? Fat pads

[Wraysbury]

Another question while I’m on a roll.

Since Christmas I’ve noticed that the dip that used to be above both of my collar bones is now a puffy round Swelling. Are these the fat pads people talk about??

[SnazzyD]

How big?

Try this

hopkinsvasculitis.org/vascu...

[maria40 in reply to SnazzyD]

That looks about right for mine, now diminishing slowly as I taper.

[Wraysbury in reply to SnazzyD]

About the size half a tennis ball

[SnazzyD in reply to Wraysbury]

Sounds like fat pads but given that none of us can say for certain and there are glands there, it might be worth getting a doc to have a prod.

[Wraysbury in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks that answers my question. My pads are more defined, than the picture, as I said, like half a ball, but I’ll put it down to pred and mention it next time I see GP

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Lots of people comment on puffiness above the collarbones. They may be fat pads, I don't know, but the usual ones are on the back of the neck, the so-called buffalo hump, and on the cheeks.

[Wraysbury in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve had the moon shaped face for a while, these are new

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Wraysbury]

Time...

[alvertta in reply to Wraysbury]

Me too. And very chubby neck.

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

That’s where mine is. Back of neck.

[alvertta]

I have one on the back of my

Neck

[Daisychain12]

I feel like a fat pad.

[Wraysbury in reply to Daisychain12]

Sorry, but this made me giggle!! Michelin man??!!

[powerwalk]

I knew before I finished reading that sentance what you were talking about!! That was the first thing to come when I started Pred - literally within weeks. Its still there - both sides and a bit in the middle - I HATE it. Funny thing - when I mentioned it to my "Rheumy" in the beginning she hadn't a clue. I actually had to go then and look it up on google!!! I couldn't understnad how they put you on meds and they haven't a clue about the side effects. In fairness it seems to be one of the common side effects and she had no clue what it was. The joys!!

[patriciawhite]

Yes I have had that ,I don't have it now .It just went away again on it's own . Might have been as the pred was reduced I think .I did get the moon face too ,That went away as the pred was reduced too but it took a while .

[Lonsdalelass in reply to patriciawhite]

Thanks for that, there's hope then! X

[Hellyowl]

Hi, I had those and the hump and moon face. None of my necklaces fitted for a while, but as the Pred went down they went away, I am a bit fat round the neck but it now looks normal for someone my age who carries a bit too much weight. Sometimes I think that since the upper body fat from the pred, that part of my body now gains weight more easily.

[Marilyn1959]

Hi Wraysbury. Fat pads, as you describe, are very familiar to me. Had them a long while, bigger on left than right! I first thought they were a measure of inflammation since I think size alters, but not so sure now. They don't hurt so I have just accepted the swelling.

Whilst fat pads have been part and parcel of my PMR journey, the dowager hump was another matter! From out of nowhere, I suddenly had a pillow that I could lean my head on! An effect of pred! Came suddenly, around for a few months then went!

[clieder]

Yes, I suddenly noticed mine about 6 months after starting prednisone. I was concerned about it and had a GP look at it. He said it was fat and everything else in there was fine and seemed to be aware that prednisone causes them. Article photo is right on for mine. Interesting appearance when it meets my extra double chin! It bothers my swallowing if I have my head tilted back, so I am cautious when throwing back pills to get them down.

[kamille in reply to clieder]

Oddly, the back of my neck and collarbone area were "swollen" before prednisone. It remains that way on prednisone. It also varies to some extent . Physicians don't seem concerned. Is it related to the disease and inflammation?

[clieder in reply to kamille]

I really think it is tied mostly to prednisone as it is known for putting fat in peculiar places in addition to the more logical ones. But... I was diagnosed quite quickly, really text book symptoms and elevated ESR, so I don't know if the fat pads would have developed based solely on the condition.