Fluid retention from prednisolone

[Udupik]

any pointers on how to lose the fluid retention caused by pred? Besides of course reducing the dose . I’m on 12.5 mg now

[SnazzyD]

I had to drastically reduce sodium salt and I wore class 1 support socks from the pharmacy, especially in hot weather.

[Udupik in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks .Did it help with reducing fluid retention ?

[SnazzyD in reply to Udupik]

For me it was essential, especially around my eyes. Pred makes you retain sodium so you get fluid retention. Pred also made my veins more delicate and to put it non-technically, floppy. This meant they looked like varicose veins in my legs that resolved about 80-90% after I stopped Pred. This meant that blood wasn’t getting back up the legs as well, so the water part of the blood leaks into the surrounding tissues. If you add in too much sodium, it makes the problem worse. It should improve at night when you are lying flat.

Fluid retention should reduce with dose but can be caused by other factors so if your measures don’t work, seek medical advice.

[Udupik in reply to SnazzyD]

Many thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I cut carbs a long time ago and find now that if I eat too many carbs for any reason I tend to retain fluid. But absolutely the worst thing is eating away from home, especially in a restaurant where the food is always saltier than anything I eat at home. I stopped using salt in cooking when I got my first microwave some 40 years ago - you were told to salt after cooking veg and I always forgot! Now on holiday eating in a restaurant, after 3 days my feet are like footballs - and last autumn only one meal did it, I could literally feel my feet going up as I ate!!

[Udupik in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks . Mine is in face mainly . A moon face

[SnazzyD in reply to Udupik]

Some of that will be the effect of Pred that causes fat to be concentrated in certain areas such as the midriff and face/neck. Fluid retention will make this worse. The fat aspect is helped by reducing carbohydrate quite a bit in order to minimise it and for the reason PMRPro said. The general shape of the face will change with dose of Pred slowly but the extent of it can be influenced by you.

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

I never salt anything, but last six months left foot very blown up and red, saw my son yesterday he pointed it out….if never had added salt for years, why should it blow up now….weird.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

We have the same problem - my left foot has been swollen for a few weeks now!!!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Odd considering not so high on pred now, hot weather makes it a little bit worse. I have friend that had same problem, when she went to her GP, response, no idea what does it!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Suppose that'll save me asking!!! It is most peculiar - both ankles were swollen until I had my ablation and then both feet were back to skinny. Then just before I set off for the UK the left foot swelled up. It goes down some days and then goes up again!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes a mystery, perhaps it’s fluid in our body but too much drops to our feet!!…now I’m being silly.

[MiniSpec in reply to Longtimer]

I've found that sitting at the computer makes my ankles and feet swell up. If I get up regularly and walk around for a bit then they go back down. I guess it's all to do with the pumps in the calves not working properly when we're sitting down, and also indirectly, to do with the pressure on the backs of our thighs when sitting on a hard chair.

[Longtimer in reply to MiniSpec]

I do try to keep moving around at home because of pain and stiffness. When in chair I use phone/ iPad I try to keep my leg raised. Definitely worse in hot weather.

[Udupik in reply to PMRpro]

I’m a vegetarian. So cutting out carbs is not that easy for me . I do intermittent fasting to cut the duration of eating to an 8 hr window

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Udupik]

It is less improtant for veggies - but too much rice/pasta and bread probably should be avoided.