Steroids always prescribed before surgery?

[arcteryx]

I've read several stories here where people have received some sort of steroids to decrease swelling before surgery.  I have surgery scheduled in several weeks, but my doctors haven't mentioned anything of the sort.

How common is it to start on steroids before surgery? Are there people who haven't taken any?

Thanks!

[DeniseSmith]

Steroids were never discussed, and I was never given any either.

[Battyp]

I got steriods before surgey ONLY because I had gotten to the point of not being able to lift my head off the pillow it hurt so bad.  Being that I had brain stem involvement they started me on a low dose to help me make it to surgery and relieve some of the pressure I was having.  I don't think it's a standard pre surgery thing unless you are showing signs of complications or swelling before your surgery.

[matti]

I was never given any type of steroids before or after surgery.

matti

[Captain Deb]

I was on a steroid for about 10 days after surgery--nothing before.
Capt Deb

[Desilu]

Hi,

My doctor prescribed "Famvir" 250mg tablets 3 days before surgery, to be taken twice a day, which was a total of 6 pills. This drug is used to treat herpes and shingles (which I did not have!) but I believe I was told that it helped the brain to heal faster if it was taken pre-surgery. I didn't have a problem taking the pills, but it was pretty embarrassing going to the pharmarcy and picking this prescription up and telling the clerk I was taking these pills for "brain surgery" and they looked at me like "yeah right!" But I feel great and everything worked out well, so maybe they did help! Ann

[Crazycat]

Yup, I had them before and after surgery. Dexamethasone.....for the record.

Paul

[ppearl214]

Yo, dude! Dex is the generic name for Decadron!

Yup, I had them before and after surgery. Dexamethasone.....for the record.

Paul

[Kathleen_Mc]

I was never given steriods pre-op or post-op with either of my surgeries for AN, unless they were given IV without my knowledge.
Kathleen

[Patti]

when i visited the surgeon i swear he said he would start me on steroids a week before the surgery.  at that time he was out of the country and his nurse said he didn't say anything about it.  well it turned out that after my 14 hour surgery i started having brain swelling and 3 days later they had to do surgery again to put in a temporary shunt and remove part of my cerebellum to make room for the swelling.  i was on a high dose of steroids after that.  8 weeks hospitalization and months of outpatient rehab.   patti

[Desilu]

Patti,

My heart goes out to you! So sorry to hear you had such a bad time. Hope your doing much better now? Ann

[Captain Deb]

Patti--that sound like grounds for a malpractice suit to me.  You should try to contact some of that docs other patients or contact the surgical center and find out what the protocol for surgery is on that one, which shouldn't be too hard to do.
Captain Deb

[Battyp]

Yeah I agree...that just isn't right!

[PRussel]

No steriods pre-op but was given Prednisone to take post-op. 

[Static]

I was on a steroid while in the hospital after my surgery and I think it was decadron, it sounds familiar but maybe just because I just read it a few times! LOL  Anyway, whatever steroid they had me on made me diabetic, and I had to have insulin shots.  I was weaned off the steroids and went home just fine :/  Never knew a steroid could make someone have symptons of diabetes.  Anyone else ever hear of this?