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Terrified of gaining weight and losing my hair as I've been prescribed Prednisone

Posted , 4 users are following.

Fluffe
Fluffe

Ok.. first dose today after yesterday's sigmoidscopy - 40mg 'cause the pentasa suppositories just acted like a worn out bandaid.  Doc is sure it's colitis now which is what it said on the yellow sheet (great - NOT as it has me thinking of all the things I'd wanted to do which I'll probaly never get off that bucket list) - but I've always struggled to lose weight even being very active until all this started last May.  Octassa put a stone on me so now what's the Pred gonna do.  I don't want to end up like a fat bald beareded old woman that isn't all that old! So far I've had two cream crackers, a yogurt and a banana plus my probiotic and vitamins and albeit hungry - It's the fear... yes.. usually I'm very well grounded but..... I feel like I'm on a ledge.  Any pointers with this stuff?

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Lauraaliceflo
    Lauraaliceflo Fluffe

    Posted

    I was terrified the first time I had to go on pred too - the list of possible side effects is so scary, but I didn't grow a beard, or a hump, or lose any hair.  I did get a few side effects, after about a week or two on them I got a bit of insomnia, and I started feeling hungry/never really full up and because of that I did gain a couple of lbs, but it really wasn't loads, and as soon as I was off them I went back to normal and the weight went back down v quickly, plus the symptoms decresed in line with the dosage decreasing.  The best thing tho is that they really did work wonders in getting my flair under control and getting in remission.  I've been on and off courses of pred now for about 2.5 years, and now I'm aware I'm going to feel a bit hungry when on them I'm just careful not to overload my plate and make sure I've got some fruit in my bag to snack on.  That list of side effects isn't worth panicking over until you start getting them (if at all) - good luck on them hope you feel better soon! x
    • Fluffe
      Fluffe Lauraaliceflo

      Posted

      Thank you. I think it's the  terror effects which I'd had on the Octassa.  I'm trying to follow my 'diet' and had rice and steak and mushrooms on a small plate.... not quite the best thing with the DD too but chicken makes me cringe unless it's hidden in something and it was fish I became very ill on that started the spiral downwards. Good to know I won't grow a hump! :-)  I just found out I see the doc in a couple of weeks too which was stressing me out.. but I'm back off that ledge now!

      Thank you! 

  • janet02921
    janet02921 Fluffe

    Posted

    Hello Fluffe.

    I have been on and off steroids since last August and have actually lost weight.  For the first time in ages I am  now seeing a nine stone something on the scales and have come down two dress sizes.  Didn't lose my hair as such, it is just a bit thinner.

    • Fluffe
      Fluffe janet02921

      Posted

      Thanks Janet (sorry for the late reply!)... so far just about a week and a half in and the only weight gain is probably from the week I couldn't eat where I'd lost it so I'm still in a holding pattern!  It really comes down to the bad experience with Octassa and gaining a stone on that darned useless stuff. (or at least useless for me!)  I've still got the on and off blood and runs and some LS pain but I'm not gasping for air like I was before the pred and it has managed to fix my knees if nothing else!  I see the specialist next week now to see if it working like it should!
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