Prednisone and Stomach Fat | Arthritis Information
I started taking 10mg of prednisone about a year ago now I'm down to 5mg. After about 6 months of taking it I notice my abdomen/stomach has more body fat. After another year on Prednisone I can't seem to get my belly to go down. Anyone else have this problem? And it gets worse when mother nature comes once a month. It looks like I'm 6 months preganant.
Dx RA 1996
Meds, Orencia, Arava, Prednisone, Vitamin D, Vitamin C Iron
Hi Ladybug, I started on 30mg but after many years, now on maintenance of 7mg (along with all the rest). I had only about 1/2 stone weight gain, and a big moon face, but once down to 7mg, went back to my normal weight, which is skinny and bony, and the moon face disappeared. Downside of that was the wrinkles came back, and on 7mg I'm back to being wrinkled, skinny and bony & flat chested!! But for what it's worth I do a lot of walking!
I guess what I'm saying is - no extra pudgies for me at 7mgs! So that's not much help for you really though, is it!! Well,
Let me say that yes, I did get a spare tire, well inflated. I am going to put some of the blame on the prednisone but, I have to take some of the blame for becoming so inactive, and somewhat using my disease as an excuse. And oh yeah, it comes off alot harder than it goes on but I'm constantly losing it by becoming more active, eating less and working with weights. Good luck, it ain't easy.
LEV
Lev, is that your picture? Oops, off subject here. Yes I did get a fat tummy and it's still fat. Down to 2mgs. of prednisone.Hi jello,
Yep, this is me. The picture was taken last month. As you can see, I have good color in my face. Amazing what good oxygen rich blood can do for a body. Am I handsome?
LEV
i was on pred for quite a while and yes, I got pred belly, pred face, and wanted to eat more. Am off it now and just on a pred pack if absolutely necessary but since knee replacement am in far less pain. the weight gain is so hard to lose, esp. as many of us cannot be as active as we once were. I've managed some loss - but still need to move more/eat less
I don't want to be guilty of infringing any copyright laws, but as this came from an article by "Rosie" on advice to Significant Others re their gimpy partners, posted on the original Arthritis Insight board before board was hacked then taken over by Ernest, it shd be ok. This is just a section of it:-
"Prednisone is infamous for causing carbohydrate cravings. Starting on steroid therapy is not the time to be thinking of dieting into the smaller bathing suit for the coming summer. S.O.'s may be taken aback by the weight gain...but the shape-shifting caused by uncontrolled Arthur-itis is much worse and many times more detrimental to your gimp than the weight gain from steroid use."
In my early years of RA, when on 5 mg of pred. over a long period, I had no idea of how the drug could affect me; and hub kept commenting on my fat face and my increasingly fatter figure. Sure did nothing for my self-esteem
Lorraine
jello,
What a sweetheart you are. And quite a sweet talker I might add. Open them arms, here comes a great big hug.
LEV
Ugh, Ugh, Lev, you are squeezing too hard, but thanks that was great.
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