to get away from my family. I was extremely irritable and was afraid I might hurt someone. I told my husband if the next day wasn't better, I needed to leave.

The short courses don't bother me much.

[tulipsandroses]

2. I took my son's car key's away last month when he was treated with prednisone - He's in his 20's

Things were getting that much out of control, I was concerned enough to take his car keys for safety. I asked the PCP if he could stop taking it because I was so concerned, she said yes.

I was having back pain recently, went to the doc and she wanted to give me a shot, I said nope. Not doing it.I'll be claiming the walls. Don't want it. I opted for a toradol shot instead of the steroid shot. She sent me home with a prescription for a z-pack- I couldn't sit for 2 mins without my back feeling like it was on fire. That was 2 weeks ago. I haven't touched it.

[regnaD kciN]

3. Now, imagine your MIL with the nuclear codes...

[mcar]

5. Right?

[Mariana]

7. My sister had to take a low-dose steroid for a long time.

When we were kids. I think it was Prednisone, not sure. Anyway, same thing happened, it turned her into a nasty person and no one wanted to be around her. The sad thing is that she spent enough time on it during her formative years that even later when she came off it, she remained a nasty person and no one wants to be around her.

[mcar]

8. That's sad

[Arkansas Granny]

9. They don't call it 'roid rage for nothing.

[mcar]

10. Yep

[EndlessWire]

11. I can't take Benedryl.

It is commonly used off label in the hospital. A little mentioned side effect is irritability. It turns me into the Queen Bitch of The Universe.