Prednisone question

[2big4mysize]

Re: Prednisone question

Nestle is buying Jenny Craig - which employs more than 3,000 people - from two private equity groups, ACI Capital and MidOcean Partners. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, the private equity firms said in a statement

still hasn't happened yet lots of things can and do go wrong in takeovers. But they are just basically diversifying the company Jenny Craig will still be Jenny Craid just like BurgerKing is still burger king even though Pepsi owned it it still served Coke products.

[universaltravelr]

Re: Prednisone question

I have been on prednisone for about 5 years, my current dosage is 20mg every other day. However, I also take inhaled steroids in advair. Needless to say, i have been able to continue to lose weight with this way of life. Exercise and water intake are very important. Out of the 60 lbs that I gained within months of starting prednisone I have been able to lose 31 lbs so far with the atkins approach. I know i will continue to lose, I just might have to work a little harder..
Anyway, hang in there. If you are determined, you will succeed. It just might take a little longer, but we both know we are worth it. Hope this helps.

[aggie]

Re: Prednisone question

Dear Michael and Quitstretchin, you've encouraged me so much. I was feeling very down because I did my two week measure and found I'd "gained" inches on the abdomen and boobies. This was not encouraging... Now of course, I know why. I tapered down the prednisone but now I'm in pain. I'm grateful to see that Atkins woe helps all round. I just don't know why I seem to be in this horrible situation where I can choose pain or weightgain and prednisone. It is not fair. Of course I know life is not fair but it really looks to me like I have no life whatsoever without prednisone. I'm having a hard time with this decision to just bite the bullet and take the damn stuff and have a life... I wouldn't mind having a life... but jeez... how am i going to deal with the weight gain...

[Elizellen]

Re: Prednisone question

I'm having a hard time with this decision to just bite the bullet and take the damn stuff and have a life... I wouldn't mind having a life... but jeez... how am i going to deal with the weight gain...

You might find that with Atkins the weight gain is not as bad as might otherwise be expected as

Exercise and water intake are very important. Out of the 60 lbs that I gained within months of starting prednisone I have been able to lose 31 lbs so far with the atkins approach. I know i will continue to lose, I just might have to work a little harder..

[Diva217.5]

Re: Prednisone question

If you guys dont mind me asking...................why are you on prednisone in the first place????

[bjs1976]

Re: Prednisone question

I myself have taken prednisone for severe asthma, and I have taking methlypred for MS.

[universaltravelr]

Re: Prednisone question

I am on prednisone for Chronic Obstructive Pulmanary Disease (COPD). But with the weight loss my symptoms have decreased. You just have to make the decision to try and you wont be disappointed. I am only afflicted if I allow it to weaken my will, thats not going to happen. Just stay strong and focused and you will get there. I posted pics of my face in the before and during and the changes over the past few months, you can see the cushionoid effect from the steroids in the first pic, but the other two you can see the changes.

Learn to accept what you cannot change, and change the things you can.

[aggie]

Re: Prednisone question

I take prednisone during a flareup of a skin condition I have. I found however that it works miracles on my fibromyalgia which turns out to be not logical. It is not supposed to work with fibromyalgia which means I believe that I am developing the same disease as my mother which was SLE Systemic Lupus. I live in hope that this is not what the condition is but the pain and the symptoms are similar to what my mother went through. I was reading about Lyprinol. Have either of you guys ever tried this or heard about it? I'm grateful for the dialogue and yes Michael, I'm still trying. Thank you. I continue to lose weight but I came off the stuff. The pain I'm living with isn't reasonable however. Off to the doctor next week. Lyprinol? Anyone?

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Prednisone question

I know the response to this is ages old (2 months about) but I am just now back functioning in one piece (I'll explain later in depth in the 14-day induction forum)....

In response to your question Diva217.5...I personally take prednisone for the exact issue aggie is personally fearing...SLE/LUPUS. I have been on other forms of treatment but have not responded well so prednisone has been my main staple for over 3 years. The dosage has fluctuated but since late last year, I have steadily required higher and higher dosages to pull me out of flares and to simply maintain. It has been utterly discouraging at times, but it has been necessary for me as I have not done well on other treatments.

I'm rootin' for my fellow prednisone users (Universaltravelr, bjs1976, aggie, everyone else....). Thanks for the encouraging words. We'll manage!

Now, I am on my way to 14-day induction forum to explain where I've been for the last few months and all of its happenings....!!

[bjs1976]

Re: Prednisone question

Quitstrechin---thanks for the understanding and support. It truly is hard to undertand wihtout having experienced-- the cushinoid face- the acne-- the moodiness--- Well, we all know I could go on and on.

I found that the long term steroid use had been making my blood sugars HIGHER and higher-- So, even though the pounds are slow to come off- I feel like just the benefits I have recieved on my blood sugar are well worth it.

It is a necessary evil in my opinion; my health has deteriorated many times-- avoiding ROIDS for the fear of the SE's.

Best of luck to us all-- we can do this!!

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Prednisone question

bjs1976...you are doing so well despite the steroids, so I am actually very encouraged by you as well.
Everything you mentioned, I have experienced...I've been diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome (which is different and less severe than the actual Cushing Disease diagnosis). I have the "moon face" so severe I can't see my eyes when I laugh and smile. I have acne as if I were 15 years old again and a midsection that would make you swear I was at least 7 months pregnant (stretchmarks and all)!!!!! This all developing over a period of several months! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

Besides the rapid weight gain, my biggest fear is developing diabetes...I have not had abnormal glucose test so far, but I worry I must be walking a very fine line....
The catch-22 we are in....wanting to come off the steroids to avoid weight gain but having to stay on it just to stay alive and well!
I am encouraged though...having lost 10lbs the first week I started induction despite being on a high dose of prednisone. My understanding is that prednisone interferes with our bodies ability to process carbs...therefore, Atkins seems to be the bet for anyone on prednisone.
Keep up the good work!

[bjs1976]

Re: Prednisone question

This will work for you-- I am assured of that. Just give it time- It is the best thing to do for the prediabetes assocated with the perdnisone.

I speak very strongly from not my medical background- but personal experience.

As well, I have seen the SE cause some poor decesion making- I have a friend had been on prednisone for years she had her moms kidney- well being a young girl she hated the side effect's the vanity ones esp. She didnt take her meds as Rx'd and lost her kidney is now on dialysis for life-- She is high risk for abusing a transplant -so she does not qualify for transplant list.

It really is sad-- people on the outside talk about how stupid she was-- But, I could always relate to her.. The round face and her anorexic body the acne-- It is such an emotional roller coaster too- It can be hard for outsiders and Physcians to understand--

I just want you all to know I do understand.. Take the med if you need to-- you can work on the rest later---You can control the diabetes and weight---

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Prednisone question

Thanks for the logical advice...I consider myself sane and well educated thus far with this illness, so I should know exactly what is best for us Lupies, but like you said, the roller coster that this illness puts you on can make you make some irrational decisions. I can understand what your young friend is going through. It is very hard at any age, especially that young age.
This way of eating is important. Processed carbs can't be good for anyone! I am hanging in there. Thanks again for the advice....