Steroids and weight loss
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I Know most of us are concerned mainly with the control of pain and so have to submit to steroids but I wonder if any of you have managed to lose weight or at least keep it at bay whilst on the dreaded pred. I seem to have the munchies constantly, especially in the evening and am desperate to control the weight. It doesn`t help that I`m having to give up smoking ! I can hardly recognise this huge face that looks back at me every morning in the mirror. Sorry if this seems an unimportant topic in view of all the discomfort many of you suffer but it is a depressing feature of our condition Shebob
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Nefret
Posted
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
Guest
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Guest
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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
shebob
Posted
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
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Guest
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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
shebob
Posted
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
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Devonshire_Dumpling
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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