Hi Amy,
Prednisone is the drug we all love to hate. It does make us feel better and allows us to attempt "normal life". At higher doses (generally anything over 10 mg/day), the side effects are more pronounced.
My highest dose has been 60 mg/day. Over the past 18 months, I had tapered down to 2 mg/day, but a few disease symptoms came back. So, I'm back to 5 mg/day while I get all the ducks in a row for another round of rituximab.
Some things that have helped me to cope with pred's side effects:
1. Eating healthier. I eat almost no processed food. I generally avoid sweets. I drink more water. I eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. I generally eat gluten free bread. I substitute sweet potatoes for white potatoes. I don't eat cured meats (ham and bacon). I eat more oily fish (tuna and salmon at least once a week).
2. I exercise regularly. Most weeks, I walk 2-3 miles 4-5 times a week. In winter, I go to the Y and do light resistance weight training twice a week. In summer, I do my own landscaping and yard maintenance. I try to walk 9 holes of golf weekly.
3. I avoid stressful situations. I'm retired, so this is pretty easy for me. If you're working and/or raising little people, stress comes with the territory. Learning to control your reaction to stressors will help.
4. Take some time to be good to yourself - meditation, a nap, a walk in the park, a cup of tea, doing something that makes you feel better about yourself.
When I was first on high dose pred, I regained the 25 pounds I lost at disease onset plus about 20 more. For me, most of the weight gain was belly fat. My face was slightly fuller, but I didn't get the buffalo hump. Doing most of the above (the eating habits were tougher to break until my wife and I both got onto the same plan), I've gotten back down to my pre-wegs weight. I still have a few extra pounds around my middle, but most of my clothes fit ok again. I feel really good. I'm happy. I'm pretty much leading my pre-wegs lifestyle.
Hope this is useful info for you. Good luck!
Pete
dx 1/11
"Every day is a good day. Some are better than others." - unknown
"Take your meds as directed and live your life as fully as you can." - Michael Chacey, MD
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