Arthritis, Steriods and Weight Gain :-(

Ive been taking prednisolone a steriod for Rhumatoid Arthritis for 6 months now and gone up from 130lbs to 144lbs which is the heavist ive ever been. Before i was sick i was around 134lbs but now im eating the same and gained so much weight so quickly im getting really depressed about it. I can seem to lose the weight, eating less doesnt work. Its difficult to stick to a strict diet as some days i constantly graze as the meds make me hungry especially as im supposed to take a combination of about 18 tablets a day most with or after eating, but some days i feel so bloted i eat very little. But in fact my eating habits have change very little so i shouldnt be gaining. I cant excerise much as obviously the illness restricts this but im finally feeling better so starting to swim and and hopefully join yoga soon.

I know youre goign to say dont worry about your weight just concentrate on getting better but the frustrating this is i wont get better im 28 and now have this for life so im getting really upset watching my body get bigger and bigger and have no control over it, and the only way to stop it is to stop takign the tablets that are helping me, so thats not much of an option for at least another 6 months until the other meds take over.

Wasnt meanign to come on here to rant. I actually wanted to ask if anyone else has had experience with long term use of prednisole steriods and what effects theyve had? They made me sick to start with but im getting used to them now as long as i keep the dosage low, but i am bloated and i do have 'moon face' which is supposedly a normal side effect. Someone please tell me that when they stopped taking the steriods their body magically went back to normal. I dont want to have to go and buy all new fat clothes as now im bursting out of mine :-(

prednisone is a horrible drug to take and is harsh on your body it affects your thyroid and your adrenal glands... i was misdiagnosed with the same arthritis as you, turned out i have other issues where arthritis is a symptom ... i would talk to your doctor about something less harsh and to make sure your doctor ruled out the possibilities of your arthritis just being a symptom of something else such as adrenal insufficiency or thyroid etc tons of health problems come with joint pain.

thanks moody im finally seeing a rhumatologist specalist, hes done so many blood tests and put me on a combination of drugs but they take a few months to start working. Ive tried cutting my steriods down to half dosage and ill resume the full dose if neccessary. Youre right it is a horrible drug made me so ill and gave me terrible skin when i first started but now weight gain seems the only issue. its so depressing being so out of control of youre own body

Original Post by chelseagirl:

thanks moody im finally seeing a rhumatologist specalist, hes done so many blood tests and put me on a combination of drugs but they take a few months to start working. Ive tried cutting my steriods down to half dosage and ill resume the full dose if neccessary. Youre right it is a horrible drug made me so ill and gave me terrible skin when i first started but now weight gain seems the only issue. its so depressing being so out of control of youre own body

I'm also taking steroids for a rheumatological condition (autoimmune disease), so I truly understand the weight gain that can be associated with it.  I also understand not feeling like exercising some days...

Please don't adjust your steroid dose without consulting your doctor, since it's not the type of medicine that can just be stopped or reduced too quickly -- that is, when you're on it more than a couple weeks (because of how it affects the adrenal glands).  Tapering is necessary for this type of steroid use and should be done under direct supervision of the doctor; otherwise, it could cause all sorts of problems (which could delay your recovery, and ultimately extend the length of time that your doctor thinks you need the steroids).

While I don't like the side effects of steroids, they have saved my life on multiple occasions.  I am in the process of getting off of them again and hope to never have to need them in the future.  But I know that my doctor wouldn't give them to me if they weren't necessary.

Like you, I'm also taking other drugs.  But my condition is quite severe, so I've taken the steroids longer than most people have to.  I hope your steroid-sparing drugs kick in very soon, since there are some great new DMARDs for RA these days.

In the past, when I got off the steroids completely, I began losing weight, without dieting.  More recently, I got out of the hospital and had to live with my parents again, so my mom stuffed me with food (yeah, I ate it...different topic).  Anyway, I've been on the steroids longer this time, so I made up my mind to lose the weight and have been successful while on a moderate dose.  (This is the first time I've ever dieted in my 30 years, in any shape or form.)

Hang in there!  :)  I think you'll be fine with sensible portions, since you'll probably be off the steroids soon...  But if you continue to be worried, maybe you could ask your internist or rheumatologist what they think about giving you a referral to see a nutritionist?  Or maybe a short time in physical therapy, to help as you become more active...  They say water therapy is great.

I definatley feel your pain on being out of control with your body ! I have had to take prednisone 2 times and had awful experiences. I read some th elong term damge of prednisone is  thyroid problems and adrenal insufficiency so be very careful and never quit just taking them. but if yur doctor hasnt run hormone tests already i would request it due to arthritis also being a symptom of other causes. i'm only 23 and have had health issues since i was 12 i have learned alot trying to figure out whats normal.stay strong joint pain is up there with the worst

Thanks Panda nice to know someone is in the same position. Unfortjunately im not going to be able to see a nutritionist. Now my condition seems to have stabilised with the drugs ive moved back to Dubai a few weeks ago from the UK, unfortunately that means i wont see the Rhumatologist until im home in January and i cant get medical insurance in Dubai that will cover pre-exisiting conditions :-( But fingers crossed we havce it under control now.

I previously took the Prednisinole at a v high dosage for a few weeks it worked to cure the cronic pain and disability but when i came off it the pain started coming back so i was put on a long term lower does. I have stopped taking it 5 days ago i know its bad, but so far seems no problems, fingers crossed all the other drugs (anti inflamatories and DMARDs etc) will mean i can manage. Unlike you the weight doesnt seem to have started dropping since i stopped the tablets, but it has only been 5 days. Seems so unfair to be gaining weight when im eating so little, and please no one say eat more as that just means i gain quicker.

The good news is having now im feeling lamost no pain i feel ready to start some exercise again though i dont think ill manage the gym quite yet, shocking how quickly you can loose fittness. Im thinking swimming and yoga may be the bets option?

Panda are you trying any alternaive treatments? Massage, Accupunture etc? Ive not looked into these yet but im now considering trying them. Unfortunately when i first got RA i was told it was the side effect to a virus and i was in so much pain i could hardly walk etc its taken months to finally know whats going on and improve so now im happy to try new things.

Anyway do let me know if theres anything youre doing that you think i ought to try.