Question about 'moon face' 2 .

November 19, 2006

Hi ,

This is one club I am sorry you had to join. It actually saddens me

when I hear others have symptoms like mine. I feel I have it

severely and really wouldn't even wish this condition on enemy POWs.

It really varies on what dosage I am given as to how long it takes

for my face to return to normal. My face seems to be the indicater

before my body does. If I am given a medrol dose pak it takes less

time to return to normal, maybe 2 weeks to a month (probably depends

on how active I am too), than it does for me to return to normal

after weaning from 10 mg. It takes me a couple of months to wean

from 10 mg. I can't remember how low it took me to return to normal

after weaning the 60 mg of prednisone. my face didn't seem to swell

as much maybe because I was also on Lasix (prescription diuretics).

However, people who know you can make the worst. One of my brothers

has no shame in asking me about my appearance and since I visit

mostly when I am on medrol (less pain with traveling), he will ask

each time I get the moon face, " why is your face so swollen? " I keep

telling him, you know I am on steroids. I don't bother saying

whether it's prednisone or medrol or prednisolone. But the family

notices the difference when i am on it or off because the swelling is

so immediate, more like water retention in the face than right out

weight gain.

Hopefully, things normalize for you soon. Some docs will have you to

decrease more slowly when the pain is as bad as yours. Are you on

blood thinners or other meds that will clash with herb tea? Because

sometimes green tea helps with my inflammation, also vitamin C. I

have vitamin C packets I like to take when things are bad and I am

without an antiinflammatory. Fesh cherries help (I am told olive oil,

fish oil capsules, flaxseed oil all help with inflammation too) and

alfafa herb tea helps me sas well. I take them long enough to come

off the prednisone and the doctor to give me something else in its

place. They don't work anything like prednisone but they take the

edge off for me.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

peace and healing,

Ebony

November 19, 2006

Hi,

Moon face has taken my sharp chin and sunken checks to chubby and round on a

thick neck, it has also given me a pot belly. Pred is good and bad, I take

it every day and cannot go below 5mg, so I have gained approx 45 pounds since

I started. NOW I will say that many of our other meds also have side

effects of weight gain. I asked my Dr. and he referred to it as " false weight "

and

told me to buy larger clothes? I am a busy person, do not over eat and do

nothing different, just that I gain weight. I am sorry anyone has to deal

with these descriptions.

Gentle Hugs,

Carol M. in CA

November 19, 2006

I think of Jerry a few years ago how swollen he looked and I think he

was taking steriods too for something too. My rheumatologist told me I had

moon face and I had no idea what she was talking about. But I do hate myself

in pictures now.

Joy

Ebony <stillbreathing29@...> wrote: