Swollen belly symptoms and conditions

I took Prednisone for about 6 weeks for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome brought on by an allergic reaction to Ciprofloxacin. My main complaint on taking it was extreme hunger--not for sweets or junk, but for real food. I was also very moody and I think I must have been really mean to my husband. At the time, I thought I was being reasonable, but looking back, I can see I wasn't. It kept me awake, as well. Without the Prednisone, I might have died, because the extreme, constant itching with the Stevens-Johnson would have driven me completely nuts. My main complaint is that almost two months after quitting taking the Prednisone, I continue to have a moon face, facial swelling, and holding water elsewhere to the extent that I can hardly tie my shoes or even breathe. I would have expected that to get better by now instead of worse.

I had my thyroid out due to cancer on 1/22/08. then because of having to take a high amt of levoxyl (synthetic thyroid hormone) I was put on metoprolol for the palpitations. I recently had more surgery to take out cancerous lymph nodes in neck and my dose of metoprolol was increased from 25 to 50 mgs. I was only on 50 mgs for about 4 weeks when I developed depression, insomnia, swollen belly, acid reflux, swollen legs and anxiety. My mind started to go off on me and I had convinced myself that the cancer was in my brain and that's why I felt like I was dying. I was told by my doc that this med does not usually cause depression. I went over the facts and realized I felt pretty good until I started taking this drug. Even on the 25 mgs my legs which are really skinny, started to look like lumpy cottage cheese but I figured it was due to the thyroid removal. I didn't take it at all today because I just want to be rid of it. I know I need to wean off but how long do I have to?

I took prednisone for 6 days ( the pack). Six the first day and five the next till day six I had one pill left. I have never experienced hair loss like this. I have a patch of hair that fell out in a circle the size of a 50 cent piece. I didn't notice it really falling out but noticed a bald spot and I freak out. I came on line to get info about this medication. This drug was ordered for me because I have severe pain in my back due to osteoarthritis, sciatica and back surgery. I was told taking this would help with the inflammation and might relieve some of the pain symptoms. Well, I think the pain would be better then the side effects that I suffer. I had loss of appetite and acne on my face. I feel dizzy and bloated. I pee all the time and seems like i visit the bathroom much more often for other reasons too. I have felt like a crazy lady and have less patience than normal. I hope that this does not last for ever. This is a small amount of the medication. I am sorry for those of you that have experienced a long period of time on this medication. I pray for you that they will find another alternative with less effects to your bodys.

i am a 42-year old woman diagnosed with chronic angioedema and it has become life threatening. the doctors say that it's idiopathic--can't tell what's causing it--and don't seem to know how to treat it (or me for that matter--my primary care doctor no longer wants to treat me, wasn't even kind enough to refer me out, the allergist most condescendingly said that in 20 years he's never seen or heard of someone so affected, and my dentist won't touch me because of my allergy to lidocaine.) i've been living with a daily minimum of 75 mg. of benadryl for the last four years but sometimes i've got to up that dosage to round-the-clock so some days as high as 450 mg. i'm allergic to meat protein, sea food, dairy, sodium and most spices, and certain fruits and vegetables. about 3 weeks ago i had a vegan meal at an indian restaurant and the spices accelerated my condition so on the drive back from the eatery my throat began to close and swallowing and breathing became difficult. i have had about 8 such episodes since then and twice have had to call 911 for emergency treatment to get things under control. on my first visit to the er about 2 weeks ago, in addition to the shot of epinephrine, i was given an iv in which they put a shot of benadryl and a shot of some sort of steroid. the doctor gave me a script for prednisone which was on a sliding scale (low dosage, one week.) i ended back up in the er about 4 days later and was given the benadryl and same steroid (think it started with an "s") again, and pepcid (doctor said it was for g-i and would help to limit the histamine being released into my system. since then, i have gotten the swollen belly side effect which i believe is from the prednisone (the angioedema causes blood vessels to swell beneath the skin but i don't think any swelling of this magnitude can be attributed to that). i have yet to find out if this swelling can be reversed with treatment or will go away of it's own accord. i've tried reading up on the reversal of the side effects but just hear more about how horrific they are--you all are truly in my prayers, keep your heads up!!!--so if anyone has experienced the dissipation of the side effects, please let me know and how soon after discontinuing the drug i can expect this disfigurement to go away. i too am dealing with depression for which i am prescribed but i dare not take the meds--far more too many side effect which with to deal and like some others here, i have no support system. i am the mother of the most wonderful 10-year old girl -- she is my heart and my world--but i dare not have her live with me because of this life threatening/altering/controlling condition.

sharing and hoping for good feedback.

blessings.

-vanessa w.

taking 50 mg prednisone since yesterday - 2 doses only so far. very flushed face and neck, hot from the inside. They are treating angioedema, possibly underlying lupus.

Not sure what happened: I had made a post several days ago. I thot it showed up..oh well.

They've reduced my dosage from 25mg/day to 10mg/day, it's been about 2 weeks. Some of the moon face has disappeared not a lot but some. The muscle cramps still creep up once in a while in the legs and sometimes the hands and even one in the neck but they pass more quickly now.

Eating is less of a problem. First of all, I was able to eat mounds of food. As mentioned by someone earlier, eating or not eating doesnt seem directly related to my weight but I did gain 4-5 pounds in 3 weeks and some days my weight would rocket 10 lbs right before bed. (Any weights taken outside the normal consistent time really don't count.. but they're interesting. Weight should be taken the same time under the same conditions every time to make any sense.) It wasn't just the eating it was the rationalization. "Oh I can eat just onemore helping.. about 5 lbs .. of potato salad". And it actually made sense. Probably related to the psychotic episodes others have mentioned. Now, at 10 mg, it IS easier to control. My weight has drifted back a bit to just 2 lbs over what I was when I started the pred.

Other side effects are still around: puffiness in the face (though it is diminished), buffalo hump, swollen belly, some acne (improves with phisohex), general movement of fat stores to all sorts of weird places. It is difficult to tell on a daily basis if that's changing only incomparison week over week (or more).

More later 'As the Prednisone turns'