"There is a moon inside every human being. Learn to be companions with it." ~ Rumi

Silly me.

This evening, I made the mistake of asking my husband if the shape of my face has changed.

What do you think he said?

#honestyisthebestpolicy

[yogabonnie]

hahaha. had to laugh at that. time to have a talk with your husband and #honesty is the best policy... I feel your pain!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Ohh Lordy! How long have you been married to ask a question like that!

[Hidden in reply to DorsetLady]

Hahahahaha! 18 years, but it would not have mattered. My husband is very pragmatic and quite candid... he would have said "yes," if I had asked on our Honeymoon! : ))

[Insight329]

I think he said: “Dear, I haven’t noticed any changes to your lovely face.”

(The kid in me wants me to ask if we guessed right - and if so do we get a prize?)

BTW, how is your face? Healing?

[Hidden in reply to Insight329]

Hahahahahaha! I noticed just a slightest trace of horror on his face, as the words were coming out of my mouth; but it was followed with an immediate, "Yes." I expected nothing less and I guess I already knew the answer anyway... THANK YOU for asking, my face is almost back to normal, if not a bit ROUNDER apparently! I have been using Doublebase Moisturiser Gel and every other night use a electronic facial cleaning brush. The remover made the skin REALLY dry, so the brush helps exfoliate the dead skin. What a NIGHTMARE!!!! Now to figure out what to do about these LIZARD FINGERS!!!!

[Rimmy]

After 26 years now with my decade younger partner (who 'helpfully' looks 10 years younger than her actual age as well ) I now ask questions like these a wee bit tentatively - but I always get such lovely answers - like : 'well you've always had a roundish face anyway' (which is true) and it 'suits you' and anyway its 'temporary'.

Seriously though it doesn't last mamici - I had to get a driver's license ID photo when at my 'roundest' and now - just a few months later my face looks almost 'normal'. I consoled myself in the meantime with how much less 'wrinkly' I appeared and how hopefully they (the wrinkles) would STAY 'ironed out' when my jawline returned & I reckon (added by my imagination) they have 'a bit' so maybe it's all worth it !!!

[Hidden in reply to Rimmy]

Silver linings! Your partner sounds lovely! Keep her close. My husband is logical and very pragmatic... in the milliseconds between the question clicking and the answer coming out... he had already calculated the chances of me actually believing a "No," answer and correctly decided to go with the truth.

[Rugger]

I was going to say what Rimmy says - it irons out any wrinkles - far be it for me to imagine you have any!

Have a look at Kate Gilbert's post "Moon face" with her before, during and after pred photos. She looks lovely in all three.

[Hidden]

Thanks, will do!!!

PS - Yes, at 63 I have a few crevasses! I'm waiting for the Pred to fill them in!!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Don’t worry - they will! But at least it’s cheaper than Botox🤨

[Toenti in reply to Hidden]

Be careful what you wish for. I develloped full blown cushings symptoms since being on prednisolon for two years. Giant moonface, enormous fat chins and neck, hump at the top of my spine, tremendous weightgain, my hair turned into frizzy lionsmane. In short, I would rather have some wrinkles. Sorry if this sounds very negative, but aging normaly seems much nicer.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Toenti]

I had exactly the same experience when on Medrol for about 9 months - I hated it from the first day but it was the only corticosteroid generally available here in Italy, I had been on prednisolone before with no problems. But thanks to my GP, I was switched to prednisone as Lodotra/Rayos and cut carbs drastically - and it all went away. Changing the type of corticosteroid may be worth a try.

[Hidden]

As I don't have mirrors hanging around...car mirror a quick checker for toothpaste round mouth etc....i took selfies everyday for a few weeks. It just made me used to hamster cheeks. They are better now and I suspect had I not let pred appetite run away with me I might have got away with it at my dose 15mg. It's always worth costs benefits analysis....fat face without wrinkles and with rosy cheeks vs pain. Mmmmmm. If I added in potential loss of sight it isn't even worth the analysis. Glad OH good at such analyses 😂

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Poopadoop, I like it!!!! A selfie a day! Like a photo journal of my metamorphosis!!!! I shall start today!

[teesher]

I found the upside of a moon face was that it stretched away the wrinkles. Ok, it's only temporary but every little helps. As you decrease pred, your normal face does return.

[SheffieldJane]

On a positive note. My skin has never been clearer and I am relatively wrinkle free. Can this be a positive effect of steroids? I have always been trouble by blocked pores , skin blemishes etc

My husband tells kind lies that invalidates his input, bless him.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

The wrinkly bits do start to peep out eventually though. But even the doctors here agree that no, I do not look as if I have been on pred for 8 years!

[Hidden]

Hi. Mamic. I have a face as smooth as a babs bum & just as round. It must be my expressive eyes that gets me to the front of the queue thesedays.!!! (Phil. Mitchell. x 2) Still working on the hard man voice though!!!

[Hidden]

Hehehehehehehe, Phil. Mitchell x 2... Love it!

Let's get it trending! #roundisbeautiful

[Cofab2]

OMG, I felt like I had a pig face. My dear daughter and friends got after me for that. BUT that is exactly how I looked. I have been on this dreadful, unwanted journey and had every side effect of pred, but even with the utter change of my previous active, healthy life, I can live way better than pre pred. I am in USA, and it did a bit of “work “ with the Rheumy, to change her “get you off this quick” thinking. I feel like I could write a book....and a friend had shared the spoon theory with me, and it helped to explain to others. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t found the PMR/GCA forum. It helped me keep my sanity, knowing I wasn’t the only one. I wish all sufferers (hmmmm, new word??) a safe and pain free path to an end, if there is one in our future. Judy

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cofab2]

Think hamsters - far more cute...