Prednisolone - Huge appetite, I could eat a horse!

Hi Gilly - first I'll make you jealous by telling you my appetite disappeared as soon as I started on steroids (my daughter is the same, her daughter eats for Britain - they both have asthma) - before with the PMR I'd craved carbs every afternoon, didn't know what, just wanted SOMETHING! So I put on weight :cry:

However - try drinking non-sugared (and preferably non-seetened with artificial stuff) fluids instead of eating. Try to reduce the carbs in the meals (and what carbs you do use should be the low GI variety) and substitute protein and a bit more fat. This should reduce the swings in blood sugar which is what gives you the cravings. And keep cucumber, carrots and other veggies that you like to eat raw ready prepared in the frig to grab when you need something - they have next to no calories. Big salads (but not potato salad) with your meals. But the most important recommendation with steroids is that the proportion of protein in the diet needs to be higher than you might usually eat.

good luck,

EileenH

Hi gillybee,

I too have an enormous appetite since starting steroids 3 and a half months ago. I try to keep the carbs down, eating loads of fruit and veg, drinking lots of water, and milky drinks seem to fill up, and good for calcium, I also walk as much as I possibly can, at least 3 miles each day, (got an energetic dog) to try and minimise the weight gain. I've gained 6 pounds so far, but it's early days for me yet.

Hope your leg's feeling more comfortable now.

best wishes,

Molly.

Hello Gilly -

When I was on the higher doses of Prednisolone I too developed a much bigger appetite and started to gain weight. However - being only 4ft 11 ins I realised I needed to do something fast to counteract this. What worked for me was to eat little and often and keep up the excercise - I walk about 2 miles each day.

eg breakfast - half a banana with a little low fat yoghurt plus one slice of toast with a scraping of butter and marmalade.

Mid morning snack - a ginger nut biscuit plus a thin slice of low fat cheese and a cup of hot chocolate made with half milk (low fat) and half water.

Lunch - maybe an omelette and salad or home made soup and a slice of bread (no butter) - tea or coffee.

Mid afternoon snack - a slice of malt loaf (no butter) with a thin slice of low fat cheese and cups of tea.

Evening meal - whatever the family is eating but a small plateful - try using a much smaller plate - glass of wine frequently.

I also allow myself the odd square of chocolate during the day and I also eat fruit in between times.

I find the mid morning and afternoon snacks help to reduce my appetite at mealtimes, so I eat less then.

Obviously - one can vary these things to suit one's taste - the thing is to get your stomach used to smaller portions.

Anyway - I wish you luck and you will probably find that as the dose of prednisolone comes down - so your appetite will decrease.

Best wishes - Hilary.

I'm no help with the weight gain as that has not happened either time for me except to put back on what I had lost before diagnosis which I was very happy to do as I looked a bit like a tadpole in my dark jumpsuit when I only weighed 7 stone!

Before anyone says, lucky you, I'd gladly put on half a stone if I could enjoy walking again. Purplecat and Mollycoo I envy you. Pity we cannot have a symptom exchange site so we could all have a break from our particular betes noirs (e )??

[color=red:cb609623ce]get your stomach used to smaller portions[/color:cb609623ce][/i]

In the days when we entertained and were invited for meals frequently, we always said that we felt more hungry next morning than when we had eaten frugally. We never liked to mention it as it looked rather ungrateful.

I might have a go at that Hilary

Reason, just gone out for large lunch (lasagne, veggies, plus a Yorkshire pudding (!), then enormous amounts of cheese and biscuits, finished about 2.00. Now for the last hour or so (it's now 5.00 pm ) I actually feel [u:50ee708e81]hungry,[/u:50ee708e81] don't know what I want to eat - but there I was, after the meal feeling I never wanted to eat again! :?

I have heard it said that when you feel hungry it's often more that you're thirsty, so a drink might do the trick! I guess one of the main things when doing little and often is to be sure you're getting the right sorts of food :!:

Easy just to graze rather than having proper food.

Don't get me wrong - I did enjoy lunch, just appalled at being hungry again :shock:

[color=green:50ee708e81]Green granny[/color:50ee708e81]

Extract from and an article in PMR&GCAUK North East Support Christmas 2010 Newsletter, headed Cucumbers.

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?

Eat a few cucumberslices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.

Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish

essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium,

avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?

Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for have been used for centuries and

often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

There are 13 tips for cucumbers in the article, it is on the website.

Cucumbers, I just love them.

Mrs K. No chance that could be a chocolate covered cucumber I suppose?

Lizzie Ellen

PS: I promise to try it!

Lizzie

Lizzie Ellen

For the hangover I presume!!!!!!!! :zoom:

Very thin white bread, thin slices of cucumber....and fresh butter....! This is the food dreams are made of !.....But, only home grown cucumbers, please ! The ones that today cannot be got...not even for ready money !.... :roll: And the rest of the cucumber slices, to put on the eyes to relieve the stress of binging on them.......! (indigestion, I suppose.. :P Granny Moss, as always.... :P

Lizzie -Ellen

The cucumber would ruin the taste of the chocolate surely??!!

Beev

There's very little spoils the taste of chocolate. :lol:

Dear Dear Ladies ! Lovely ! Today your \"frivolous postings\" have cheered me up so much ! :wow: We have managed for one day to forget what bonds us on this site :hug: I shall have, may be ? :choc: and a good night sleep ? And so I wish the same to you all :magic: At soon....Granny Moss xxxxxxx

PS. To call up the full page of Emoticons, I click View more Emoticons, and promptly click : minimase...and they go down to the lower bar...where you can then call them up and choose the one you want, then minimise again...and so on...I do not know if I have explained well ? Love again :ta: :choc: :bubbly: :sorry: etc etc....Granny Moss xxx