Comments on: Superhero Appetite

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:25:26 +0000

Hi RA Guy! I’ve been on prednisone for ten years now. Only a few times did I go off it and only for a couple months at a time. I’ve never gone over 20 mgs, and most of the time kept it at 7.5 mgs or lower. I did gain weight. Lost about 20 lbs of it when I went down to lower doses, but never got the other 20 lbs off. More exercise and better diet might help that though. Not sure I’ll ever get my adrenal glands working again but I’m still walking. I didn’t have knee or ankle problems though for many years and only in last year or so have my feet started becoming a problem with some ankle aching, but no bad swelling. You can still get damage in the joints even if they aren’t noticeably swelling. I will need feet and wrist surgery I’m sure in the next year or two. Can’t afford to try the biologics yet and had held off in the past being leary of them. Trying to maintain as best I can on methotrexate all these years. Will follow your blog with interest.

By: denise

denise — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:38:10 +0000

stan,
Yes the necessary evil of prednisone. I’ve been on a high dose for 3 months tapering off now. 25 pounds later. I hate it but I have to be able to move my hands. And other joints LOL I’m just hoping that once I’m off it I can lose the prednisone weight if not well at least I can move. Healthy snacking is so smart. My dr told me the prenisone will make you want to eat the wallpaper off the wall. I thought he was joking not. Well I hope this short series won’t be too hard on you.

Ps any rain yet?
Denise

By: Connie

Connie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:26:09 +0000

I am on Enbrel only now. Other than some stiffnes and always “achy” I am exhausted all the time and my hair is always falling out. Is this from the Enbrel or the RA? or am I just getting old?

By: Deborah

Deborah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:25:45 +0000

I’ve never been on prednisone, but I have struggled with metabolic issues for a long time, to the point where now it seems I may have nerve damage… I’d love to find someone who can help me specifically with metabolic issues, my rheumy is clueless…

PS – RA Guy – have you considered the Biologics? I know it is a scary step and there can be side… Read More effects, but when they work they really work – I was in remission on Enbrel and felt fantastic, but had to go off due to neurological problems. No weight gain from Enbrel either!

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:20:22 +0000

AAAHHHHH The love/hate relationship with prednisone. It gives me relief but is bad for my bones….it gives me increased energy but gives me insomnia…it makes me have a ravenous appetite and swells my belly and face up – but helps my swollen joints! Back in the 80′s – it was one of the only meds out there to help. They would start me out on a really high dose and then wean me down to 5mg-10mg per day. Lots of weight gain during those periods….and my head looked like an over blown balloon about ready to BLOW! I now DREAD when I have to take it but I always try to keep it to 5mg a day and for short periods of time. I try to drink TONS of water and excercise more when I’m on it. Good luck my RA friend!