Pred side-effects wearing off - hooray!!!

tillytop

I am a happy Moomin!

Like the other members of the "steroid reduction club" I have been struggling to reduce my daily steroid dose and my aim is to be down to 10mg by the time of my rheumatology appt in a few weeks time.

I have the typical steroid induced "Moon face" (or "Moomin face" as I call it) along with many of the other delightful effects of long-term pred use and have lost what little confidence I had in my appearance. (To say nothing of losing interest anyway because of feeling so rubbish). :roll:

BUT, today, my Mum made my day by saying, completely out of the blue, that she has noticed that my moon face has significantly reduced just over the past few days. So the reduction over the past couple of weeks from 12.5 to 10.5 must be wot's dun it. I can't see it myself but if it IS happening I am so thrilled!

Tilly xxx

spacey

I am glad the effects are wearing off for you. I was on steroids for 7 years and had a moon face too. The plan was to get me off them for my wedding 4 years ago but unfortunatley just before I ended up back in hospital on 400 mg a day i.v for a week so in all my lovely wedding photos I have what i used to call my hamster cheeks! I was off them for for 2 years until my last pregnancy when I went back on them as a last resort to stop my severe morning sickness. So although I bearly kept anything down i had a healthy plump looking face which seamed to confuse everyone that I was blooming - which I really wasn't! I hope you are able to continue reducing your dose until you are off them x

dreamdaisy

Has anyone here seen tillytop? I can't spot here anywhere - wow! Blow me down wiv a fevva! Din't recognise yer, dahlin'!

This is good news, tilly, very good news. I have escaped the moon face but I do have the fat middle plus muscle wastage on limbs thing going on -I am a very odd shape now but hey-ho, I care not. I reduced to 11 on Tuesday (one day early, impatience reared its ugly head again) and haven't noticed the difference.

You are doing good, my girl, you are doing good. I am with you all the way on this - it's not easy but we will get there, yes? DD

julie47

Hi tilly
Just done this once but I must have bumped with dd and it went.
Just to say I bet you were really pleased with your mums comment.
I am pleased for you and hope that you reach your reduction target intime for your next appointment. (i have every confidence in you)
Take care
Juliepf x

stickywicket

Well done, Tillytop. I did the moon face thing years ago when even my long hair couldn’t hide it. What I hated most was that I never quite felt I was looking at myself in the mirror. It was always this stupid woman with the round face. Round face went years ago. Still stupid though.

tillytop

Thanks Spacey, DD, Juliepf and Sticky!

Wow Spacey, that was some dose of steroids! What a shame about your wedding photos though

Well done to you too DD! I too am an odd shape - but it the beard that bothers me most! :roll: And YES we WILL get there!!! As always your reply did make me chuckle.

Juliepf - thanks for your encouragement and sorry you had to do your message twice!

And Sticky, you are right that it doesn't feel as if you are looking at yourself does it? And you are NOT stupid (your comment made me giggle tho')

Thanks again.

Tilly xxx

dreamdaisy

Keep the beard trimmed, resist the temptation to use it for nibbles storage (or to strain supping liquids) any touches of grey can be filled in with a mascara wand and if it is really getting long then neatly plaiting it is an option. That's what I do with mine, anyway. DD

barbara12

Hi Tilly
I am so glad the side effects are wearing off , you must feel so much better, surprising how it can boost your self esteem , you carry on improving.
Love
Barbara x

suzygirl

Hi Tilly, thats great news on the pred reduction and reduced side effects. I have just got down to 7.5mg and my mom said she could see that I had lost weight and that my face was thinner. It is so nice to hear that, the moon face is a very unpleasant side effect. So I know how you feel!!

It is so hard to reduce pred, last time I reduced to 7.5mg I got food poisoning and had a flare which led to me having to go back up to 20mg.
Keep going you will get there!!!

As to the beard, enough said!! :eek:

tillytop

Thanks DD, Barbara and Suzygirl. It's great to know you understand.

DD, thanks for the "tips"!
(That's me rolling around with laughter!)

Love Tilly xxx

mp1952

Well done tillytop.

DD - thanks for making me laugh (again)

Marion x

dreamdaisy

I have just dealt with my moustache - I am a smooth-faced woman again (briefly). Eyebrows need sorting tho - the Dennis Healey look is soooo not fetching. Time to book myself in methinks. DD

Done: next Friday at 10.30am. I may well plait sequins into them in the meantime, just for a bit of sparkle.

spacey

I used to find plucking my moustache very painful so I would use facial bleach - hubby used to find this really funny when he caught me one day with it on but it did the job well.

dreamdaisy

Pluck? Nah, dry razor. DD