Aa
Wide awake and vain--Prednisone Q's
Good Evening!
I feel a bit shallow for asking, but since I have no desire to sleep and can't get it out of my mind, would anyone out there be willing to share advice/experiences on Prednisone and weight gain? I've been reading online, and it seems like a lot of people suffer from this, along with something lovely called "fat redistribution." I already have a face rounder than Charlie Brown's!
I have no diagnosis. The decision to give steroids is not with a specific cause of my symptoms in mind. Instead, the idea is that if any inflammation is responsible, I should respond to the steroids. Hopefully none of the symptoms will persist or come back after the taper. I was supposed to try this a couple of months ago, but my PCP and (then) neurologist did not see eye to eye on the experiment. The idea resurfaced after I had a negative reaction from neurontin last week, and my PCP is hoping this will help me recover from that set back and make progress.
Some details: I am on 60 mg/day for 5 days, then 40 mg/day for 5 days, and finally 20 mg/day for 5 days. Will the worst of any weight problems likely come on early? I need to travel next week and again the week after that, and hope not to be feeling all bloated and miserable on top of the stress that travel gives me. Plus it always helps to look and feel my best for presentations and such.
I've worked very hard to lose almost 30 pounds in the last 3.5 months, though symptomatic during that time, and I am afraid of a major set back! So far, (Sunday will be day 4) my appetite is ok, and I have lots of energy. If I am extra careful, can I get through this with minimal weight gain? I don't eat a lot of salt, and have tons of carrots, lettuce, celery, and a nice crate of clementines stocking my kitchen. While I am not a low-carb eater (I actually stopped all meat recently after a few months sans beef), I'm not buying/making any starchy foods (pasta, pretzels, crackers, etc) until this is over. I'm a big girl, still early in my weight loss goals, and that also scares me: If an average person can put on 10-20 lbs, will that figure scale with my notably above average size?
OK, my silly vanity aside, and the loss of interest of sleep aside, I do feel amazingly better. I do hope to get through the course without any major problems (while weight gain is a fear, I do suppose that is minor!).
Thanks in advance to any members willing to share their accounts/advice. I know weight gain should not be my biggest concern, and hope no one is annoyed with this post!
I feel a bit shallow for asking, but since I have no desire to sleep and can't get it out of my mind, would anyone out there be willing to share advice/experiences on Prednisone and weight gain? I've been reading online, and it seems like a lot of people suffer from this, along with something lovely called "fat redistribution." I already have a face rounder than Charlie Brown's!
I have no diagnosis. The decision to give steroids is not with a specific cause of my symptoms in mind. Instead, the idea is that if any inflammation is responsible, I should respond to the steroids. Hopefully none of the symptoms will persist or come back after the taper. I was supposed to try this a couple of months ago, but my PCP and (then) neurologist did not see eye to eye on the experiment. The idea resurfaced after I had a negative reaction from neurontin last week, and my PCP is hoping this will help me recover from that set back and make progress.
Some details: I am on 60 mg/day for 5 days, then 40 mg/day for 5 days, and finally 20 mg/day for 5 days. Will the worst of any weight problems likely come on early? I need to travel next week and again the week after that, and hope not to be feeling all bloated and miserable on top of the stress that travel gives me. Plus it always helps to look and feel my best for presentations and such.
I've worked very hard to lose almost 30 pounds in the last 3.5 months, though symptomatic during that time, and I am afraid of a major set back! So far, (Sunday will be day 4) my appetite is ok, and I have lots of energy. If I am extra careful, can I get through this with minimal weight gain? I don't eat a lot of salt, and have tons of carrots, lettuce, celery, and a nice crate of clementines stocking my kitchen. While I am not a low-carb eater (I actually stopped all meat recently after a few months sans beef), I'm not buying/making any starchy foods (pasta, pretzels, crackers, etc) until this is over. I'm a big girl, still early in my weight loss goals, and that also scares me: If an average person can put on 10-20 lbs, will that figure scale with my notably above average size?
OK, my silly vanity aside, and the loss of interest of sleep aside, I do feel amazingly better. I do hope to get through the course without any major problems (while weight gain is a fear, I do suppose that is minor!).
Thanks in advance to any members willing to share their accounts/advice. I know weight gain should not be my biggest concern, and hope no one is annoyed with this post!
Well, you can't put on weight without taking in the calories. Steroids do enhance the action of insulin by making it better at laying down extra glucose into fat. The fat in your body does NOT so much redistribute as it is a case of new fat laying down preferentially in the torso. If you get more fat you get it in the belly. The exception is the round face, that seems to happen whether or not you gain bady fat. AND, it goes away when you stop the steroids. 15 days of steroids may not be long enough to give the "moom face."
15 days of steroids will NOT do you in if you are careful about the amount you are taking in and if you increase your activity. Period. You can't gain pounds out of thin air steroids or no!
Now, What they will do is increase the tendency to retain water. This is a direct action. This you can help counter by watching your sodium intake and by taking extra potassium. The kidneys absorb sodium by excreting more potassium. I recommend eating potassium-rich food and supplementing with some potassium gluconate which you can get at any vitamin/mineral section of a good supermarket. These come in 98mg usually, which afford a measly 3% of the RDA. 2 or 3 tablets twice a day will help you to excrete some of the sodium and prevent the muscle cramps and extra heart beats which are so common while on steroids.
Exercise increases the blood flow through the kidneys and is also beneficial in keeping the water retention to a minimum. But remember: Water retention is not the same as weight gain!!!!!! breathe !!!!!!. You may feel heavy and bloated, and the scale may show 5 pounds increase, but it will go away after you stop the steroids.
Yes, steroids increase the appetite in most, but not all people. Munch away on veggies and protein. Do not fast or try to lose weight during this time or the increased appetite will get you with rebound eating.
Again, weight problems will not come on out of the blue during a short course. It is a product of increased appetite and thus, increased eating, if it is going to occur. Because of the action of of the steroids, you will likely not lose weight while you are on them and for a week or so after, ecept for getting rid of extra water retention. Most of the early "weight gain" is just water weight.
I hope that helps.
Quix
15 days of steroids will NOT do you in if you are careful about the amount you are taking in and if you increase your activity. Period. You can't gain pounds out of thin air steroids or no!
Now, What they will do is increase the tendency to retain water. This is a direct action. This you can help counter by watching your sodium intake and by taking extra potassium. The kidneys absorb sodium by excreting more potassium. I recommend eating potassium-rich food and supplementing with some potassium gluconate which you can get at any vitamin/mineral section of a good supermarket. These come in 98mg usually, which afford a measly 3% of the RDA. 2 or 3 tablets twice a day will help you to excrete some of the sodium and prevent the muscle cramps and extra heart beats which are so common while on steroids.
Exercise increases the blood flow through the kidneys and is also beneficial in keeping the water retention to a minimum. But remember: Water retention is not the same as weight gain!!!!!! breathe !!!!!!. You may feel heavy and bloated, and the scale may show 5 pounds increase, but it will go away after you stop the steroids.
Yes, steroids increase the appetite in most, but not all people. Munch away on veggies and protein. Do not fast or try to lose weight during this time or the increased appetite will get you with rebound eating.
Again, weight problems will not come on out of the blue during a short course. It is a product of increased appetite and thus, increased eating, if it is going to occur. Because of the action of of the steroids, you will likely not lose weight while you are on them and for a week or so after, ecept for getting rid of extra water retention. Most of the early "weight gain" is just water weight.
I hope that helps.
Quix
Everyone is so kind to respond. I was obviously up last night with that climb-the-walls steroid energy, which caused me to overreact to testimonials of steroid-induced weight gain. I know weight fluctuation from treatment is not as big of a deal as healing and learning from the treatment.
I think too it is important for me to be protective of my improved feeling of well-being. I think that was a big mistake I made when the neurontin kicked in: I told everyone who knew I was ill that I was fine and "back," and I jumped back in head first at work, all after just one week of improved conditions. (After 4 straight months of ...) That likely contributed to me quickly coming down with a nasty ear infection, which I tend to blame for the subsequent fallout and reversal in my healing! Obviously, overworking, undereating, and not sleeping/ressting could have similar negative impact with this treatment, so I will do my best to use common sense and to listen to by body.
Thanks very much for the tips, stories, and for not laughing at me or taking any offense.
~W
I think too it is important for me to be protective of my improved feeling of well-being. I think that was a big mistake I made when the neurontin kicked in: I told everyone who knew I was ill that I was fine and "back," and I jumped back in head first at work, all after just one week of improved conditions. (After 4 straight months of ...) That likely contributed to me quickly coming down with a nasty ear infection, which I tend to blame for the subsequent fallout and reversal in my healing! Obviously, overworking, undereating, and not sleeping/ressting could have similar negative impact with this treatment, so I will do my best to use common sense and to listen to by body.
Thanks very much for the tips, stories, and for not laughing at me or taking any offense.
~W
Weight gain aside other long and short term effects of steroids can cause things that I'm sure you are aware of... I was never on predisone for longer than a month or so. Makes you feel like you are able to climb mountains.... if only our bodies would cooperate and put the extra energy to good use we would all be happy and the drug companies could go bankrupt... Sigh
I love to eat a little food with my salt... if you are able to cut table salt out of your diet. You have more will power than I.
My course was more solumedral than prednisone so I am just jumping in to say hugs. When I was little I thought Charlie Brown was cute... I think cause he got picked on.
My legs did swell up alot... twice thier size. I put them up and tried to give up salt. And it was a termporary thing, as I am guessing your face might be... maybe all the water in the lettuce. The nurse at my IV lab had told me that the solumedrol was making me retain water... got that me to stop worrying so much.
I hope somebody says something better than I just did...
Hugs
Erin
I love to eat a little food with my salt... if you are able to cut table salt out of your diet. You have more will power than I.
My course was more solumedral than prednisone so I am just jumping in to say hugs. When I was little I thought Charlie Brown was cute... I think cause he got picked on.
My legs did swell up alot... twice thier size. I put them up and tried to give up salt. And it was a termporary thing, as I am guessing your face might be... maybe all the water in the lettuce. The nurse at my IV lab had told me that the solumedrol was making me retain water... got that me to stop worrying so much.
I hope somebody says something better than I just did...
Hugs
Erin
Sooooooo glad you are getting some improvement!!!! Clap, clap for you!!!
I have been on steroids for the past 5 1/2 weeks and do not have an increased appetite and I have not gained weight, nor do I have the puffy face thingy. I am also taking Paquenil, which has a weight loss side effect, so I do not know if that has anything to do with it. I am very active though, and I suspect my activity might be more the reason for no weight gain??
When you think of it though, and this is how I approached it myself, wouldn't a few extra pounds be better than not feeling better?
Healthy eating is always the best thing and try not to worry about your weight...which I know is hard to do. And, maybe if you are feeling better, exercise will not be too daunting? The irony of our not feeling well is we are told to get exercise to feel better, but how can we exercise that when we don't feel well??
And hopefully if you are feeling better on the steroids this will help with a diagnosis for you.
Great health to you!!
(((HUGS)))
Wanna :o)
I have been on steroids for the past 5 1/2 weeks and do not have an increased appetite and I have not gained weight, nor do I have the puffy face thingy. I am also taking Paquenil, which has a weight loss side effect, so I do not know if that has anything to do with it. I am very active though, and I suspect my activity might be more the reason for no weight gain??
When you think of it though, and this is how I approached it myself, wouldn't a few extra pounds be better than not feeling better?
Healthy eating is always the best thing and try not to worry about your weight...which I know is hard to do. And, maybe if you are feeling better, exercise will not be too daunting? The irony of our not feeling well is we are told to get exercise to feel better, but how can we exercise that when we don't feel well??
And hopefully if you are feeling better on the steroids this will help with a diagnosis for you.
Great health to you!!
(((HUGS)))
Wanna :o)
I have been on prednisone and methotrexate in the past, which both having side effects of weight gain. The other yucky side effects is insomnia and feeling hungry. The hunger pangs will come eventually, but if you are careful with your diet, and it sounds like you are going to be diligent on this front, then don't worry about the weight as it will come off after you discontinue the drugs. The weight does not drop off over night, but it will come down. If you can get into an exercise plan even just walking 3-4 times a week that will be a plus too.
I have been on steroids many times and so have several of my friends for different medical issues and on it for much longer periods of time like more than a year and the weight gain was not as bad as expected and it came back to their baseline before they started the drugs. I actually had a friend who was on prednisone for 3 months at doses similar to yours who claims she even lost a few founds. Hmmm...Possible I guess. Another thing to keep in mind is that if this experiment works and you derive some significant benefit from it, then it is worth doing.
I hope this information is helpful for you. Keep us updated on how you are doing. I hope this works and remember to keep eating healthy.
Julie
I have been on steroids many times and so have several of my friends for different medical issues and on it for much longer periods of time like more than a year and the weight gain was not as bad as expected and it came back to their baseline before they started the drugs. I actually had a friend who was on prednisone for 3 months at doses similar to yours who claims she even lost a few founds. Hmmm...Possible I guess. Another thing to keep in mind is that if this experiment works and you derive some significant benefit from it, then it is worth doing.
I hope this information is helpful for you. Keep us updated on how you are doing. I hope this works and remember to keep eating healthy.
Julie
Sorry we're still awake! So glad to hear the Prednisone is helping you. During my long search for healing for multiple causes, I was given the course of steroids. I too felt great after day 2. I did the complete course, and it did not boost my appetite, nor did I gain any weight from it. I was painfree, and felt really good.....until the course was done, and I was off them, then my symptoms came back. But I have fibromyalgia, disc disease, type 2 diabetes, and sinusitis, which is what (the sinusitis) they were prescribed to help heal. I know different health issues have different response to the steroids.Your diet of veggies should help, but you do need to include some protein in there, to help your body heal.
Just do the best you can to limit your munchies, and enjoy your travel, and feeling better. Good luck on your presentations.
Maggie
Just do the best you can to limit your munchies, and enjoy your travel, and feeling better. Good luck on your presentations.
Maggie
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