weight loss

[simon newman]

As a newly diagnosed Weggie, it's very reassuring to learn of this support group. Medics can be knowledgable, but often rubbish communicators! Or perhaps it's just fear of litigation !

QUESTION I've been on high dose cortisone (70 mg per day) for 6 weeks now and have lost 16lbs weight (plus some hearing loss) - the weight loss is particularly worrying, since I thought you put ON weight with Pred.

Any thoughts anyone?

[Sangye]

That is odd. Pred usually starts packing on the pounds by the second month. Is your general shape changing?

The only thing I can think is that your Wegs is still so active that the weight loss caused by it is outpacing the pred. What other drugs are you on?

[jola57]

I remember that it took a while for me to statrt the waight gain.

[Jack]

Wegener's itself can cause weight loss, but so too can steroids. I have steroid induced muscle atrophy that has reduced my weight from 100Kg to 47Kg! However, I do also have other eating and digestion problems so this is far from typical.

[elephant]

Hi Simon! Welcome to this group. Your on 70 mg of prednisone for six weeks...that is a long time. They usually put you on that for a month then start to taper down to 10 mg in two weeks. You should be on another medicine like cytoxan or cellcept or imuran or methotrexate..ect
Do you have a Wegeners specialist? Look under the Vasculits Foundation. Do you live in the US?

[simon newman]

That is odd. Pred usually starts packing on the pounds by the second month. Is your general shape changing?

The only thing I can think is that your Wegs is still so active that the weight loss caused by it is outpacing the pred. What other drugs are you on?

Thanks - Despite overall weight loss, I'm getting some extra fat around the waist (I'm normally slim)

The only other meds are antibiotics, calcium additives, plus lining protectors for the digestive tract.

[simon newman]

Yes, I've a good specialist (I think, thoughhow do you tell?) here in France where I live.

[Sangye]

Simon, extra fat around the waist is part of the typical response to pred.

A Wegs specialist is a rheumatologist who sees hundreds of patients with Wegs, not just a regular rheumy. Ask your doc how many Weggies s/he has treated.