Who else is having abdominal fat problems?? I didn't emerge entirely unscathed from my brief encounter with prednisone. I am CONVINCED that the FAT that I now have around my middle is due to pred. Which is weird, because I was only on it for 5 months, at low dose, and didn't get a fat face or actually put on weight on the scales. I did not over-eat, and kept to a careful diet. In fact, I have LOST 8 pounds according to the scale. And it happened suddenly, in the 5th month, when I was already down to 6mg a day. So suddenly, that I was worried that there was something untoward going on inside me! When I am standing, it sticks out and feels firm, like a watermelon in front, and when I lie down it goes flat and jelly-like. I have never had this sort of jellyish fat before. I'm sure it is just a lot of fat, not a growth or fluid inside or anything, as I can actually grasp big handfuls of it!
Hi Chico.
I don't think I've got this as bad, but it's certainly there. When I went on
pred a year ago (40mg start), my GP warned me that I would gain weight,
but his description was "like an orange on a stick'. ie I'd loose it from my
legs and put it on round the abdomen.
Like you, I've lost weight overall (possibly something to do with pred or
pmr having put me right off alcohol), but have defintely gained fat round
the abdomen and lower thorax, at the front. At the back and on my legs
I've lost loads - had to get new trousers 2 sizes smaller as the old ones
kept falling down - only held up by the fat on the abdomen. I think I
noticed the abdominal fat first at around 6/7mg. I'd had a round face at
the beginning, but that went at about 12.5mg
I'm taking a very slow approach to dropping, I'm on 2.5mg and have been
for about 5/6 weeks. I'll drop to 2mg soon. I think the abdominal fat
started going around 4mg - it's slow, but there's definitely less than there
was.
Hope yours goes soon.
Margaret
Chico,
I am sick over my belly fat, it took a long time to happen, i have been on pred now for about two years,most i ever took was 30 mg, lowest dose was 5 so it has been a roller coaster ride trying to get off. i think the belly got fat so slowly i did not even notice it till it was so bad, when i look sideways in the mirror the belly sticks out farther than the boobs, i am a small person 5 ft 2 inches, my normal weight is 115 lbs. i now weigh 140 most of the weight gain is around the waist (can not wear anything that has a waistband only elastic waist, you know the old lady stuff, i hate this, can not remember the last time i looked stylish) face got fat too and this fat that is hanging from my neck, i hate. When i am standing my stomach feels firm and when i lie down it spreads out. as to your question does it go away i hope so, but i do not know, i was thinking of going on slimfast. i am so disgusted, also the extra weight is making it hard to walk and get up from a chair or bed.
Margaret, it was good to hear that yours went away.
Georgiana
I had belly fat also. I was on pred for 6 months, then I started to cut down and do the no sugar diet. My daughter came in for Christmas and noticed how much I had lost around the middle. I didn't gain a lot of weight but enough 17#, I guess that is a lot in a short time being on pred. I have now lost 29# since going off pred and just staying away from carbs and sugar. I just don't think there is enough research on PMR and pred to know what really happpens to us. I have learned more from here and my research then from the Dr. Geri
I am looking at 2008 as being great and getting back to normal. My middle is so extended I feel like a beached whale. I am only 5" 2" and I weigh 151#. My normal weigh is under 140#. I did go up to 161#, but went on a 'meal replacement' program for breakfast and lunch and lost 10#, but can't seem to get any lower. My eyes are giving me a lot of trouble, being blurry and foggy. My optometrist claims my eye sight has not changed in a year, so I have an appt with an opthomologist, soonest I could get is Feb 14th. This really scares me, about the eyes. I have read about GCA and the treatment is pred, so I have stayed on 20mg/day until I see the eye doctor. My arms and legs have pain every day, but not as bad as before pred. This fat belly and chipmunk cheeks is lowering my self confidence. I normally take a size 10, my daughter gave me a shirt for Christmas, it was an 'above average.....so I know it is very noticable. BTW I am taking scrip pain med every day, Percocet. Is anyone else take pain meds daily?? Is it better taking pain meds and going down on the pred or the other way aroung.
Happy New Year to all
Thank you all for sharing your pred fat woes with me, I do appreciate it, it seems so unfair that we have this to deal with on top of PMR and pain as well. It does help me to know that it really is a pred thing, rather than some ghastly fat-cell madness of unknown origin. I see that some of you have this problem worse than I do, and I really feel for you. Here's hoping we can all get rid of the jelly belly and other unwanted fat deposits during 2008.