I'm reading up as much as i can on PMR & was rather worried to read that a condition called moon face can occur where fat deposits go to the face making it swollen and round . Has anyone had this problem? I have just started 15 mg of prednisone is this classed as high dosage
many
Steroids can cause a moon face and also buffalo hump where fat moves up to the top of the shoulders. In fact steroids seem to redistribute fat so you tend to have fat around the middle too. Diet is important if you are on steroids. I was told if I gave up gluten and simple carbs I would not get a moon face and amazingly enough I never did. It may have been luck of course. 15mg is very much the average dose on which a lot of people with PMR start. It is not too high a dose. Those with the sister illness GCA normally have to take around 40-60mg or more daily to start with. PMR does need to managed and it can be life changing. Good luck.
😱😱Thank you for your quick response all pretty scary stuff !!
I think the important thing is to appreciate that one has a chronic illness. Luckily it does go into remission normally, we could have something much worse.
I didn’t get the moon face just the turkey neck and a spare tyre. Hey Ho !
I only had a slightly moon face on 15mg. Now that I'm on 7.5mg it has almost gone and I really don't mind the slight 'padding' because it hides the wrinkles! I've always had a buffalo hump of some sort due to fused vertabrae as a result, I think, of a childhood accident. For me, the most important thing is to feel well and be active and I'm just about managing to do that. Wish you all the best.....
Wrinkles vs Moonface... I don't know which is the better deal! I have developed a slight moonface 4-odd months in, but the wrinkles have slightly improved. I am heartened to read that moonface goes when treatment stops (if ever!) but then I suppose the wrinkles will come back with a vengeance 😏
Yes, that's what I'm wondering when I finally do taper off prednisolone. Like you, if ever!
My face did swell but only for a few days - face is a bit fatter since taking pred but relief from pain and stiffness is more important
Maybe have a look at this - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
Many would say not as scary as lots of other things, stents included….
Moon face is not painful, just a change in appearance which some are upset about, but not everyone is affected in the same way.
..and as stated 15mg is not a high dose in the great scheme of things
Started 15 mgs 5 years ago now down to 4mgs. Pleased to report no signs of moon face, buffalo hump or any other physical signs except very dry skin, possibly slight thinning. Moisturise,moisturise, moisterise. Best of luck on PMR journey, good you have found this wonderful site xx ps and a bit of hair loss which I had forgotten about as it has grown back into proverbial haystack!
I've been on pred for 6 years and never developed a moon face. I think my wrinkles may have filled out a bit! We can look so well on pred that folk can't believe we're not so well!! PMRpro has a response to them: "It's not my face that's ill"!
You are so right! My mother looked years younger even in her late 80's and was always complimented on her smooth skin and unlined face.
I developed a moon face on doses around 15 mg. But it goes when you decrease. I also got an odd lump of fat at the top of the breastbone and that also disappeared. A no carb diet kept my weight stable. And the muscles that dissolved away are now (almost 3 years later) showing some improvement. Also beware of thinning of the skin (lots of nivea helps) and ignore spontaneous bruising. It is all transitory. I am hoping my hair loss might be to.
BUT I do love my prednisone! It has made life possible. I shall be forever grateful to Alfred Nobile who developed this wonder drug.
I also started on 15mg and 🤞 have escaped the Moon Face. It is probably worse on higher doses.
On pred for over 5 years. No moon face, just a bit generous on the spare tyre and am putting slightly more wrinkles down to my great age. On the whole, not complaining.
I changed to a low carb diet and didn’t get the moon face
15mg is classed as a moderate dose - above 20mg is high dose but with GCA the dose is often 40mg and up to 80mg if loss of vision is a risk. There you have to hold on to the fact it is stopping you going blind. And in the case of PMR it lets you have a decent life.
You are unlikely to be at 15mg permanently, once the symptoms are under control you will start to taper the dose slowly and in small steps to find the lowest effective dose for you - it varies from person to person.
Cutting carbs drastically helps a lot - especially processed foods and added sugar and limiting fruit. Most people find they get a chubbier face - the compensation is the wrinkles disappear! - but only people on really high doses or who continue to eat large amounts of carbs and sugar really develop the true moonface. It is because the pred influences where the body stores the fat it makes from excess sugar in the bloodstream and it tends to be on the back of your neck and round your face and around your midriff.
No moon face or weight gain for me, but I did from day 1 cut carbs to less than 20g daily. Look at dietdoctor.com for details of how to do this.
I will look into this 20 my carbs sounds quite low to try to keep to just read one post and they said they have none at all ! Wondering what you would eat to achieve this ? Curious
Protein - fish, meat, eggs, cheese all have either no or very low carbs. Ans carefully selected above ground veg and salad leaves.
20g is very low but many don't have to get very low like that, Snzzy and I do to be able to lose weight, maintaining weight is easier and you may not need to get anyhting like that low. The website linked (just click on this)
explains it all and gives lots of examples what to eat and what not to eat.
The western diet has a tremendous amount of carbs, especially processed food and it is surprisingly easy to reduce the amount you eat by being selective.
I was on 20mg and got a round face, after a few months literally overnight I got quite a shock. but as you reduce your medication it will slowly go back to normal
Oh dear so it could be along time . I'm not vain just seems sad to have another thing to cope with 😑😑
You CAN do your bit to reduce the effect quite a lot by not gaining weight and many people don;t develop more than just chubbier checks.
On Pred now for over two years and no problem with moon face or weight gain so these things aren't necessarily inevitable.
I definitely have a rounder face and it depends on what I eat . Pizza definitely makes me fill out more as does a takeaway , salt and water retention I think . I am growing my hair longer to cover those rounder cheeks !
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