Thank you

Ive been dipping in and out of this site for a few months gathering information on my PMR and have found it to be very useful.

Id like to say a massive thank you to anyone who's ever posted anything about tapering schedules and taking the medication earlier in the day.

I woke at 3am this morning and thought what the heck Ill give it a try and ate something small, took the Pred, stayed up for about 45 mins then tried to go back to sleep. I think I dozed off again, not sure. Have woken now feeling totally different to what I did yesterday.

Yesterday I had very bad back pains which eased at lunchtime. Today I just have the odd niggle but much, much better.

Im trying to taper from 15 to 14.5, very slowly. I tried going to to 12.5 and also 14 but body said 'NO".

Its also been a wake up call to the fact that this wont go away anytime soon and Ive got to accept that I have a long term condition. Very hard when youve previously led a very active life.

Just a little question - any tips of getting rid of a 'moon' neck! I have a lump of fat growing into a triple chin. Which isnt doing much for self esteem at such a low point in my life anyway.

Thanks again.

[Koalajane]

Hi and hope you continue to feel better,The only suggestion I have for the moon neck is to cut your carbs. I was overweight when I was diagnosed and lost weight by cutting carbs and exercising. I didn’t get moon face or neck and now weight 8stone 7.

Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Koalajane]

thank you

[MrsNails]

Hi Picklepops

I’ve attached my story re Low Carb Eating , there’s a photo of my face before & after.....

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Hidden in reply to MrsNails]

thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you gained weight/fat elsewhere too? Pred encourages the body to lay down fat reserves in particular places: around the midriff, around the face and at the back of the neck. It is derived from insulin turning excess carbs into fat - so cutting carbs really does help reduce the fat deposits. I lost some 35lbs by cutting carbs even while still on well above 10mg and the first place it went was around my midriff and then from my neck. I'm overweight, won't deny that but then, I always have been, but I don't have the typical Cushingoid fat and the doctors all say, no sign you are on pred.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

hi, just around my throat. im about a stone overweight which i gained when the menopause hit. i just feel bloated and chunky. i will cut out the carbs. chocolates my downfall. thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

There is lots of discussion on the forum about cutting carbs

This site is really useful:

dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods

Everyone is different and some of us have to be harder on ourselves than others. The place to start is with all processed foods and added sugar - and what you eat is up to you. If you can be disciplined about everything else and just eat one square of good proper chocolate, you can have some chocolate. One square - not one bar

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

im afraid thats not me. its the w hole bar or nothing! thanks for advice

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

just one final small thing. what constitutes a snack if i continue to get up at 3am and eat?! is some natural yoghurt enough to coat my stomach or an apple?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Loads of people seem to manage fine with some yoghurt. A pharmacist told us once that a glass of milk is enough. If you are cutting carbs - watch out for fruit, there can be a lot of carbs in apples and bananas especially. Berries are not too bad.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

thanks again.