Weight gain with prednisone
Posted , 10 users are following.
I began prednisone in Jan 2018 at 20mg. I am now taking 10 mg and feeling ok, just barely. But my concern is the weight gain. I've initially put on approximately 30lbs and I have not gained any more for at least 5 months. When does it start to come off, at what dosage? Dieting doesn't seem to work very well other than maintaining present weight. My diet is a low carb, good oils, lean meats and fish, lots of friut and vegetables and some dairy. At 5'1 I'm about 35lbs too heavy. any advice, wisdom, encouragement out there?
0 likes, 16 replies
Anhaga frances80868
Posted
Sounds like for the most part you've been doing well. Nice, well-balanced diet. But have a look at how much fruit you are eating? Fruit can give you a surprising amount of carbs, especially sugar. That could be the thing which is preventing your weight from starting to come down.
frances80868 Anhaga
Posted
I'm careful with the fruits, sticking to those with lower glycemic numbers. I think exercising is my biggest problem. I have so little motivation, depression wanders into the scene and takes me lower until i just don't want do anything. Oh and a little agoraphobia is peeking around the corners. Does this depressive malaise get better. I should mention the the 30-35 lb. Weight gain is such a drag on my vanity. I had no idea this would wound me so badly. I feel like hidding, don't want to see old friends. I don't want them to see me. So stupid. And i do know better! Arrrggggg
lynda62707 frances80868
Posted
Francis....I Feel your pain!😖.
I started on pred in May '18, and have "packed on" a whopping 47lbs!....
My ego is SHOT!
I'm finding I'm becoming more and more withdrawn, embarrassed now to see EVEN people I've seen only a couple of months ago!
My weight has never been a problem for me....this is such new territory.
I'm ashamed.
I want to wear a sign 'round my neck telling the world this is not my fault, but due to a medication I'm currently on!!
yeah....I DO know how you feel and I feel for you...
frances80868 lynda62707
Posted
I had no idea the weight gain would be so crushing psychologically. I had no idea I would be so vain. The mirror is not my friend .
lynda62707 frances80868
Posted
hi Frances...
I started a new discussion about an hour ago titled:Greatful...
if you feel so inclined, please take a look. I'm not sure how long this bit of "wisdom" (ie greatfullness) will last out, but it's definitely how I'm feeling right now!
Hopefully, this will help you as well!
Hangin' in there with ya!
Your Chubby friend....
Anhaga frances80868
Posted
It wasn't anything to do with weight, but I did go through a very bleak period in midlife. For some reason I started taking walks at night. I know in many places that's not safe, and maybe I wouldn't do it now. But it was very good for me. If I remember correctly it's because in the winter the winds would die down at dusk and it wouldn't feel so cold when I went outside. At other times of year I'd walk near sunset. Even today I will sometimes rush out at sunset to enjoy the colours. Walking was absolutely the best thing I could have done for myself at that time. And with PMR/pred I started counting my steps and walk every day.
Can you find a group which goes for walks? Provided it's not too demanding you might find the new companionship will be all the incentive you need.
EileenH frances80868
Posted
I have no mirrors in my house except the ones on the bathroom cabinet and if I need to look at how clothing looks I have to go to the lift (elevator)! Luckily I have to take my specs off at the hairdresser! But we go to a holiday flat that has enormous mirrors in every room, 2 on opposite walls in the bedroom - if it weren't such good value I would go somewhere else!!!
frances80868 EileenH
Posted
Tomorrow I'm going to Y and walk for ten minutes. Will stretch before and after. Wish me well
anne28129 frances80868
Posted
hi, i was diagnosed with PmR AND gCa last October and have been on steroids ever since ! Very quickly i gained weight and within weeks i had gained 10 pounds! I decided to follow a strict eating regime and, although it has taken nearly ten months i have managed to lose the 10 pounds. I am still careful with what i eat and am now maintaining my weight.
Steroids gave me the feeling of hunger 24/7 which was the cause of my weight gain! I am now at 10mg of steroids and have started on methotrexate to hopefully reduce the steroids further. Its a difficult journey but my doctor assures me its a blip and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
GOOD LUCK
EileenH frances80868
Posted
If you are eating lots of fruit you are not eating low carb, Fruit may be GOOD carb but it is still carbohydrate. Low glycaemic isn't the factor - it just means it is slower to release rather than lower in carb.
If you have a look at this website
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb
(you may have to type it in, links aren't coming up automatically) and look at the illustrated pages of fruit and veg and their carb contents, you can see that just an apple and a banana can easily take you to 30+g of utilisable carb before adding anything else and if I eat that much I don't lose weight, I just maintain it. It isn't fair but some people have to cut carbs more than others - but almost everyone would need under 100g to lose weight and when you are on pred it will be far less. It all mounts up - even a bowl of salad veg can total to 20g if you aren't careful. Root veg are also guilty parties and some dairy. The only way to be sure is to weigh and keep a diary of what you eat - boring, boring, boring. I know!
Exercise may help - but not at the sort of level we are able to manage with PMR and too much exercise doesn't always help because it makes you more hungry. I lost 35lbs of PMR and pred-associated weight while unable to exercise - I was on crutches for another problem! It can be done by diet alone although exercise in the form of walking outdoors does help mood.
For some people weight will go as they reduce the pred, not for others. One friend gained over 80lbs in a very short time - she had GCA and was on very high doses for over 6 months - and lost nothing until she got of pred altogether. Even then she didn't notice until her skirt fell down one day! It s a wait and see story for lots - and for some of us it means a lot more application than it does for others.
frances80868 EileenH
Posted
I'm happy that my weight gain has stabilized. Even three pounds down from my high. So that's good.
I am concerned about my esophagus. I use enteric coated caps for prednizone and generally avoid foods I know will be a problem. I don't want to take a daily PPI or the other type ( can't think of the proper name!) because I believe long term life style changes are best. However, Gaviscon is my new best friend. Its so hard to be good ALL the time. And the holidays approach!
lynda62707 frances80868
Posted
hi Frances...are ya having trouble with acid reflux?
I take Previcid everyday...(I've taken it for several years now as I've got Crohns disease). However, it seems to NOT be working as of late...my acid reflux is outta control!
I've got a glass of milk close by at all times, and at least that helps to coat my firey throat (if only temporarily!)....
any other suggestions?
Amanda4567 frances80868
Posted
I read you shouldn't take Gaviscon or ant-acids with Pred - I think I saw it in the Pred instruction sheet..
EileenH Amanda4567
Posted
I think it is only close together. Pred in the morning and gaviscon much later in the day would be OK. It is anything that contains calcium really - your calcium supplements should be taken at least 2-3 hours away from pred.
frances80868
Posted
I am very careful with fruit. I know it's not low carb but I don't feel half an apple is going to do a lot of damage. I usually stay under 30 carbs a day.
EileenH frances80868
Posted
Damage no - but if you are aiming for under 30g usable carbs even half an apple could provide over 10 of them "One medium apple has 95 calories, 25 grams of carbs including 4 grams of fiber,"
Then it depends what else you eat. It all adds up unfortunately!