Posted , 7 users are following.
Im starting a 30 mg treatment of presnisone for crohn flare up, how can i avoid to gain weight and not have those puffy cheeks.
Thanks you
Annie
0 likes, 14 replies
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EileenH annie76946
Posted
A lot of us on another forum have avoided weight gain and even lost weight while on long term pred (we're talking years on pred here) by cutting carbs drastically. Pred changes the way your body processes carbs and also causes your liver to release random spikes of glucose into the blood. By cutting carbs you avoid the spikes due to them and reduce the number of spikes of insulin and amount of excess insulin - and that is what causes the deposition of fat when on pred.
I assume though you are on a relatively short course of pred? In that case the weight will go away again - but avoiding it in the first place is even better of course!
annie76946 EileenH
Posted
Thank you for your help, yes it's only for 8weeks, lots of sides effects with that drug!
(
Annie
EileenH annie76946
Posted
Not necessarily! I've been on it nearly 8 years
and no end in sight. I don't have a fat face (any more), I could do with losing another 5 kg but there are many people who aren't on pred who could say that. No diabetes, no osteoporosis, my skin is fine (don't use soap on it, really helps the dryness). Without it I'd be in pain - so miserable and bad tempered from that.
With it - I have a life. Without it I wouldn't. You have to hold on to the positives.
annie76946 EileenH
Posted
Wow you are very positive, it's true that it helps my crohn's flare up, i can eat and not be in so much pain, im just hoping that when my treatement is over that it will stay like that!
EileenH annie76946
Posted
It's just like taking a pill for a headache really - as long as it isn't all the time that's OK too. But even pred on a permanent basis isn't all bad.
praghav EileenH
Posted
My daughter is on prednisone for about 4 yrs now.She,probably will have to take it for an indefinite period.( she suffers from MOG positive optic neuritis,part of NMOSD).she is also on Rituximab.
Please give tips to avoid side effcts of Prednisone.
EileenH praghav
Posted
Dry/delicate skin can be improved by avoiding using soap products (anything that makes a foam) which just strip the natural oils from skin and make it worse. Many people use the Doublebase or Diprobase products which are often prescribed for eczema - they include cleansing products as well as emollients.
Bone density can be protected without using medications such as bisphosphonates by good diet, appropriate weight-bearing exercise including using a weighted vest, and taking the right supplements.
Really it is easier to give tips for specific problems. However - to a great extent it depends on the dose. In the case of PMR the doses are usually under 10mg/day over longer periods and a study has shown that in fact the long term effects of being on this sort of dose of pred are no worse than effects found in an age-matched population. Also everyone is different - some people have almost no side effects anyway, for others they can be quite a problem. But after 4 years your daughter must be aware of what pred does to her.
And the bottom line is always: whatever the side effects of steroids, the effects of the disorder you are taking them for are usually potentially worse.
ptolemy annie76946
Posted
EileenH ptolemy
Posted
I'm sure cutting out "glutton" would be a great approach ...
ptolemy EileenH
Posted
nishat42882 annie76946
Posted
EileenH nishat42882
Posted
I suggest you start a new thread - this is a very old one and won't be seen by many current forum members. I can only say look at my post a few posts back.
And the bottom line is you have to change your diet, To reduce the steroid-induced diabetes you must cut processed carbs drastically and also higher carb vegetables and fruit - carbohydrate is carbohydrate and becomes sugar. Cutting carbs will help with the weight problem - and as you use up the body fat stores the Cushing's appearance will reduce. Increasing the amount of exercise also helps - it doesn't have to be down the gym, just walking, even in several short amounts per day is a good start and then doing what you can.
There is no magic answer - you have to work at it. But by doing what I've suggested I lost 35lbs of pred associated weight, have never had any sign of diabetes and there is no real physical sign I am on pred, even the doctors agree. Others have done the same.
nishat42882 EileenH
Posted
EileenH nishat42882
Posted
I just don't eat carbs except above ground veggies - it's not a "diet plan". As for daily routine - I get on with my normal life.