Morning all
My first post on here , what a great group it is too , I’ve gathered so much information since being diagnosed with PMR in January . No pain …after just 2 steroids absolutely amazing
My main reason for posting is weight gain .Diet not changed at all…but my goodness I feel I’m going to pop !! Walk a lot always on the go …Boobs and tummy being the problem ..am I alone ?
On my way down to 5 on pred …roll on January ! Just praying for a miracle Sally x
Hello and welcome. Your accurate title has meant that related posts have popped up asking the same. Have a good read of these and you’ll soon get the impression that the replies are like a cracked record. In brief, Pred alters your metabolism such that carbohydrates have an extra effect on you. The only way to deal with it is cut them right down. Many of us have to cut out plate fillers like pasta, rice, potato, things made with flour or maize. A normal healthy diet doesn’t usually help. Also, Pred causes what fat you do have to settle round your middle, neck and face. That will go as the dose drops.
You’ve done well to get down to 5mg after only 8 months, so be alert for symptoms creeping back as you reduce. You might be lucky and have a short lasting version but PMR may not be done yet and 5mg is plenty to keep inflammation at bay.
Thanks for this SnazzyD….I’ll enjoy reading the posts
I’m not really expecting to get off this lightly ….you never know though ! …meant to mention bruising ! And slightly more facial hair ….tweezers are working over time ! Sally x
Yes, the other two come with the package. It goes one day but I did find it changed so slowly that I didn’t notice it until one day, I did a double take in the mirror. Don’t be tempted to rush the last 5mg because the side effects are annoying. Tweezers good, shaving…don’t do it if you don’t want a rod for your back.
I was diagnosed with PMR in March too, and share your pred side effects: bruising appears at slightest knock, and the tweezers are more frequently in use! Plus have had cracked fingers early on (cured with eye cream, through advice on this wonderful forum) and oedema in ankle... though sometimes hard to know if these things are due to something other than the steroids!
Good luck!
(I'm also a Sally)
Hi Sally thanks for commenting ….how wonderful steroids for pain ….but what they bring is another dimension !! Itchiness ..bruises …face hair ….weight…. Skin tags …to name a few
That’s the price we pay I suppose … Have you started reducing yet ….I’m down to 5 in September …from what I’ve read this is the crucial time with it reappearing
Fingers crossed Sally x
"this is the crucial time with it reappearing"
Not necessarily - it all depends what YOUR lowest effective dose is, that is what you are looking for, not heading relentlessly for zero. The pred has cured nothing, it is a management strategy and if you go to too low a dose it will no longer be enough to manage the inflammation. The PMR hasn't gone away.
Hi Does that mean it will never go away ?
Not at all. At any given time you will get to a lowest effective dose and stick there for a while. It doesn't mean you won;t get lower, just not yet. A few of us have PMR for a long time but only about 5% of patients have it for life. About half of patients take just under 6 years to get off pred - that doesn't mean the PMR is active all that time but sometimes the last few mg are difficult because adrenal function is slow to return to normal and until that happens, you need a low dose of pred.
Hi and welcome!!
Not a lot to add to SnazzyD's summary really. Better late than never - cut your carbs, especially processed foods, added sugar and carby veggies and fruit, And you can lose the weight while still on pred - I lost 35lb over a period of 18 months after cutting carbs drastically. Some weight gain had been due to untreated PMR and inactivity due to pain and stiffness and some due to being switched to methylprednisolone - but even on 10-15mg prednisone I was able to slowly lose weight, And the first that went was the deposits around my midriff!
And do read the Related Posts.
Thanks for commenting ,
All your posts are so to the point …does the facial gorilla look go ? No I’m so exaggerating here ! But gosh I looked in a 10 magnifying mirror …well shock horror
Steroids certainly do the trick ..well for me anyway , no pain .
Sally x
When I was on methyl pred I developed a glorious black beard! Never been a problem with prednisolone or prednisone for me. My epilator was my best friend. Now I am down at 7mg pred, really nothing to complain about. I banned mirrors ...
Hi there thanks for replying …. Once you use the epilator do you have to use it regularly ….it frightens me a little ….i don’t want to shave more than my husband !!
Sally x
It isn't shaving - it plucks the hairs. Takes a few times to get it all to a similar state and then it was once every couple of weeks I think. Don't shave - that makes it look worse as the tips of the hairs are sharply cut off. With the epilator they regrow but have a finer softer tip. After a while the regrowth is less and at lower doses of pred it improves anyway. There are now epilators specially designed for facial hair - mine was an original for legs but it did the job fine.
Weight gain
Weight gain
Weight gain!,,,,,,
Weight gain.
PMR WEIGHT GAIN 
