Prednisolone steroid weight gain...will some of it go away
Discussion
Hi folks.
I am currently on prednisolone steroids for my Crohns, almost finished the course, was on 40mg, but reduced by 5mg a week and am currently on 10mg a day.
As some may have seen in another thread, i lost 10kg just before xmas\new year last year , and reduced my waist size from 34 to about 31".
However i had stopped doing as much of the exercise ofver january and febuary, but i didn't put on any weight, just sat at about 61-62KG which was fine.
Okay i still had a bit of a bump but i wasn't looking to get a 6 pack.
However i was doing 30-45 minute x-trainer sesions and the odd free weights to just keep ticking over, however the last few weeks i haven't really done any exercise other than usual moving about, but my weight has gone from 62-66kg in a month.
I haven't been eating anything particularly bad, i dont drink, and avoid coke\crisps as much as i can though i am not on a diet etc.
I cook my own food, using chicken and good beef, mostly pasta and veg with it etc.
The only thing the steroids have done is i do pick at food a bit, but mostly drink lots of tea and have the odd bisuit but its only 1 or 2, not a packet of them etc. At work i eat muesli in the morning and w/meal pitta bread with ham and slice of cheese in it.
This is pretty muchj what i was doing when i was doing the fitness training (cardio and basic free weights, nothing major, benching about35, deadlifting about 50kg etc)
I am a bit depressed that i have balloned up by 4-5kg in just under 5 weeks.
i have no definition at all, and i found even my collarbones have dissapered, which is odd given they were well defined before i even started any exercise when i was 70-71kg!
Obviously i can start up the free weights again, but the roids do make me a bit tired and deoressed so getting motivated is very hard, then i get more depressed because my tummy bloats out in the evening, i know this is partly the roids but it doesn't help.
I just wondered if anyone had experience with them (i have had them before but i wasn;'t watching my weight then and didn't noticce if i went up or down much).
Just a bit fed uop that my hard work over 3-4 months is all but wiped out in just ubnder 4 weeks and i haven't even had the benefit of pigging out to justify it.
I am currently on prednisolone steroids for my Crohns, almost finished the course, was on 40mg, but reduced by 5mg a week and am currently on 10mg a day.
As some may have seen in another thread, i lost 10kg just before xmas\new year last year , and reduced my waist size from 34 to about 31".
However i had stopped doing as much of the exercise ofver january and febuary, but i didn't put on any weight, just sat at about 61-62KG which was fine.
Okay i still had a bit of a bump but i wasn't looking to get a 6 pack.
However i was doing 30-45 minute x-trainer sesions and the odd free weights to just keep ticking over, however the last few weeks i haven't really done any exercise other than usual moving about, but my weight has gone from 62-66kg in a month.
I haven't been eating anything particularly bad, i dont drink, and avoid coke\crisps as much as i can though i am not on a diet etc.
I cook my own food, using chicken and good beef, mostly pasta and veg with it etc.
The only thing the steroids have done is i do pick at food a bit, but mostly drink lots of tea and have the odd bisuit but its only 1 or 2, not a packet of them etc. At work i eat muesli in the morning and w/meal pitta bread with ham and slice of cheese in it.
This is pretty muchj what i was doing when i was doing the fitness training (cardio and basic free weights, nothing major, benching about35, deadlifting about 50kg etc)
I am a bit depressed that i have balloned up by 4-5kg in just under 5 weeks.
i have no definition at all, and i found even my collarbones have dissapered, which is odd given they were well defined before i even started any exercise when i was 70-71kg!
Obviously i can start up the free weights again, but the roids do make me a bit tired and deoressed so getting motivated is very hard, then i get more depressed because my tummy bloats out in the evening, i know this is partly the roids but it doesn't help.
I just wondered if anyone had experience with them (i have had them before but i wasn;'t watching my weight then and didn't noticce if i went up or down much).
Just a bit fed uop that my hard work over 3-4 months is all but wiped out in just ubnder 4 weeks and i haven't even had the benefit of pigging out to justify it.
Having a read online, it seems carbs (specifically white ones, like potato, pasta and rice etc) react differently when on prednisolone, basically spiking your insulin and making you want to eat the cupboards too!
So i am going to try and cut out carbs (specifically bread and pasta) as much as i can, and up the veg and protein (fish and meat).
I eat relatively healthily but i can taper off the carbs and see if that helps at least level odff the weight gain\hungry horse appetite, which is the polar opposite of what i usually have haha.
and need to get rid of mirror in my room as it doesn't help seeing a fat f
k in the reflection every day and knowing i can do nothing about it (weight loss when on prednisolone is apparently very very hard 
)
So i am going to try and cut out carbs (specifically bread and pasta) as much as i can, and up the veg and protein (fish and meat).
I eat relatively healthily but i can taper off the carbs and see if that helps at least level odff the weight gain\hungry horse appetite, which is the polar opposite of what i usually have haha.
and need to get rid of mirror in my room as it doesn't help seeing a fat f
k in the reflection every day and knowing i can do nothing about it (weight loss when on prednisolone is apparently very very hard )I've been on them for 4 years now and have been up and down a bit with weight.
I'm on a low, maintenance dose now and trying to get my running going again but I know what you mean about the tiredness/depression thing, sometimes it's very hard to kick yourself into a decent regime.
I've been pretty lucky with weight, variously putting on and losing a stone or so but then my work is very physical so that has probably helped. I'm about a stone heavier again now but I should be able to shift it.
You could try doing something completely new, something that had never interested you before. I used to love running, swimming and weights but found it very hard to get going again, then I tried Badminton, which I'd never given any thought to before, and it was great fun and got me back into cardio.
Some times I hate the meds but my consultant says it straight "Without them you'd be dead".
Helps with the perspective!
I'm on a low, maintenance dose now and trying to get my running going again but I know what you mean about the tiredness/depression thing, sometimes it's very hard to kick yourself into a decent regime.
I've been pretty lucky with weight, variously putting on and losing a stone or so but then my work is very physical so that has probably helped. I'm about a stone heavier again now but I should be able to shift it.
You could try doing something completely new, something that had never interested you before. I used to love running, swimming and weights but found it very hard to get going again, then I tried Badminton, which I'd never given any thought to before, and it was great fun and got me back into cardio.
Some times I hate the meds but my consultant says it straight "Without them you'd be dead".
Helps with the perspective!
SWH Jnr was on Prednisolone for 3½mths - started on 25mg (loads for a 2yr old toddler), soluble in his case, with a spot of milkshake concentrate to take the taste away...
His weight went up dramatically, slightly increased his appetite, but the weight gain was very quick; looking back at some of the photos over the past few months it's pretty shocking actually. He had proper full on steroids rages as well... worse than the weight gain in my opinion.
The good news is, once the steroids were tailed off, the weight came straight off as well. I'd guess it may take a little longer in adults, but he's been off the steroids since the beginning of June and has now lost all the weight gained.
The classic fat deposit areas (I asked...) are stomach, cheeks, top of the back (camel hump) apparently; SWH Jnr went all out on the chubby cheeks and beer belly style increase. He also put down a good layer of fat just under the skin, sufficient that is was very difficult to impossible to find a vein.
He was also put on a long term antacid (branded Zoton) to combat the effects of taking the steroids as well, not that he was likely to say he had acid indigestion however, but was deemed a reasonable thing to be on.
Hopefully helpful
A somewhat more detailed account of what went on is here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
His weight went up dramatically, slightly increased his appetite, but the weight gain was very quick; looking back at some of the photos over the past few months it's pretty shocking actually. He had proper full on steroids rages as well... worse than the weight gain in my opinion.
The good news is, once the steroids were tailed off, the weight came straight off as well. I'd guess it may take a little longer in adults, but he's been off the steroids since the beginning of June and has now lost all the weight gained.
The classic fat deposit areas (I asked...) are stomach, cheeks, top of the back (camel hump) apparently; SWH Jnr went all out on the chubby cheeks and beer belly style increase. He also put down a good layer of fat just under the skin, sufficient that is was very difficult to impossible to find a vein.
He was also put on a long term antacid (branded Zoton) to combat the effects of taking the steroids as well, not that he was likely to say he had acid indigestion however, but was deemed a reasonable thing to be on.
Hopefully helpful
A somewhat more detailed account of what went on is here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hi,
I have been on Pred for 5 yrs since I had kidney transplant. I was on a high dose and put on 10kg to 60kg very quickly.
Over the years its been reduced and now on 5mg.
I struggled for yrs to get weight back down to how I was and now I can control it quite well.
One thing I noticed was how my digestive system is so different. I cant each as much carbs late in evening so try to eat most carbd at lunch. I also bloat so easily and weight increases over night! This appears to be down to water retention mainly. A couple of days without carbs and I am back down.
One thing though is exercise helps a lot too!
Not sure how much of this will help but hope some of it does
I have been on Pred for 5 yrs since I had kidney transplant. I was on a high dose and put on 10kg to 60kg very quickly.
Over the years its been reduced and now on 5mg.
I struggled for yrs to get weight back down to how I was and now I can control it quite well.
One thing I noticed was how my digestive system is so different. I cant each as much carbs late in evening so try to eat most carbd at lunch. I also bloat so easily and weight increases over night! This appears to be down to water retention mainly. A couple of days without carbs and I am back down.
One thing though is exercise helps a lot too!
Not sure how much of this will help but hope some of it does
Hey,
I am on a course at the moment due to UC flare which started at the end of April - started on 60mg, and now down to 20mg.
For me, when I come off of pred, the weight goes too - which is a bit pants for me as I am 5'11 and just over 11.5 stone at the best of times!
I know as you come off of pred you can get tired and a bit fed up, and it happens randomly...I remember going for a meal with some mates and at the start of the meal I was fine, and when we left I could barely drive home I was that tired.
For me now I just accept some days wont be great, but it cannot last forever - if i keep myself busy and active as I taper down I seem to do much better than if I sit and think and let it get to me. It takes around 2 weeks for it to fully leave your system after you hit 0mg.
Hang in there and dont let it get you down too much!
I am on a course at the moment due to UC flare which started at the end of April - started on 60mg, and now down to 20mg.
For me, when I come off of pred, the weight goes too - which is a bit pants for me as I am 5'11 and just over 11.5 stone at the best of times!
I know as you come off of pred you can get tired and a bit fed up, and it happens randomly...I remember going for a meal with some mates and at the start of the meal I was fine, and when we left I could barely drive home I was that tired.
For me now I just accept some days wont be great, but it cannot last forever - if i keep myself busy and active as I taper down I seem to do much better than if I sit and think and let it get to me. It takes around 2 weeks for it to fully leave your system after you hit 0mg.
Hang in there and dont let it get you down too much!
Cheers mate, i know about the tiredness, started getting that a bit last night, but i find a good audiobook keeps me mind active and a cup of tea too.
My gf keeps telling me i look the same and i know i am a bit paranoid about it, so she is being very helpfull and understanding, she says i am silly as she loves me anyway lol. doesn't help that she has a figure that comes across that she eats like 1 bean a day but she likes her portions!!
but i have stared exercises again (basic 30 mins cardio and simple free weights, deadlifts bench etc) and cut my carb intake so its about 20% and protein and veg is the rest.
Hopefully this will help remove weight and keep tummy from hating me
the come down should start about a week from now, so i will know if its helping.
Though hopefully sort out finances for new golf in a few weeks sop that will cheer me up
My gf keeps telling me i look the same and i know i am a bit paranoid about it, so she is being very helpfull and understanding, she says i am silly as she loves me anyway lol. doesn't help that she has a figure that comes across that she eats like 1 bean a day but she likes her portions!!
but i have stared exercises again (basic 30 mins cardio and simple free weights, deadlifts bench etc) and cut my carb intake so its about 20% and protein and veg is the rest.
Hopefully this will help remove weight and keep tummy from hating me
the come down should start about a week from now, so i will know if its helping.
Though hopefully sort out finances for new golf in a few weeks sop that will cheer me up
Yea its good to keep active and focus on something - I use this time to do chores and things I wouldnt usually want to do as they are crap or menial tasks, lol - try and make the negatives into a positive.
I have to taper from my 20mg, but am going to go slow rather than rush and make it hard for myself or risk a little blip/relapse.
Same at my end, people tell me a look just fine apart from losing a little weight. A little exercise is good too - keeps your joints healthy and can help the healing.
Do you take calcium tablets when on a pred course?
I have to taper from my 20mg, but am going to go slow rather than rush and make it hard for myself or risk a little blip/relapse.
Same at my end, people tell me a look just fine apart from losing a little weight. A little exercise is good too - keeps your joints healthy and can help the healing.
Do you take calcium tablets when on a pred course?
TBH i never bothered with supplements, find they never did much.
but my pred amount wasn't much, i was on 40mg a day reducing by 5mg every week, so am on 5mg a day this week ending on sunday.
I have had this twice before, so its not too bad, i just get a bit of bloating, fuzzy mouth, acne and sweat more\greasy feeling to my face.
But its already toning down so thats good. But i will need to hit the exercise again as i had lost 10kg in the last year before becoming a bit lazy last 2 mnths before getting the steroids after a bad flare of cramps and gut pain.
So hopefully i can flatten out the tummy and build some core strength, though the GF has said she doesn't want a 6 pack BF as i wont be comfy to cuddle on sofa hahaha!
but my pred amount wasn't much, i was on 40mg a day reducing by 5mg every week, so am on 5mg a day this week ending on sunday.
I have had this twice before, so its not too bad, i just get a bit of bloating, fuzzy mouth, acne and sweat more\greasy feeling to my face.
But its already toning down so thats good. But i will need to hit the exercise again as i had lost 10kg in the last year before becoming a bit lazy last 2 mnths before getting the steroids after a bad flare of cramps and gut pain.
So hopefully i can flatten out the tummy and build some core strength, though the GF has said she doesn't want a 6 pack BF as i wont be comfy to cuddle on sofa hahaha!
I'm normally 12st but ballooned to 13.5st after a course of IV steroids in hospital, i waddled out of there, couldn't even put my shoes on as my feet were so swollen. I went on holiday shortly after and look like a young Bernard Manning in the photos. The weight did go away but it was slow and took a few months. Before my op i had dropped to a little under 12st, after the op i plummeted to 9st13lb (I haven't weighed so little since my teens).
I'm now a comfortable 11st and holding steady no matter how much/little i eat or workout.
Watch out for those calcium tablets, mine were the crunchy ones that you chew. They're full of sugar and rotted my teeth realy badly. At the last course of steroids i found out they can actually be taken in drink form.
I found the steroids worked better on an empty stomach first thing in the morning and if i took them before i took my lanzaprozol(sp).
I'm now a comfortable 11st and holding steady no matter how much/little i eat or workout.
Watch out for those calcium tablets, mine were the crunchy ones that you chew. They're full of sugar and rotted my teeth realy badly. At the last course of steroids i found out they can actually be taken in drink form.
I found the steroids worked better on an empty stomach first thing in the morning and if i took them before i took my lanzaprozol(sp).
Bit anxious now, been getting slight tenderness in my guts like i had before i started taking the steroids (though it was MUCH worse) i hope i dont have to do another 2 months on the bloody things, and its just my guts being their usual self haha.
weight seems to have leveled out at about 67kg, and my face isnt as full, so hopefully i will lose a few KG again and be back to about 63kg which is where i was before i started, i have never wanted to be massive muscle wise or have the eashboard stomach, buit i hate having a belly button further out than my nipples lol
weight seems to have leveled out at about 67kg, and my face isnt as full, so hopefully i will lose a few KG again and be back to about 63kg which is where i was before i started, i have never wanted to be massive muscle wise or have the eashboard stomach, buit i hate having a belly button further out than my nipples lol
Medications are a funny thing, and in my expereince you need to be quite firm with your GP.
With regards to calcium tablets - they did not even mention them to me when perscribing me a pred course 8 weeks ago, I had to ask. Shocking. For the side effect of being a bit sugary and taking them for a month or so, I would rather have this and reduce the risk bone damamge from pred - its a no brainer really.
Also, with regards to oral pred, there are 'EC' (coated) tablets avaliable, but they are double the cost of the white, non coated pred. The benefit is they are more effectively absorbed in the gut, and also less harsh on the stomach - so you would not need lanzoprazole. I will be asking for them next time, and again find it shocking that for the sake of a few quid, they dont even mention they exist...
I am on 20mg as of today, and am going to my doctors after work to ask for 2.5mg pred tablets, as per my understanding they make for a much easier taper, and can make things more comfortable as you come down to the very low dosages.
Docs and consultants used to frighten me about pred...rushing me off of it, but this is not a good tactic in my expereince. Long term side effects *risks* only occur when you take above 12.5mg for 12 weeks or more. Below 12.5mg, risks are low, so its best to go slow and let your body adjust, relax, and heal properly.
With regards to calcium tablets - they did not even mention them to me when perscribing me a pred course 8 weeks ago, I had to ask. Shocking. For the side effect of being a bit sugary and taking them for a month or so, I would rather have this and reduce the risk bone damamge from pred - its a no brainer really.
Also, with regards to oral pred, there are 'EC' (coated) tablets avaliable, but they are double the cost of the white, non coated pred. The benefit is they are more effectively absorbed in the gut, and also less harsh on the stomach - so you would not need lanzoprazole. I will be asking for them next time, and again find it shocking that for the sake of a few quid, they dont even mention they exist...
I am on 20mg as of today, and am going to my doctors after work to ask for 2.5mg pred tablets, as per my understanding they make for a much easier taper, and can make things more comfortable as you come down to the very low dosages.
Docs and consultants used to frighten me about pred...rushing me off of it, but this is not a good tactic in my expereince. Long term side effects *risks* only occur when you take above 12.5mg for 12 weeks or more. Below 12.5mg, risks are low, so its best to go slow and let your body adjust, relax, and heal properly.
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