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WEIGHT GAIN, FAT FACE AND DOUBLE CHIN!

Posted , 9 users are following.

nana98924
nana98924

SIDE EFFECTS FROM STEROIDS. I AM SOOO SUBCONTIOUS ABOUT THIS FAT

FACE AND DOUBLE CHIN. IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO TO SHRINK THEM? VERY UNATTRACTIVE.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall nana98924

    Posted

    Hi nana, so far I've not developed the excess weight gain and double chin but I am in a diet, yes it's tough but I'm losing the weight albeit very very slowly. Low carbs is the key and making your portions smaller, but as I said you won't be twiggy by this time next week but a few lbs each month will soon add up. Good luck, christina 
    • nana98924
      nana98924 tina-uk_cwall

      Posted

      THANKS CHRISTINA, I HAVE BEEN STARVING MYSELF. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE WORSE FOR ME. EVEN OVER THE SIDE EFFECTS, BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST THING A PERSON SEE WHEN THEY SEE ME SINCE THIS HAPPENED. I DON`T EVEN LIKE TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC ANYMORE.

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH nana98924

      Posted

      STARVING YOURSELF IS THE WORST THING TO DO - YOUR BODY THINKS IT IS REALLY STARVING AND SHUTS DOWN A LOT OF PROCESSES TO CONSERVE FAT FOR THE LONG TERM - EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU WANT. IT IS A QUESTION OF EATING THE THINGS THAT MAKE THE BODY USE UP ITS FAT STORES FOR ENERGY. IF CARBOHYDRATE IS ON OFFER IT USES THAT FIRST AND IF YOU AREN'T VERY ACTIVE IT NEVER GETS AS FAR AS THE FAT. IF YOU DON'T OFFER IT CARBS THEN IT HAS TO USE THE FAT TO GET ENERGY. THE FIRST FEW DAYS CAN BE A BIT DIFFICULT AS YOUR BODY CHANGES FROM USING CARBS TO USING FAT BUT IF YOU REDUCE THE CARBS TO LOTS OF VEGGIES IN A COUPLE OF STEPS THEN THE PROCESS IS EASIER.
  • tricia11872
    tricia11872 nana98924

    Posted

    Yes, have put on 7pounds. Have a double chin and fat face. Hate it all and am struggling with cutting down all the time food wise,  everything I put on is tight. I am now on 5mgs Pred and coping but am fairly fed up. Could be far worse I know but I'm only 5 1 ft so it all goes round my middle!!! Happy days!
    • nana98924
      nana98924 tricia11872

      Posted

      GOOD LUCK TRICIA. FEELS GOOD TO KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS STRUGGLE. LOTS OF LUCK SWEETIE.
    • tina-uk_cwall
      tina-uk_cwall nana98924

      Posted

      Nana, did you just mention sweets! Yummy, oh sorry, sweetie! Christina
  • EileenH
    EileenH nana98924

    Posted

    It is possible to lose weight while on pred - it is slow and it requires a lot of discipline. I have lost 37 lbs in just over 2 years and the fat face and midriff have gone. How? Virtually no carbs - green leafy veggies and salad, Almost no potatoes, no pasta, no rice, no baked goods and no bread. They are very special treats. 

    I wish I had realised much sooner - my daughter's wedding photos might easier to look at.

    • nana98924
      nana98924 EileenH

      Posted

      CUDOS TO YOU EILEEN. YOU MUST HAVE LOTS OF WILL POWER. THE ABOVE MENTIONED ARE ALL A PART OF MY EATING DIET SO I GOT A LOT OF ADJUSTING TO DO.
  • tricia11872
    tricia11872 nana98924

    Posted

    I do enjoy chocolate at times and a glass of wine but I try not to eat bread, potatoes and pasta as they give me indigestion.
  • janet08828
    janet08828 nana98924

    Posted

    Hi Nana -

    It comes as a shock when your face is suddenly so changed.

    I found that the low/no carb diet helped with the weight ..SLOWLY!! ..but a definite constant drop, unfortunately it didn't seem to make much difference to my "long" face, that started to change back again when my prednisolone dose started coming down. 

    Unfortunately I have had a flare up so am back up to 15mg, but before that and after only a few weeks at 5 mg I found that many of the side effects started to disappear - including the chin/fat neck issue.

    Can understand you feel subconcious - so did I (still do, just got used to it now) - and coupled with my entire wardrobe falling out with my "new size" I felt pretty miserable also - I can only say that you will find the "real you" again - I saw a glimpse of "me" and it has given me hope that I am stil here just waiting to come back.

    Keep a smile in your eyes and that is what people will notice first.

    • nana98924
      nana98924 janet08828

      Posted

      THANKS JANET. MY DOCTOR SAID AS SHE DROP MY PRED DOSAGE I WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL BUT I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE ME FELL THERE WAS HOPE. MY 3 YEAR OLD GRANDBABY MADE ME FEEL GOOD THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS CRYING TO MY SON ABOUT MY LOOKS AND HOW I HATED THE WAY MY FACED LOOKED. HE CAME TO ME, LAID HIS HEAD ON MY LAP AND SAID " YOU ARE PRETTY NANA". I CRIED LIKE A BABY BUT WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR NOW I REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID EVEN IF I DON`T REALLY SEE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS.
  • Sheilamac_Fife
    Sheilamac_Fife nana98924

    Posted

    Nana, I can't bear it either! I have gained 15 kilos and have become someone else! I feel as though I am wearing a fat suit and looking out at the world from someone else's face! I dont want to be seen either! I wish I had known earlier that the carbs are the problem with this side effect! Last week, I simply couldn't bear it any longer and have started a low carb/high fat diet and so far have lost 2 kilos. I thought I wouldn't be able to do it because I love potatoes, pasta, bread etc but I am finding it quite easy. I am doing the practically no carbs for 2 weeks and it's amazing, but I don't feel hungry. The high fat thing worried me, it goes against everything we've been told for years but it's not really very high fat... I can have butter, cheese and full fat yoghurt, some creme fraiche and for me, my meals are ok. Meat and fish are all ok so it's not too difficult. I think I am coping with the diet partly because of my desperation to be 'me' again.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Sheilamac_Fife

      Posted

      Full fat milk is less than 5% fat - but has been demonised for years! 

      Well done on the weight loss! The reason you feel less hungry is because your blood sugar level doesn't rise and then plummet again making you think you need more food when you don't. 

      Like Tricia I eat chocolate (1 square of high quality - I enjoy it but don't want any more, when I sneak a bit of OH's ordinary chocolate I do want more) and drink wine. I have never felt deprived after the first week when I did have to think about it deciding what to eat for a change. Before that the hospital dietician had been insisting on the usual sort of diet - I was hungry and it was such a struggle as I still didn't lose weight either. Once you see a result it becomes easier - I don't know about others but the first place the weight came off was round my middle and the fat face.

  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK nana98924

    Posted

    You're not alone, Nana. After about 6 weeks on a high Pred dose, I have the fat face and "pouch" under my chin! Hate it. My normal face is quite slender, so I now look like an alien. I've also put on loads of weight and have few clothes left that fit me. But I'm trying not to worry too much at the moment and will diet when my tapering has settled down a bit more.
  • LisaCACO
    LisaCACO nana98924

    Posted

    I've just started this journey but i think one of the hardest things is to see the physical changes-looking in the mirror and seeing someone look back who isn't you. I keep telling myself that it's temporary and keep fighting. I'm exercising as much as I can each day-some days it's more and somedays it's very little, depending on what my body can take. I have GCA and I yoga works for me. Still, it's an uphill battle while on the larger dose (if that's what you're on). Do you have access to a dietician and/or a physical therapist who can help you tailor your diet need and exercises to fit you? I found them to be very helpful here in the US. Best of luck, Lisa
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