Posted , 4 users are following.
I am sure a lot of you have developed a moon face, and are wondering as I am, if there is anything you can do about it. I am on 5mg Pred, but still have a moon face particularly bad around my neck. I have read that lymphatic draining massage can improve this, but wonder what others may think about this if they have tried it. Thanks.
0 likes, 6 replies
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EileenH rosemary83494
Posted
The moonface is due to fat deposits - lymph drainage won't make much difference. We always recommend that patients on pred cut their carbs drastically which helps avoid the weight gain with pred that many experience. When it starts to disappear depends on the person - but once I cut carbs the fat around my midriff went first and then from everywhere else even though I was on 15mg. Even my doctors say now you can't tell I'm on pred, I'm plump but not cushingoid. Another lady I know didn't lose the pred fat until she stopped pred altogether and then if just melted away - she realised when her skirt fell down in the supermarket!
rosemary83494 EileenH
Posted
Thanks Eileen, like the bit about the skirt. I am 5 feet 3 inches tall, and weigh 10 stone 4 lbs, would like to be about a stone less, but this does not take me too far out of where my BMI should be as it goes up to 10 stone for my height. However having taken steroids for three years I have put on about a stone, and would like to get rid of my moonface if possible. Not sure if I am eating too many carbs, I have muesli and yoghurt for breakfast, nothing until lunchtime except for a sugar free coffee. Lunch is usually a couple of slices of toast or sandwich with banana, apple, grapes, and orange. Occasionally I have a biscuit with mid afternoon cup of tea with no sugar. Then nothing until 7p.m when I have my evening meal, which contains lots of vegetables, so thought I ate ok pretty much. What do you think?
EileenH rosemary83494
Posted
That is a LOT of carbs in the context of taking pred. I and another pred-friend have to get very low to lose weight - about 20g of utilisable carbs,
Will it shick you if I tell you that 2 slices of toast will be at least 12g, a banana can be 20+g, an apple also 20+ carbs, grapes have 17g carbs per 100g fruit, and an orange 12g - now I know you are probably not eating a whole banana etc it all adds up. The only way to find out is to weigh and write it down and keep an honest record, Most people who think they are eating low carb and aren't fall down on the amount of fruit. Healthy yes, but carbs are carbs,
I find this site really easy to use and get figures and ideas:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/
The pictures they use make it easy to see what is better and what less good in this context.
rosemary83494 EileenH
Posted
Thanks for that Eileen! I did not realise fruit were carbs! I need to look at the website you sent me in some detail obviously, and see if I can get rid of my moon face.
There are a few other issues I have to work with as well to find out what is best for me though. As well as PMR I have diverticulitis, which I know loads of people have, but it does mean I have to be careful with my diet, and add more fibre, hence the muesli and brown seeded bread. Because I can't eat nuts (they make me dizzy) I have dried fruit muesli. I am also allergic to liver, kidney, all shellfish, and can only eat haddock, cod and pilchards. Meat is ok otherwise. You may remember in previous discussions that I have stopped taking some of the prescribed medication as it did not agree with me, so calceos and alendronic acid are now gone, which means I have to up my calcium intake. I have whole milk on my cereal, and drink a glass a day as well, plus I have brought cheese into my diet, which I rarely ate before. Also have yoghurt for breakfast as well, so I think that one is covered. The only medication I take is a 5mg pred, 30mg lansoprazole, and a turmeric and honey tablet a day, and I have no pain at this level at the moment. As for carbs, the bananas can go no problem, likewise the grapes. I never eat pasta or rice, as I don't like either, and I only have about three potatoes a week. Have to find fruit replacements as I do enjoy fruit, and it is supposed to be good for you, just need to eat the correct type I guess. I don't have sugar in any drinks at all. By the way I was eating a whole banana a day!!
EileenH rosemary83494
Posted
You'll see from the site that berries are the lowest carb fruit. It all comes down to the amount but as you see it soon mounts up! And as I say, the diet doctor site does make it very clear with nice pictures! Personally I eat tons of above ground veggies and salads - lots of them raw rather than fruit. Living in Italy almost everything is very seasonal - if it isn't in season in Europe, above all somewhere in Italy, it is difficult to find, so fruit is a special treat when it is there for a few weeks. I find I don't need snacks when eating low carb - and that would be where fruit came in for me. I should probably reduce the number of tomatoes I eat - they can hide a lot of carbs too!!!
Anhaga rosemary83494
Posted
It's amazing how many carbs we can consume without even noticing. I didn't realize until Pred caused high blood sugar how much wheat I was eating, for example. I replaced my big bowl of breakfast cereal with an orange, 1/3 cup pumpkin seed and two eggs. Much more satisfying and high protein, which I need.