Moonface

[pollymarierose]

I've been on 70 mg prednisone for pmr/gca for 3 weeks now. I eat healthy, not too much. Low carbs, no empty calories. no sugar, no preservatives.

But, I have moonface as of today! Is or was there a way to avoid it?

[SnazzyD]

Nope, I think nearly everyone gets it. I didn’t put on any weight due to diet control but what fat I did have went to my cheeks, neck and midriff, which is standard with Pred. Meanwhile the arms and legs become a bit wasted so keep up the protein. It did help to have virtually no salt in my diet which helped stop the puffy eyes and wobbly middle. If I had any I knew within a day and it took about 3 days to go. I grew my hair into a cheek hiding bob and enjoyed the lack of wrinkles. You’ll also find that you get a bit more facial hair, sorry. It does go though little by little as the dose comes down.

[pollymarierose in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you, Snazzy! I feel better knowing it's not just me!

[sennetta in reply to SnazzyD]

I wish my legs would look a little wasted! Fat chance of that!

[pollymarierose in reply to sennetta]

No pun intended! 🤣

[jinasc]

Nope...........but the good side for me........................my wrinkles disappeared 😄 I was sad when it went away.

[pollymarierose in reply to jinasc]

Oh, noooooo. Lifes balance. With every upside there's a downside.

[Marilyn1959]

I was only on 15mgs and I got moonface! I remember feeling odd looking at myself in the mirror and the reflection was a different version of me! I too tried to look at the positive I. E. No need for botox for the wrinkles!

Equally strange at 7mgs the moonface disappeared! Sadly I think with the next reduction the wrinkles will reappear.

Moonface certainly made me look younger!

[Sho-Sho]

I got the moon face after three weeks of 60mg of pred despite being very underweight because of feeling so unwell before I was diagnosed. Cut out salt and carbs, difficult as always felt starving, still moon-faced, eventually started to go down when I got to 15mg, now at 7.5mg all the wrinkles are coming back!

[pollymarierose in reply to Sho-Sho]

First, I've often wondered what it would be like not to battle weight. You're fortunate there. The shape of my face is always the first to tell someone I've gained weight. Only I I haven't gained any real weight. My face just looks like I have. Especially the awful double chin! I haven't bought Summer clothes yet, but I have a feeling this time I'm going to have to be very style conscious so that my whole body will blend together....moonface and all! 👌😯 Thank you!

[Hellyowl]

Me too. Though I was already salt free. I consulted with my hairdresser and she gave me a nice Bob which minimised it. I Aldo experimented with blushers and learnt to use makeup better for going out. I was actually told I looked younger. Wrinkles are back now but I prefer them. Hang in at leat you know it will go.

[pollymarierose in reply to Hellyowl]

I think I'm with you in wrinkles vs moonface. I have that shape of face already that's not flattered by no wrinkles moon face. I had to go thru this in the 1980's and that was really difficult as I barely 30 years old. Plus, no one really understood about proper prednisone diets. That time I put in 50 pounds! Not this time 🤞🙏. I was already on the low carb, high fat, medium protein diet, so I don't have food cravings or manic episodes. Changing my makeup application will be a good idea also. Thank you!

[Hellyowl in reply to pollymarierose]

Hi. I only put on 2kilo. I think that was all fluid. Face, neck,midriff. I have lost it now. I never was very good at dieting. I eat some carbs and drink wine. Just eat lots of veg too. I do push myself to keep active. Walking and Pilates mainly. What no one told me was the pain when the skin stretches so quickly. I thought I was tearing apart and found it frightening

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At 70mg probably not I'm afraid.

[pollymarierose]

I see my doctor this Friday and just hope she has answer to how we lessen dose of prednisone yet get rid of gca symptoms. 🤞 I'm not at all comfortable that I still experience 50% symptoms.

[arthur463]

I am no good at organising or sticking to detailed diets.. So when I was told about moon face, a few days after being put on 60 mg preds for GCA - I stopped eating - more or less. For breakfast I have as many wheat flakes as I can pick up in one hand.. then nothing until supper time, except for tea and coffee etc. - no sugar.. I have a half-size supper.

Am I perfect? No - it's the whiskey that's my downfall!

Anyway - I have been doing this for 18 months, so far without moon face.. It's surprising how quickly it became the norm.. I guess that the reason why I get away with it is that I am pretty much chair-bound at the moment - so not much energy being expended.. I would probably die within a day if I had to do work on this mouse food regime.

[pollymarierose in reply to arthur463]

I understand more than you know. Before I fell symptom to pmr/gca, I was a power Walker (in spite of fibromyalgia). Suddenly, not gradually. I had firm muscles, but couldn't walk anymore. Slowly, as I sat in a chair with very few steps during the day, I felt the inches come back and my muscles go soft. That was at the first of the year. Now, I just chuckle at the irony. What else can we do? I am now looking forward to a day when I can either walk outdoors with my dogs, or if I have to stay in my home, do exercises that will help me the best they can.

Only one suggestion if I may? Take wheat (gluten) out of your diet and replace it with a protein. Eggs, sardines in oil, salmon, etc. That will be filling, healthy, and you'll find out you're not hungry during the day. That is one thing I was truly grateful for (that I was already eating this way) when I got diagnosed.

All the best to you!

[arthur463 in reply to pollymarierose]

Thank you for that.. I will choose a suitable protein - is bacon a protein? - that would be good to add to the egg.. I am on a low dose of preds now, so I am feeling adventurous.

Mind you - I do take the preds very seriously.. I have already lost one eye to GCA, and I can't afford the other one.

I wasn't a power walker Polly, but I was a longish distance walker.. Now I can just about wobble in and out of Sainsbury's (with a few rests) - if I forget to order my Scotch with the online shopping!

My dog is suffering the consequences like yours. He has gradually given-up fetching his lead for me.. It almost brings tears to my eyes nowadays when he does that.. No - lets be honest - it does bring tears to my eyes.. Luckily my wife is still mobile and perky - bless her.. She has taken over all my jobs, like gardening and mowing - she has even taken-on my beloved vegetable patch.. Heyho..

You spoke of exercise: I bought a couple of those hand weight barbell things (2.5 Kg each) - which I systematically wave around for 50 times before collapsing in a heap - that's on a good day.. Never mind.

Take care Polly

Arthur

[pollymarierose in reply to arthur463]

Bacon is a protein and some people would suggest not good because there's alot of yummy fat. But, it's important to get high fat in this pmr diet and so I treat myself to bacon. We buy butchers cuts of bacon. It's thicker and not salted.

I know how you feel about your dogs. It broke my heart the day that my dogs and I had to stop walking. Hope fully we'll be able to do that again one day. Hopefully you also.

You should also look up supplements you need to take especially if your on prednisone, but also because of your disease. I take a slew everyday but recently added more that are going to help keep my liver and kidneys well.

Take care and best wishes for you.

[Hidden in reply to arthur463]

It is very hard when your routine with dogs collapses. Those tears are familar. At one point i was over feeding to compensate. I am lucky mine has lived with me long enough to know there might be a day or two when she gets to just run in the garden or interact with the kids next door. I am also lucky that she is ball mad. On good days (few and far between at some points) i started driving her to places where there are benches and throw the ball with a ball thrower. Because i couldn't put my arms above my shoulders i started doing a sideways flick and developed golfers elbow. There were days i was practically falling down on the way back to them​ car. There still are if i forget to rest the muscles. If I didn't have my car i would have a rollator so i basically had a portable chair. With several conditions that can effect mobility i won't argue if i have to get a whiz machine as i call mobility scooters. My father eventually got one after losing his mobility and lost some sight. He missed 18mths of walks with his dog, got the scooter and the dog loved travelling on it. He went to the local field and the dog jumped off and walked around the field. I think it helped my dad deal.with the days he couldnt take her out and the neighbour did.

[pollymarierose in reply to Hidden]

Thank goodness my dogs also have a very large yard to run in. Plus my daughter bought me a ball thrower. I just need to feel strong enough to use it. When we had to stop taking walks, it broke my heart when my oldest dog would go up to the shelf where I kept my sketchers and would sniff them. Now. 4 months later, he gives me an "I know your not doing well today" look and sits beside me and follows me even into the bathroom.

I think my dogs forgive me and love me. 🐶🐕

[Hidden in reply to pollymarierose]

Of course they do. A bit of a cuddle does human and dog good...release the love hormone by as little as a 3min cuddle.

[pollymarierose in reply to Hidden]

I love that! Dogs are extremely good therapy 🐶 Plus they do keep us moving during the day, if only a few minutes throughout. 🙂

[KinnearD in reply to arthur463]

🤣😂😁😅

[Hidden]

The dreaded moon face,we can all relate to it.Don't despair it will eventually go away as your dose is lowered.I know it is strange when you look in mirror and think who is this person,it is still you in there so don't be hard on yourself.virtual hug.xx

[pollymarierose in reply to Hidden]

It's a little disturbing to be going through moonface again in my 60's. My mom is in her 80's and still very much into looking her best. So, I just have to remember that my moonface is a symbol of how my life is being saved now because of prednisone. Fashion accessorize around it, right? If I could only get out of the house so I can show people I still get dressed most days! Lol!

Take care and thank you!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Short answer..... no! Certainly not a 70mg, it’s something you have to live with I’m afraid, but it does go in time, as you get much lower. Plus as jinasc says it does get rid of any wrinkles!

As in life generally - You win some, you lose some🤦🏻‍♀️.

[pollymarierose]

Thank you, Dorsetlady! That's an encouraging outlook! Look at the positives 😃