There is no question that steroids are incredibly powerful drugs that do have their uses. When someone is having a severe asthma attack, steroids can literally save their life. A couple of people have told me that a course of steroids helped them with their RADS. I'm glad for them that they found relief from their symptoms. And I understand the temptation of aggressive treatment in order to get well, especially when natural treatments don't seem to be working. Each of us has to weigh the pros and cons of our treatment options and decide for ourselves which is best. Steroids aren't right or wrong, good or bad, they are simply a tool. But for me, in my current condition, it's not a tool I'm considering using.
Why not? My short answer is because I'm getting better without them.
I'm miles ahead of where I was 5 weeks ago when I had my last major setback. It's true that for two weeks I couldn't do much of anything. There were a couple of days there that were pretty damn scary. But last week I was able to do Pilates twice (my butt is still sore from Thursday's class! what a great feeling!), run errands, make dinner, even had dinner out, complete with conversation, a couple of times. My current regimen of an anti-inflammatory diet, vitamins, fish oil, garlic, probiotics, pilates and daily meditation is resulting in significant progress. Instantaneous? No. More work than taking a pill or toking on an inhaler? Perhaps, though I personally don't find it burdensome. And it's working. And it's working without any side effects. In contrast, check out the list of potential side effects of Prednisone.
My long answer is more philosophical. Steroids are incredibly powerful drugs. Immunosupressive drugs. That's how steroids work, you know, they suppress your body's natural immune response. My personal philosophy is that I'm better off strengthening my immune system, not weakening it. If my lungs are inflamed, then I figure it's part of the healing response. Your body's healing mechanism is incredibly smart. Yes, sometimes your body needs help, but if it's making progress I say provide some natural assistance and get the hell out of the way.
My slower, steadier, more natural healing path might take me any longer to get well than aggressive treatment. But then again, it might not. I can't find any research online that indicates aggressive treatment results in faster healing. And even if someone could prove to me that with steroids it'll take 6 months and my way will take 8 or 9, I'd still take the more natural path with its lower risk of side effects.
Lastly, just a couple of links:
Here's what Dr. Andrew Weil posted about steroids with regard to asthma (the emphasis is mine):
Oral steroids (prednisone is the commonest) are very dangerous for asthmatics, because it is too easy to become addicted to them, and toxicity from long-term steroid use is devastating. Try to avoid ever going on oral steroids. If you do have to take them, get off as soon as possible. In general, the less medication you can take, the better. Allopathic drugs, being suppressive in nature, tend to perpetuate asthma and may reduce the chance that it will disappear on its own.And a reading list for you asthmatics out there:
Reversing Asthma by Richard Firshein, D.O.
Asthma-Free Naturally by Patrick McKeown
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