1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

Moon Face

Posted , 12 users are following.

pam1793
pam1793

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

24 Replies

Next
  • ptolemy
    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
      pam1793 ptolemy

      Posted

      Buffalo hump? Omg! I feel like a buffalo!
  • alley2
    alley2 pam1793

    Posted

    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
      pam1793 alley2

      Posted

      Sweating and hot flashes! Yes! They are horrible!
  • anapp
    anapp pam1793

    Posted

    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
    philoso4 pam1793

    Posted

    I am on 8mg medrol (=10mg prednisone) for last 6 wks. (Down from 6wks on 9mg.) Have what I call chipmunk cheeks, which is probably what is also called moon face. Fat deposit also within what is ordinarily the cuppy part of the collarbone. And, as you describe, a lot of sweating with exertion. Add the red and purple blotches on most of the visible skin and it presents a beautiful picture.
    • pam1793
      pam1793 philoso4

      Posted

      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
      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
      ptolemy pam1793

      Posted

      Hi Pam, I do hope the red blotches do go away when I stop pred. I am on 5mg and still get them regularly. Some are really quite big. I seem to be having a lot of them at the moment for some reason. They do not seem to break open so often now though, thank goodness. 
    • pam1793
      pam1793 ptolemy

      Posted

      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
      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
      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
      pam1793 Anhaga

      Posted

      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
    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
      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.

    • EileenH
      EileenH ptolemy

      Posted

      I know - never been able to work out why! 
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.