Steroids and weight loss

Shebob, it most definitely isn't unimportant. I put on 3 stones, most of it round my middle and while it wasn't the most distressing problem, it certainly caused me a lot of anguish.

I couldn't bend, couldn't put on shoes and socks, couldn't cut my toenails. I had problems cleaning myself after using the toilet. The extra weight added to my mobility problems and it was almost impossible to find comfortable clothes - I ended up buying maternity clothes and I was over 60 at the time! When you add all that to PMR which itself makes life difficult and painful I despaired at times.

But the problem is the steroids alone cause weight gain even if you don't eat any more than usual - I had several bouts of illness where I ate nothing - was on liquids for some considerable time - and still the weight went on.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Once I was established on a low dose and able to sustain it, I found that the weight began to drop.

By that time, I had acquired steroid induced diabetes and I found that my sugar levels also dropped as the weight came off (it was like magic).

Once I realised I really was losing weight, with the help of a nutritionist, I devised my own diet to help it along. I have severe gastric problems also, but I found that cutting out the carbohydrates as much as possible, helped wonderfully on all counts.

In a year I have lost two stone, most of that this year since the winter months. Whether or not it would help you now I don't know and because the Prednisolone makes you feel so hungry, cutting carbs is not the easiest thing to do - far from it.

I don't count my chickens, either! With PMR I can't tell from one day to the next whether I will be able to retain the current low dose (4.5 at present) or whether tomorrow I will have a gigantic flare and have to go back up to 15mg daily. I am just trying to lose as much as reasonably possible while I can.

Oh - I found that the weight began to come off when I had been on 5mg daily for eight weeks. I'm one of those who have to taper the dose down very gradually and once I am established at a .5mg lower dose than before I tend to stay there for 3 months now before lowering again.

Hope any or all of this helps. You have my sympathy.

Nefret

I have tried really hard to keep my weight down since being on steroids since last October and it is a very distressing part of the illness I have managed to put on about 8lbs but even that seems a lot I would agree that it is the steroids and not the increased appetite I am now on 4mg but struggling a bit so hoping I can stay there and now get to grips with my weight Not being able to exercise as much and not being so generally mobile doesent help either Best wishes to all

Shebob - as for you apologising for raising what you call an \"unimportant topic\", far from it - it's a woman's self-esteem that's flying out the window when as you say you look in the mirror and don't recognise yourself! We all so sympathise with you on this point, as if PMR isn't quite enough to cope with.

From my experience (I started on 40mgs) I battled from the beginning to keep the weight down, having small dinner-type meals at lunchtimes (perhaps left over from the evening meal the night before) with lots of veggies and fruits as opposed to sandwiches for instance - as Nefret says, it seems to be the carbs that add to the problem.

I feel that perhaps the most damage weight-wise may be done at the very beginning on the high doses, so feel it's worth fighting the hunger pains then, knowing that they will lessen as the dose decreases - do hope that is some comfort for you to know that.

Also I've always tried to walk every day even if I could only manage 10 minutes because of the pain, and generally after the evening meal (apparently this keeps the metabolism going).

So hang in there knowing that it can only get better as you reduce the dose and I hope that happens soon and successfully. Good luck and do keep in touch with us all.

MrsO

Thanks so much for your replies . I don`t feel quite so guilty about minding about the moon face and huge stomach I`ve developed in the last three weeks now. I`ve been on 30mg pred but rang up yesterday to get blood results and they are normal (which is strange as pain has returned)But i see the doc today and I`m hoping to lower the dose.

Yesterday i vowed to restrict myself and at lunchtime I had a huge bowl of chopped lettuce, celery and apple. Chewed each mouthful 20 times and felt very saintly- but- half an hour later found me rummaging in the kitchen and returning with a thickly buttered teacake, a bar of turkish delight and a cup of hot chocolate !! Oh well- tomorrow is another day ! :roll: Shebob

Very hard to motivate yourself when you feel bad but Im afraid just salad is not the answer you have to up the protein and cut the carbs All the chicken fish eggs light proteins etc are the answer with your salad I do try to eat 3 proper meals a day lots of water and not too many snacks !! My login seems to have failed so I havent posted much lately but have been keeping up to date and still find the site very helpful Off for another blood test today to see the latest results Feel generally not good in the mornings but improve in the afternoons I know 4mg after 8mths is good BUT when I had this illness in 2002 I was very successful on 3mg by now and off it on 2 years and this time I feel I keep going backwards not forwards and make comparisins with last time !! Best wishes to all Mrs G

Shebob - what are we going to do with you? :roll: Banish those teacakes and Turkish Delight from the house, cruel I know but worth it in the long run.

As Mrs G says, some protein mixed with your salad would have sustained you probably for longer - I mix trout, sardines or salmon in with my daily salads several times a week (especially good for your bones whilst on the steroids) and at other times find an egg or cheese on toast quite satisfying.

I absolutely love dark chocolate and my special daily treat is 3 squares of Green & Black's raisin & nut chocolate. I take the 3 squares off and put the bar straight back in the cupboard so that the temptation is not in front of me. It takes a while to curb the sweet tooth but it works and, I was such a chocoholic that if I can do it anyone can!!! Go on, I know that you can do it too and then by the time you come down low on the steroids you will be thrilled because you won't have too much weight to lose! Good luck.

MrsO

Thanks for all the advice. I`ll certainly try to up the protein and cut the carbs. Back from the docs today and she`s cut the steroids to 27.5mg for two weeks- then blood test and if okay 25mg for two weeks etc etc. I daren`t work out how long it`s going to take to get to a low dose.

I`m not glad you`ve all got this nuisance condition but it is so good to be able to communicate with others who know how you`re feeling. Most people look at me as if I`ve made PMR up! 8) Shebob

Just to say I know what you mean about making PMR up !!!!! Every one tells me I look well AND you feel like shouting well I dont feel it !! Went to the hospital yesterday for blood tests (quicker than getting it done at the Drs ) only to find out they missed off my ESR !! As my CRP is up my Dr has said back to 5mg for a month otherwise I might end up on 10 again if I let it drift So 1 step froward 2 back I think !! Nothing compared to your 27.5 mg I know but much longer withdrawel than when I had it before but each time I only started on 20mg She did talk sbout 30mg with my second bout as my blood results were worse than the first time but luckily 20mg worked WHEN I get over this I shall watch myself carefully to get back to the DR at the slighest twinge !!! Best wishes to all Mrs G

Hi shebob,

just saw your posting and wanted to say that Nefret is right, don't feel that it is unimportant. I too don't recognise the fat, old woman looking back at me in the mirror. I'm getting used to other people not recognising me as well.

Hoping that it all goes when the steroid dose is lower.

Keeping in touch on here with other sufferers is such a help though.

Enjoy the sun while it lasts everyone.

DD