Examples of Steroid Victims in the UK - Example Number 3.

Examples of Steroid Victims in the UK - Example Number 3.

'Jay' had always been slim and smart. He went with pain and other symptoms to his GP in 2000. The GP recognised the seriousness of the signs and symptoms and arranged a prompt appointment with a specialist, who confirmed that it was cancer of the colon. 'Jay' was treated with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy and also had a resection. The excellent treatment he received must, I suppose, have saved his life. He is still alive and the cancer is in remission.

During one of his spells in hospital I was speaking to him on his mobile phone and he told me he had been put onto steroids. Agitatedly I implored him not to eat salt while he was taking the steroids. Anyone who has any dealings at all with me becomes well versed in my views about salt and so he assured me he was not eating salt. - What he meant was that he was not sprinkling salt onto his food. I was unable, sadly, to persuade him not to eat bacon, etc. while he was taking the steroids. I believe things would have been even worse if he had not known from me about salt and steroids, because then he might have been adding sprinkled salt as well to what he ate. As it is, although he took steroids for only about 7 weeks, his weight went from 12 stone to 14 and a half stone - a gain of 35 pounds in 7 weeks! a lot of the added weight being on his abdomen. Of course the response to his weight gain has been for people to point out to him that he is not getting enough exercise!

He now restricts his salt intake but this only ensures that he gains no more weight. He has not been able to lose more than between half a stone and a stone by sodium restriction because he does not follow, and does not feel able to follow, as strict a regimen as I do.

So you see how quickly sodium and fluid retention can cause weight gain! - Only 7 weeks in this case.

'Jay's cancer was expertly dealt with, but what a shame that while he was in hospital - taking prescribed steroids - he was not protected from the sodium and water retention. - If only he had been served low sodium meals for those 7 weeks! - He would then not have gained the weight. - The weight gain now seems intractable because the blood vessel walls have obviously been permanently compromised/weakened/overstretched. - He has also developed the serious complication that sodium and water retention often cause, namely, diabetes...)o:

Many drugs carry warnings not to drive or operate machinery while taking them. Some warn against mixing them with alcohol. I recommend that packs of steroids and packs of HRT and certain other drugs which cause fluid retention/weight gain, be labelled WARNING: DO NOT EAT SALT, OR FOODS WHICH CONTAIN SALT, WHILE TAKING THIS MEDICATION. Without this warning, morbid obesity and its associated health problems - diabetes, high blood pressure, etc, etc, will be the frequent consequence...)o:

Read more on my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/