Funny fat deposits

[bunnymom]

At what dose do the funny fat deposits begin to disappear? I am at 6 and my neck hump is going down and my face is looking thinner. The abdominal fat is still pretty strange and I've only gained 5 lbs. Do I have to be at club zero for awhile first? Know this is strictly a vain question but no one else will know but you all. Thanks for your friendship and help every day.

[SheffieldJane]

I’ve got a horrible suspicion that the rounded belly is going to need a set of specific exercises to reduce unless we just resign ourselves to being Bottecelli Angels 👼.

[Rose54 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I wish I could describe my belly as rounded

I could but I would be lying

Its flabby hanging and falls to the side if I lie down

Unpleasant site to say the least

[SheffieldJane in reply to Rose54]

A man would say he had big bones. Be kind to yourself Rose, you’ve been through a lot and you are still here. So what if there’s a bit more of you than there once was.

[powerwalk in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you. Needed that sheffieldj. On hols and not feeling good at all including rotten weight. Severe fatigue gettin me down.

[Marilyn1959 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I wish I lived in Sheffield Jane! We could have a Botecelli Angels meet! Hysterical!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Marilyn1959]

Yes and we wouldn’t be bored. ( reference to the song).

[Rimmy in reply to SheffieldJane]

I always LOVED Botticelli's 'women' and my oldest (herself very beautiful) friend used to describe me as that 'type' when we were schoolgirls - which helped then as I might have otherwise internalised a lot of the 'plump'/or 'fat' negativity. Now when my doctor asks me to get on scales - I politely refuse and tell him that I am EXACTLY the same weight as i was when i was 20 and how many people can say that - so I am still a wee bit 'Botticelli' - and none of them had flat tummies !! I am now just also thinking how 'undignified' Venus would look doing exercises at the gym ...(LOL)

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends, there is no straight answer. I lost the "funny fat" from 15mg on, but I did work hard at diet and it was very slow but steady. The first to go was around my middle, trousers started to fall down within a couple of months! But then it melted all over. I am definitely hourglass shaped, albeit a fairly substantial one and have a pot belly but that is a left over of 2 c-sections too!

Others have lost nothing until the pred was history - but then it melted away slowly without them trying. And yet others have had to work really hard to lose it.

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

I have the belly problem for a different reason - hysterectomy - I was 32 when I had that and have had no problem until going on pred, now I have slack skin that I have to hide in my knickers! it looks normal from the outside... think it's because I've always been small framed so can hide the fat apart from the hump at the back of my neck - bloody hell I sound like the hunchback of notre dame. If I didn't have the AI I would have a tummy tuck I hate it..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

Could quite fancy a tummy tuck (apparently they are also a cure for much back pain) and the little face tuck that gives you your jawline back ...

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

Sounds wonderful to me ...my 'problem' is I was a 'Twiggy' at the same time as her and Cilla for the red hair - can dream can't we... so never had to diet and cannot get used to this extra weight, I'm 2 stone heavier but only weighed 7st 3oz - even after I'd had three kids I barely touched 8st..

[bunnymom in reply to PMRpro]

Wonder what a tummy tuck costs? It's always good to have hope.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bunnymom]

More than I'd be prepared to pay I have no doubt!!!! But above all, it would be non-essential surgery and surgery does always pose a risk.

[Telian in reply to bunnymom]

Obviously private 4.5k that was two years ago - a woman in the next bed to me had had it done as a celebration with her divorce money! she said it was the best thing ever! I've never thought of doing anything like this until now but daren't take the risk, imagine it rheumy visit: 'how are you today?' 'I'm okay but this infection from my tummy tuck looks a bit iffy'...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

That's about the figure daughter No 1 mentioned - she was planning to do much the same. Hope she doesn't! But by the time she's paid her debts there won't be much divorce money left I suspect. If it ever happens...

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

It's probably more now were brexitting... do you think the risks for a chin lift are as bad as tummy?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

Dunno - there is one version that can be done without GA...

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

not sure about that..

[Katheryne in reply to Telian]

Hi On a recent flare up the belly popped up again after being as flat as it ever gets after a hysterectomy. Resigning myself to an apron without the frills and dressing to accommodate it. Clinical Pilates is great for every other poor muscle which has been attacked. I had CA right breast years ago and when first on high pred, the breast which had escaped radiation bulged. I called myself "lefty" and wore maternity tops. I surgeon told me to wait at least a month off pred before arranging a tummy tuck. As if that's going to happen.

[Telian in reply to Katheryne]

I have got the frills particularly over the hip bones, so you recommend CP for those muscles?... I am 4 years CA r breast with surgery 2 for lymph node clearance - I did get a lot of post op problems with seroma and hematoma and still have the numbness and slight swelling occasionally, have got used to that as much as you can - don't want lymphodema! The things we have to live with eh you being a lefty too! Is your hysterectomy recent?

Seroma hematoma lymphodema

[Katheryne in reply to Telian]

Hysterectomy was 20 years ago, CA 5 years later with no lasting problems, just severe fatigue from radiotherapy. PMR was an unexpected blow, the GP sent me off for many cortisone injections, he had no idea. Finally a former GP saw me and sent me off to a rheumatologist two years ago. Last visit she said "you must be off Pred by August" Two weeks later huge flare up, plump up and all the rest. I now line my lefty with old panty hose. I didn't develop lymphodema, I hope you don't. Big problem is crumbling bones. No wild dancing for me.

[Telian in reply to Katheryne]

Same here with the fatigue, I got CA 5 months after GCA/PMR diagnosis on my birthday! Exactly same age as my mum got it. Got check up next week. My bones were 'average to above average' last dx scan.

Never ceases to amaze the logic of some doctors, what dose are you on now?

Old panty hose is so funny... you can buy the chicken fillet thingies...or did you not mean you have to fill it just flatten it - sorry lost the plot.. Don't think there's wild dancing for many of us now.

[Katheryne in reply to Telian]

Panty hose fills in the gap. I was down to 3 mg, viral infection, lots of stress and bingo, nausea, low blood pressure and low sodium and magnesium - not enough cortisol to fight the infection. Back on 10 and trying to taper down. Clinical Pilates is as wild as I get these days.

[Telian in reply to Katheryne]

I was down to 3mg for 17 months, that might be my limit, but had to increase to 5mg

at Easter and having same trouble reducing as always, withdrawals, but dsns .5 weekly at the moment but getting there...am going to look for a CP class.

[Katheryne in reply to Telian]

Good for you. If I manage to get back to 3 mg I'll stay there. I hope you enjoy Clinical Pilates.

[Rose54]

My lumps aren't funny

But I know what you mean I was down to 8 in March and the pounds where coming off and one day I looked in the mirror and I looked like me .

Unfortunately didn't last as went back to 10

I guess where all different and our lumpy bits will go but who knows when

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rose54]

I was quoting bunnymom! Blame her, not me

[Rose54 in reply to PMRpro]

Ah that's ok does that mean I can blame bunnymom for my funny fat lumps

or should I blame the pack of Chocolate biscuits I have just brought and trying to refrain from opening

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rose54]

It is easier to resist them if you leave them on the shelf in the first place! Just sayin' ...

[Hidden]

Hi Bunnymom

I’m on 7.5/7mg at the moment & have been down to 5mg the moon face melted away almost without me realising & it was only when l felt my jaw bone again l really noticed!

Still have that slight hump on my back but as regards the tum 😱 clever dressing is the only way forward at this time!

Mrs N 💅🏼

[bunnymom in reply to Hidden]

Ah yes that's been my help so far.

[Zampalion]

I have been at zero now for 11 weeks, after 6 years of pred. My weight hovered between 13.5 and 14 stone, I have now reduced to 12.5, face has gone back to pre pmr. Days

[bunnymom in reply to Zampalion]

Hurrah for you.

[Hidden]

My widows hump is just about gone at 8mg. My face going. My tummy fat at 15mg perfectly mimicked the six pack I had in my 30s at the top of my stomach (downward yoyo) except of course it was fat not muscle and Buddah like. I have always had a bum and thunder thighs but never had a Buddah. It's slowly going but of course as slide a large amount of weight the skin hangs. Trying to decide if I prefer the Buddah to the floppy flap.🤗

[Telian]

I'm on 5 and the majority of my chubby chops have gone but still got jowls and neck hump - but we are all different. Had this conversation recently with my rheumy who says that at club zero it can take up to a year for those areas to go, that's if it's going to! Only time will tell I'm afraid - my abdominal fat is starting to hang, which as a skinny person the majority of my life I feel indignant about, I can hide it well but hate it. Good luck bunnymom.

[bunnymom in reply to Telian]

I am trying to decide how long to hang on to clothes that haven't fit me in two years. I also have that dangling low stomach fat. Strange indeed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bunnymom]

I am wearing clothes I couldn't wear for about 3 or 4 years so if you love them enough and have the courage to do low carb and see if you can lose the weight - yes hang on to them.

[Telian in reply to bunnymom]

I keep some of the older clothes I like, the bigger ones for bloated days, which gladly are lessening now.

My granddaughter doesn't agree with hoarding and I know the saying if you haven't worn in the last 12 months you're unlikely to wear it again but I do. They are coming over at Christmas from Oz she'll say 'are you ready for clearing out Nanny?' and I sit on the bed while she takes each item out of the wardrobe with one question keep or not - she's ruthless but I like it - last time we did that about an hour later she said someone's coming to look at your clothes - she'd advertised them!... and funnily enough the woman said she'd been dieting and needed a whole new wardrobe, she went away happy - the rest went to charity. I also keep the tags on until worn - charity shops can ask more for them if brand new.

If they're good clothes that you've paid a lot for hang onto them until you know you don't want them, I find being on pred makes me soo indecisive hence the granddaughter bit, my normal self wouldn't need that push. ATB.

[TooSore]

Unfortunately the only way to tell the difference between my sister's baby pictures and mine is that I had a double chin. So I'm guessing even off prednisone I'll still have the chubby cheeks and peak extra chin!

[artfingers]

I refuse to throw away my old skiny clothes. I am at 5 1/2 pred and still a belly, hips and big breasts - about 32 pounds overweight. Hate it. It piled on even at 10 mg pred and has never left pretty much no matter what I do. I'll just hope it goes away after I keep going down. Funny thing about the breasts, they got almost as big as when I had implants (long ago removed). Hump, no, cheeks, no so thankful for that.

[Marilyn1959]

How about we all apply to go on Embarrassing Bodies programme or Dr Christian programme, claim psychological damage, PMR ruined my life etc and get tummy tuck done for free? Alternatively we could make a multiple applicant bid with private consultant in the hope of huge discount for job lot!!! Anyone game???

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marilyn1959]

There is evidence that a tummy tuck can also cure low back pain ...