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Posted 9/12/2013 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Prednisone since April 1st. Started at 60mgs. Have been up and down on those weaning off. I get down to 20mg any the cramping and fatique start. Started this week at 10mg and determined to make it. I do have the cramping to go with it. :( This is one drug if you ask anyone about weight gain is their first compliant. I weighed 120 lbs when I had my colocoscopy. Yesterday at the Dr my weight is 109 lbs. He told me I will probably stay this small. Personally I think I look sickly. I don't understand why weight gain is the first "bad" side affect everyone says is going to happen. Sorry for the rant. I have not had any of the bad side affects.
Posted 9/12/2013 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, weight gain isn't instantaneous and any weight gain that is to water retention is temporary and will rapidly disappear when you get down to a low dose - but again, not everybody gets that either.

Pred gives most people an increased appetite, but again, if you don't eat more than usual, you ain't gonna put on any extra weight that way.

So, dunno. I went from underweight to overweight in 18 months and I absolutely hate it. Be careful what you wish for, 'cos being overweight sucks more than being underweight in this world.
Posted 9/12/2013 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
I was on prednisone for several years. It was my life saver more than once over the years. After the increased doses, I would always be returned to 5 mg as a maintanence dose. I kept a healthy weight while on them. I never experienced side affects until many years later I went off of them. The osteoporosis was showing up a few years before then. Now that I have been off of them for 2 years, I am worse off now than I was while on them? I am currently underweight, have no appetite and also wish for a few extra pounds and an appetite to enjoy my food.
Posted 9/12/2013 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I disagree. Both losing and gaining weight is equally as damaging psychologically.

I was always a healthy weight for my height before this disease. When I was first diagnosed I became extremely underweight and I hated it. But as the years have gone on and the number of medications ive had to endure I have managed to gain all the weight I lost and some I am now 2 stone/28lbs heavier than before I got sick...
I hate it just as much as being skinny but my body just seems to keep hold of all the fat I guess its scared ill go back to starving lol I've tried moderate/joint friendly exercises and eating healthy doesnt help can often cause more problems than good!

so altho many people think deathly skinny when they think Crohns its not always the case cos constipation is just as common as diarrhea and just as uncomfortable and just as unpleasant!

I hope you are able to gain the weight you want in order to look healthy. But mostly I hope you are healthy and continue never to have any "bad side effects" but lets face it all side effects are usually bad... thats why theyre given warnings lol
Posted 9/13/2013 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I stayed on pred for one year and a half. I gained 17 kgs during this time and lost only 7 kgs after stopping it. The weight gain was gradual; I started w a moon face w my skinny body and then it got increased by time. Crohn's made me lose a lot of weight. Now w the extra 10 kgs, my body figure is still slender and my weight is proportional to my height. Sometimes I long to those pred days when I ate whatever I wanted and had appetite. I'm now struggling w loss of appetite.
Don't go down that quickly to taper pred. I remember that whenever I went down to less than 20 mg, I would flare up and d would be crazy. You can go down by 5 mgs or even lower if you have the 1mg pred. I didn't have that 1 mg and would take a 20 mg on one day and a 15 mg on the other day. If you add up 20 mg + 15 mg = 35/2 days= 17.5 mg/day. So, this is not a quick taper.
Take care :)
Posted 9/13/2013 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
My son also starts flaring once the prednisone hits 20 mg or lower. We have not been able to get him weened completely. It has been several years. It's frustrating. I'm afraid of the bone damage.

I think how you feel affects your self image. If you feel good and healthy it shows in how you carry yourself, your attitude, etc. Being over or under weight is secondary really.

Last summer I lost 30 lbs due to a digestive issue, not CD. I felt too lousy to enjoy my new figure. I didn't care about my appearance. When that was finally under control I gained all the weight back plus some.

I guess what I'm saying is when you get the CD controlled, everything else will fall into place. Stay positive Drs don't know everything.
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