Since being on pred my body shape has changed, my stomach looks like I’m pregnant! And the love handles are more like large hangers!! for sure. So I’m not liking what I see, but reading posts I understand this can be side affects of pred. I was diagnosed in 2016 and was on initially 20 mg and have reduced down to 3.50. With a few ups n downs. So being on a low dose I would of thought my body might change back to its original form 😘any ideas ? I have reduced carbs as found I got to bloated if I ate too Many. I’m not a sweet tooth person, so not chocolate etc.
I do Pilates and yoga each week and have a physical job boarding cats and small animals. And walk lots . So not a couch potato 🥔 I do like my wine Though. I try not to worry too much about it as could be worse , but when having a bad day it does get to me.
Any help appreciated
Carole x
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Have a look at my post from earlier in the week, l’m more or less back to my Pre Pred Shape! Technically l could do with losing another half a stone (7lbs) but as l’m currently on 12mg & just on a 5day Boost at 15mg l don’t think l’m doing so bad! 😉
I’ve just written my shopping list to include several of these recipes, they all look so tasty, so I’ve started with simple chicken dishes and omelette to see how I go xxxx
Yes you are right , when you break it down like that, I really need to start thinking about what’s going in my mouth. I’m going to have to make an effort to plan menus and get organised.
The thing is it’s easy to slip into the same old routine and eat the same old stuff day in and day out, cos it’s easy isn’t it? but that isn’t going to help me loose weight is it.?
So time for a change I think !!
I’m so grateful for all your help In Helping motivating me .
It may do once you take the higher carb things out and replace them with goodies. I have a very boring shopping trolley - the biggest problem is that it limits me to one supermarket for about 10 items that simply aren't as good anywhere else! But by sticking to those things I don't need to go anywhere near certain aisles with the wrong foods to be tempted ...
I did have the shape change when I was on methyl prednisolone - but not with pred. I'm still overweight - but when I cut carbs the typical steroid fat deposits melted away over about 18 months and I have a waist.
You say you have cut carbs - but by how much? I have to get right down to almost keto levels to lose weight. Maintaining is a lot easier.
Yes I think I need to look closely at my carbs. Having read Mrs Nails reply I am going to take a serious look at my food intake. And check out the diabetic menus, also reduce my wine glass to the weekend only. It’s good to know you have a waist now , it gives me hope xx!
I feel your pain! I started with 50 mg pred in 2015 and am still trying to decrease. I am now down to 4 mg and the belly is slowly going. It has been one of most frustrating side effects to manage. Throughout the process, I stuck to a very low carbohydrate diet and for me, avoiding the starch element of carbohydrates had quite an impact. It means no potatoes, rice or root veggies but you don't need too starve yourself. I have never given up my red wine. Be patient. You are not alone!
I got down to 6mg with GCA then had a relapse back to 60mg blood pressure through the roof so BP meds upped then blood sugars through the roof so now on metformin as well. Moon face and 6mths pregnant look is back as is peach fuzz easy bruising, sweating all day but it’s the price we have to pay.
Hope you feel better soon it will go it did for me even more gutting when you get that far and it all comes back x
Hi your post is so close to my symptoms !! Hate the extra weight , moon face etc ! But what is the worst for me is the sweating all day and the hot flushes !! It almost feels like the menopause again !!!! Got me wondering if anyone has found something to relive it ? So glad im not on my own ! Wish you luck x
jinasc swore by sage - there are a few such supplements but check they are OK against your medication.
Many people have found cooling scarves helpful. search "cooling scarves" in your browser.
Some use wrist and headbands a la tennis players to soak up some of the sweat.
Having a fan running to keep the room air moving helps and layered clothing/bedding that is easy to remove and covering the pillows with a thick towel will reduce the damp bed syndrome.
Hi...I feel your pain,..mobile hairdressers/friend cane t’other day...first time in six months. Wow, she said, you’ve lost weight! No, said I, Ive out on six lbs in 7 months. She said but you’ve now got a tiny waist. It’s all re-distributed, we realised! Waist is back, but stomach is pregnant, moon face is here, & love handles, as you say, are coat hangers! I went on the keto low carb diet & lost a stone last December, but it crept back on while shielding, even though I tried to be active, I couldn’t have our two long walks in the forest each week. I’m bothered, but lack incentive right now. Walking one day a week, but shorter while I struggle with steroid reduction & other health issues, & lack of energy. I think this ‘journey’ is not without pain in the weight gain dept & mine will yo-yo for a while. My love of baking & my husbands sweet tooth are back...I’m usually too busy to bake! My next low carb diet or 5:2 diet due to commence mid-September! Doctor said not to struggle too much with steroid reduction, as it’s a walk, not a race (think I’ve read that here, too!) still have sweat pouring off my head day & night, tonsil stones from dehydration, peach fuzz (never heard that before but description fits so well) etc etc etc. Take care, S x
Snap , hate all these side affects !! There seems to be so many of us on here, i feel comforted in a strange way, not just me , but oh dear its such a battle ! Best of luck x
My shape has changed to. The fat has moved to around my middle. Interestingly though it hasn't made much difference to my weight. I was heavy before Pred and I am now about the same weight but the fat has redistributed itself making my waist and hips thicker. Elastic waistbands are my friend. I walk and cycle and watch the carbs but fail miserably sometimes, usually with chocolate
Nobody can understand us. Nobody understands the amount of pain PMR causes. I still have PMR but I am not allowed to take prednisone anymore because the three years I took it caused severe osteoporosis. I've had 10 fractions in about a year-and-a-half. And to top that PMR is not even my only painful condition. I have osteoarthritis in my back my neck and my thumbs. And my lower back is a mess.
Aww dear so sorry to hear you are suffering still.
I have rheumatoid arthritis in a couple of my fingers, so can’t imagine the pain you are in xx
My GP put me on aledronic acid after a year of pred. As I had a dexa scan and it showed I had osteoporosis in my lower back. That was nearly 3 years ago so will wait to see what the next scan says in January xx
Is there not anything they can do that can help you xx
It is SO comforting to read all these experiences from all you dear people. Pregnant Stomachs, Love Handles - nay HANGERS - and all! Ooh yes AND those lovely purple bruises all up my arms - they're SO cool!
We will all get there in the end. It's only vanity but yes, it does bother me. We are lucky to have a condition where our symptoms can be handled by our friend Pred and MAY not last forever (sorry Pro, I know that for you and others this may not be the case?) But at just over 3 years (given that's the median length of PMR) I could be over half way through - think positive!!!
Meanwhile, thank you and every blessing to all of you on this wonderful forum.
What a lovely upBeat post, you sound so positive and made me feel good about things.
Like you I am a few years in with pred.,4 to be precise, , So could be on the downward slope , but I hadn’t looked at it like that ! So made me start to think glass half full , so thanks for that xx
Anyway I’ve started these healthy recipes that Mrs Nails sent me on Friday and already I’m feeling better about myself, don’t know if it’s psychological or not but all I know is I feel more positive and have more energy than before xx
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Do I know my own body?!?!
Finally getting there!
PMR Update
Update on cause of body shape changes 
GP gave me a sensible stamp lol…
