Cushings disease?

[VickySponge]

In the last 3 weeks my weight has inceased dramatically for no reason. I also have fat laying downn around my neck and back as well as aches in my shoulders. My face is round and some flushed redness onthe cheeks. Could it be Cushings? hould Icontac the GP or ring my rheumy helpline? I am currently at 12.5 mg for both PMR and GCA on a 3 week tapering regime.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No not Cushing's disease - Cushing's syndrome because you are on pred for your GCA and PMR. There is excess corticosteroid because of that - not some unknown source. It is the cause of the weight gain - which you CAN manage better if you cut your carbs you eat dramatically.

Will explain more later, got a bus to catch!

[VickySponge in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you . I appreciate the knowledge you all have so much. Will this go as I taper?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to VickySponge]

It usually does, but cutting cards will help it happen more quickly

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to VickySponge]

It might - for some the fat melts away as the pred gets lower, for some it doesn't go until they are entirely off pred and for some it requires a concerted effort at any stage.

Pred changes the way your body processes carbs and pred itself triggers the liver to release random spikes of glucose from the body stores in liver and muscle. If these spikes coincide with you eating carbs your blood sugar can go very high and cause steroid-induced diabetes. By cutting dietary carbs you can reduce this effect and even avoid it altogether - which is a good thing in the longer term so it really is worth it.

[VickySponge in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I will certainly heed this

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

It’s not increased for no reason -it’s because you are on steroids - and they redistribute your adipose fat around face (hence the “moon face” as often referred to) and neck and it will improve as you reduce e the dosage.

But as PMRpro has said you can reduce the effects significantly if you cut your carb intake.

Little point in contacting GP or Rheumy -they’ll just say -it’s the steroids!

Have a look at this link -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

. And if your name reflects your liking for a certain cake you might have to abstain for now - sorry to be the bearer of bad news!😊

[VickySponge in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you . You also answered my questionn about tapering

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to VickySponge]

Good -why we are here 😊

[VickySponge in reply to DorsetLady]

No I am a careful eater and I exercise regularly. That was why I was concerned about a sudden wreight increase in the last 3 weeks!! The Vicky sponge was all I could think of with tyhe brain fog when i first joined!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to VickySponge]

Okay… but Pred does make a difference to how your body reacts to certain foods.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to VickySponge]

Careful healthy eating alone is sometimes not enough - both SnazzyD and I were very healthy eaters but pred still led to weight gain. It is carbs specifically, even the so-called healthy ones like oats in porridge or wholemeal bread can lead to massive spikes.

[SnazzyD in reply to VickySponge]

Healthy diet in the normal sense still had too many carbs for me. I didn’t put on weight from 60mg but only because I cut out all potato, rice, flours, pasta, bread etc. I still had the Pred face but it goes as the dose drops. Pred also causes what fat you do have to settle round the middle too so you can lose weight but your shape is still round.

Another issue was fluid retention. I had to all but cut salt, even hidden salt, out of my diet to avoid swollen eyes and wobbly skin. This also reduced with dose.

[VickySponge]

Ouch!! Anoher thing to add to the nasties !! I just don't feel like me any more with all the body changes.

[annimills]

Hi VickySponge, try cutting out sugar (weight gain) and salt (to counteract water retention re moon face). It helped me. Good luck!xx

[VickySponge in reply to annimills]

Thanks for the advice. I am assuming you mean anything with sugar content? I dont take sugar in drinks or on cereals etc.

[annimills in reply to VickySponge]

Yes, all sugar, hidden or not! Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to VickySponge]

It is really simple carbs of all sorts as well as added sugar and you also need to limit fruit -lots of sugar. Simples carbs turn straight to sugar in the body.