Posted , 12 users are following.
I'm just curious...anyone who has been on a high enough dose of Prednisone to achieve our well known moon face, have you also found it makes your lower neck area puffy, too? I feel like I'm turning into a football player! Before Prednisone, I used to have a thin, small face and neck area. Now, eight months later, I barely recognize myself in photos. Ugh. Thanks for your responses ahead of time.
0 likes, 24 replies
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ptolemy pam1793
Posted
The neck puffiness is called a buffalo hump, a side effect of pred. It seems that pred has the effect of getting our fat to move to places we don't want it!
pam1793 ptolemy
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alley2 pam1793
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Yep the moon face is horrible I too dont recognise myself in photos and being large around the tummy area is real uncomfortable some days I don't want to go out cause the way people look at me. Then there's the sweating when you're out and looks like you just jumped out of the shower.
pam1793 alley2
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anapp pam1793
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I had full blown moon face, so much so my mouth was barely a little line between my puffed out cheeks. Don't remember the neck but did have puffy areas. I remember reading somewhere once that someone wrote she looked like a Zebra. I didn't know what she meant until I started discovering long fatty deposits on my body. Keep the faith...it all goes away eventually. If I recall, moon face started getting better soon after a big drop in dosage.
philoso4 pam1793
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pam1793 philoso4
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Ah, so many red spots on my legs, and now beginning on my arms. It's embarrassing. My dermatologist said they should go away after stopping the Prednisone, but I'll believe it when I see it. Anyone?
Anhaga pam1793
Posted
They may well go away at lower doses, not needing to be off pred altogether. I had small red blotches for a while, but haven't had any for a long time. Some people say that using good skin creams helps.
ptolemy pam1793
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pam1793 ptolemy
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Omg...I understand. I've nicknamed myself Spot. I live in Florida and want to wear shorts, but I feel like people see all the spots on my legs and think I'm going to contaminate them! So embarrassing. Using leg makeup only intensifies the color of the spots. My son is getting married in June in south Florida and I don't even want to be in the pictures.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, despite our problems. Enjoy time with family and friends to temporarily take your mind off the spots, the moon face, the buffalo humps and the weight gain. Ha ha. Have to keep a sense of humor, right?
ptolemy pam1793
Posted
I wander round with red blotches, bruises and hair like a scarecrow. A friend said that I am one of the most confident people they know, as I take the attitude it is other people's problem if they thonk I look odd. I must admit it does work well in the swimming pool as people tend to give me lots of space!
pam1793 ptolemy
Posted
Ha ha. Well, your friend was absolutely correct. But I still feel like wearing a sign that lets folks know I'm not contagious! 😂
pam1793 Anhaga
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Thanks! Good to know that there is still hope! I've been using a really good skin cream recommended by by dermatologist. The red spots are populating my arms now. I don't think there's anymore room on my legs! Again, trying to keep my sense of humor.
JanSP pam1793
Posted
This last flare of my GCA started in May 2015. It was so bad my rumy moved me up to 80 mg pred from the 60 I usually start with. This is my 4th flare. I started GCA 7 years ago. I'm down to 4 mg now but I also take Actemra and .8MTX. My face has been a balloon with my round cheeks causing terrible wrinkles in my upper lip. I also have a buffalo hump and a weird lump of fat or fluid on each side of my neck extending to my bra strap. My abdomen and breasts are huge. I've gone from a 36C bra to a 42DD. I put on 50 lbs this flare added to the 10 lbs left over from the last flare. I've taken off 18 lbs so far. I have serious spine problems and this weight isn't helping that either. I was active and athletic but now I'm weak and tired all the time. I can't get much exercise because of pain and being out of breath as soon as I walk a little. My depression with all of this isn't helping either. I just want to sleep.
pam1793 JanSP
Posted
i totally understand. I too used to be very active. Now I feel like all my muscles are deteriorating by the day. And what's with the bigger boobs? I had to buy a bra extender! Have to laugh so I don't cry. I was very out of breath also at higher doses, but not so much now.
FlipDover_Aust pam1793
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ptolemy FlipDover_Aust
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EileenH ptolemy
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pam1793 ptolemy
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That's true!