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Increased Neck Size

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jean39702
jean39702

After 8 months on prednisone, starting at 40 mg and now at 18 mg my neck has increased by 3 inches!  Only one of the normal places of fat accumulation that I'm 'blessed' with these days.   At 65 years of age I was already noticing the signs of what my Mom called "turkey neck" developing pre-predisone.  Now I'm dreading what my neck will look like after the fat disappears.  I'm moisturizing my skin often, which may help.  Does anyone have any suggestions for neck exercises that may help?  What will be will be.  I can be just as proud of my turkey neck as I am about the white hair and wrinkles I've earned. Happy to be alive to see them develop.  :-) 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • constance.de
    constance.de jean39702

    Posted

    Look  up  "turkey neck" on google.  Lots od excercises to do.  Good luck!
  • EileenH
    EileenH jean39702

    Posted

    I've lost a good 16kg (over 35lbs) of the Medrol-weight and so far I haven't got a turkey neck but I still have about 10lbs to go to be happy(and am not yet at 65) - and that will take me to just below the weight I was when PMR started 10 years ago. That will still leave me a bit above the ideal - but I'm sticking to the concept "a BMI of 27.5 is best for people over 65". I'm looking at a Nominations braclet I couldn't wear at first as it pinched - now I could take 2 links out. It is mind-boggling what I must have looked like.

    But I have lost the weight very slowly - rarely more than 2lbs a month - and really my skin isn't "baggy" or "scrawny" except maybe on the inside of my thighs. The bingo wings are melting and the skin is smooth still. Maybe losing the weight so slowly is the answer? I have few skin problems although I have been lazy all my life - what's a moisturiser? Actually, I detest the feel on my skin which is why I don't use creams. But I also NEVER use soap of any sort on my skin except underarms and feet - hair shampoo dribbles down but that is it. I'm lucky - living up a mountain the air is very clean and I only wash my hair every couple of weeks now, not the daily it was in the UK.They are horrified at that idea here unless you are a top level sports person!

    I suppose what I'm trying to say is are scrawny necks as much left over skin as anything else? I don't know. All I do know is that being able to see and feel my collar bones again is WONDERFUL! I've been totally white since I was 40 so that is nothing new but yes - there are wrinkles to be seen for the first time. Not sure about them!

    • karen28161
      karen28161 EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen is it the actual pred that makes some of us put weight on or is it the pred that make us have a huge appetite ?xx
    • EileenH
      EileenH karen28161

      Posted

      I think it is both. My granddaughter develops a mega appetite with pred - and puts on weight. I never really ate much more, as soon as I started taking pred my appetite went but the weight redistributed to the usual places while I was on normal UK enteric coated pred. I was switched to Medrol and the weight went on - and I definitely wasn't eating more. I was switched again to another form of prednisone and the weight has slowly disappeared. What makes a big difference for me is not eating carbs - if I eat more than just above-ground veggies and meat and fish I don't lose weight. As soon as I cut the tiny bit of bread I sometimes eat (half a roll, 30g or 15g of usable carb) or the two bits of spud or piece of fruit, the weight starts to go again. I don't find it a chore - salad and meat/fish is just fine by me as long as I lose weight.

      The pred changes the way our bodies metabolise carbs - and it is that that causes the problem I think, as well as puts us at risk of diabetes. That has never been a problem for me though. There are a very few lucky people who even lose weight without trying!

  • constance.de
    constance.de jean39702

    Posted

    I had never of heard the expression "turkey neck" until you started this discussion.  I Googled it and I was quite surprised at their comments.  Since then I have looked at myself in the mirror and I think I have one!!  All-be-it, a small one, as I have never been excessively overweight.  However, at 75 I suppose it is quite a common thing!!

    Don't like the name though!

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