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Facial changes

Posted , 10 users are following.

caroline83483
caroline83483

I was diagnosed with PMR in March 2013. Now on 8mgms prednisilone daily. On the whole I am doing well, no pain, balance poor some days , often fatigued but my main problem is my big fat face. I barely recognise myself. When does this improve?

Grateful for any input.

Regards Caroline

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • angela43016
    angela43016 caroline83483

    Posted

    I too am down to 8 and my face has just started to go down I understand how you feel. We will get there, honest x
    • caroline83483
      caroline83483 angela43016

      Posted

      Thank-you Angela...I feel my face has become fatter in the last month.

      I am due to decrease next week. I keep hoping!

    • angela43016
      angela43016 caroline83483

      Posted

      No darling, I have felt the same! My friends keep saying differently but you and I know it is about how we feel. We WILL get there honestly. No one understands unless they have been there!  They haven't and as you and I know they are good friends. Like you, I am so tired of this, just want to be me again. We'll get there. Xx

       

  • EileenH
    EileenH caroline83483

    Posted

    Everyone is different as to when their pred-fat disappears. I changed types of steroid and also became very conscientious about what I ate - almost no carbs. The weight started to go even at 15mg and my face was back to almost normal fairly quickly really. For some people that works - others have to wait until they stop pred altogether, there isn't a hard and fast rule.
    • caroline83483
      caroline83483 EileenH

      Posted

      Thank-you I too am careful with my diet.very few carbs and mainly fish and veg. Suppose I will just have to wait . I feel so embarrassed when in company. Was never really vain before.
    • EileenH
      EileenH caroline83483

      Posted

      I'll say it again - when you go out, look around you. Either 70% of the population is on steroids or you are actually fine! No need to feel embarrassed, others probably don't notice. If they say anything - they need to pay attention to their manners.

      I know it is a shock when you suddenly develop rosy hamster cheeks - but there are no wrinkles on a balloon as one of our ladies used to say! My chubby cheeks may have gone - but I have wrinkles now...

    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      That's exactly what I thought, Eileen, when I looked around on our break last week and it will come off post steroids if not before.......I hope. I look forward to this but in the meantime a smile is the same in any language or size. As I said before, my granddaughter said, "You've hardly any wrinkles, granny."
  • noninoni
    noninoni caroline83483

    Posted

    You could change your hairstyle so that it covers more of your face!  That's what I did!
    • caroline83483
      caroline83483 noninoni

      Posted

      Don't have long enough hair to do that, perhaps a veil!! Or maybe a mask.
    • EileenH
      EileenH caroline83483

      Posted

      Totally un-PC - but I have friends who wear the hijab and say it is really freeing - and I can understand that. No pressure for your hair to be perfect and so on. The burka has attractions too if you take pred...
  • snapperblue
    snapperblue caroline83483

    Posted

    For me, the chipmunk cheeks started almost immediately.  Like you, I did not recognize myself in the mirror.  It was not just vanity, there was some shock about identity. 

    My brother said I had "a more youthful appearance," so I decided to go with that point of view.

    At 7.5 mg, my fat face still looks like a stranger's, but wrinkles are beginning to reappear.  Good news or bad about my appearance?  I am not sure. I'm not crazy about the limp hair either, but the main thing is that the inflammation is being controlled.

     

     

    • caroline83483
      caroline83483 snapperblue

      Posted

      Hello there, I feel that you really understand. Let us hope that by Summer

      we might be more like ourselves again. Do keep posting your journey

      Caroline 🌾

  • angela43016
    angela43016 caroline83483

    Posted

    Hi Caroline, understand what you are saying, I have felt the same!! Down to 7.5 now and my face is going down and the weight is dropping also. Please hang in there it will reduce but not immediately. I realise it is hard but you will get there. Also what keeps me going is how much we will appreciate it when we get there xx
    • caroline83483
      caroline83483 angela43016

      Posted

      Thank-you Angela for your positive comment. I too reduced to 7.5mgms

      a week ago ,and, this is said very quietly, I do believe that I look a littlle less like a hamster. How I hope this is true! xx

    • angela43016
      angela43016 caroline83483

      Posted

      Yes lovely, it is hard. I have felt like you, we will get there, like me, we have to give it time. To be honest I am struggling like you but we will get there! Xx
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