PredniSONE and bloated

Hello everyone. Thank you for sharing your stories. I no longer feel so confused as to what I am experiencing while on Prednisone. I was prescribed this medication for my back (I have a ruptured disc). I am 24 years old. I took a short five day treatment of prednisone about three weeks ago. I was very foggy and forgetful. I was tired and bloated. The worst side effect I have noticed is ACNE! Oh my gosh, I haven't ever experienced a breakout like this before. This breakout is a continuous side effect long after I stopped taking the drug. I went to the doctor again yesterday for a check up on the status of my back injury. He has prescribed a THIRTY day treatment and even more aggressive approach with prednisone!!!! I am so scared to start this treatment because of what I have already experienced. HELP! Does anyone know if the acne will clear up? Will it scar? Does anyone have any tips on this?
Thanks.

Hello -- I was diagnosed with Minimal Change Disease and have been on Prednisone for about 2 months at 80mg. The first couple of weeks I was full of energy and since I was bloated up to 212lbs because of my kidney disorder...I quickly came down to about 170lbs in about 3-4 weeks. But the fourth week the side effects really became noticeable. I went through extreme moods swings and the weight slowly started returning. So I decided to hit the gym to battle the nervousness, anxiousness, swelling and fatigue. To start it truly works to drink a lot of water. I still battle with the mood swings, but this is a great start and I work out about 4-5 times a week and make frequent visits to the steam room. You have to also me careful to not get exposed to germs, so bring handy wipes with you since the Prednisone weakens your immune system. Next week the doctor will take me down to about 40mg. I guess the mood swings are really still the hardest to deal with and for the people who love me the most.

I'm a 34 year old petite 110 lb female and have been on Prednisone for 7 weeks now for a kidney disease (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis). The treatment is supposed to be 3-4 months to see if I go into remission. If not, then I'm "steroid resistant" and they will have to move to a more aggressive treatment (a type of chemo). So I'm praying that this prednisone works!!

The first 2 weeks were a peice of case, then I developed many side effects, but the following being the most troublesome:

- 2 weeks - Edema. I got really bad fluid retention in my lower body and was put on a diuretic. A few days later my heart started pounding so hard I thought it would pop right out of my chest. Well turns out I was totally dehydrated from the diuretic so I'm off that now but the edema seems to be under control anyway (following a low-sodium/low carb diet). At the same time as the edema my skin dried right up too, and I need to put moisturizer on all the time. Even when I bend over I feel the skin on my back stretching.
- 2 weeks - Bloating. Really bad bloating. I'm bloated constantly now. Eating a low sodium diet helps, but not much. At night I weigh 5 lbs more than I do in the morning. I have terrible gas (burping mostly) all of the time. Sometimes it looks like I'm 6 months pregnant! And I'm sure people think I am because as I mentioned I'm normally thin and now I have to wear looser clothing to hide my belly, which doesn't really work and just looks obvious.
- 3 weeks - Sore knees. It feels like there's something growing in between my kneecaps that make it very difficult to climb stairs and it feels spongy when I walk. I can not put any pressure on my knees, I can't squat down, bend to pick something up, kneel, anything. And it gets worse at night.
- 4 week - Moonface. And my face has been blowing up like a balloon ever since. As I sit here and type I can actually feel it throbbing and growing still. I've got fat on my neck under my chin now that actually feels like it's choking me if I sit hunched over. I'm finding the moonface very difficult to cope with. I do not like to look in the mirror any more. I feel like a candy apple.
- 4 weeks - Cramps. Terrible terrible hand and feet cramps. Sometimes if I'm using my hands to chop vegetables or write or even use a fork, my hand cramps up like a lobster claw. I try to use the other hand then the same thing. And then almost every day, my feet. First one, then the other. Excruitiating cramps that seem to go in 15 minute intervals that make it impossible to walk, stand, sit, anything.
- 4 weeks - Very moody and aggitated. I am usually very easy going, now i have patience for nothing. I will be in a good mood one minute, the next I feel like I can kill someone. My boyfirend and our dogs are being very patient with me... I just hope they know it's the drugs not me! I just don't seem to have any control over my emotions.
- 5 weeks - Extreme fatigue. I used to have lots of energy, especially at the beginning of my Prednisone journey. But now I'm just wasted all of the time. I walk to and from work and the last couple weeks I want to just lay down on the side of the road and have a nap as I walk home. I used to do pilates (as much as possible with the sore knees) but it's too hard now. And forget about any elliptical training or cycling. It's enough just to get to and from work and I'm just exhausted.

There are more issues and I could go on forever, but those are the most troublesome. I just try so hard to stay positive but it's very hard sometimes. I pray that this is working, and that it is not all for not. I can't wait to be off these drugs, and my heart goes out to each and every one of you enduring the same thing and pray that it works for your too.

Good luck everyone.

:)J

Hi! I am a 36 year old female and have been on this HORRIBLE HORRIBLE drug (prednisone) for 2 1/2 years now..... Hopkins doctors still arent sure exactly what i have. My immune system is attacking my liver so to speak. My body is basically looking at my liver like it doesnt belong and is attacking it with large multiple lesions that is eating it away... the good thing is that it hasnt interupted the functioning of it yet but is leaving horrible scar tissue. I have been in and out of the hospital 13 times, have had just about every test imangable, 12 liver biopsies and they STILL have NO clue! They are leaning towards Church Straus desease and Wegners but the weird thing is i have half symptoms of both. The first year they had me on 80 mgs of prednisone a day which had seemed to put me in remission for about 4 months and then they came back even worse so i was put back on the prednisone, 80 mgs a day AGAIN along with 100 cc's of Methotrexate, another not so nice drug... i had EVERY SINGLE BAD SIDE EFFECT OF BOTH DRUGS!! This second time around was ALOT WORSE for some reason!!! My body DID NOT LIKE IT!! Nausea, hair loss, moon face, gained 40 pounds (and i was in great shape, worked out, i am 5'4 and was 110 pds!), EVERYTHING was swollen, legs, ankles, arms, neck, face, had the camel hump, fingers and especially my belly!!! UGH!!! Have bone, muscle, and SEVERE joint pain! Kaliedescope vision, dry eyes and then had mucus discharge (kindof like pinkeye), headaches, intestinal problems.... VERY CONSTIPATED and then the opposite!!! I literally felt as if i had turned into a man in my behind!!! Sorry to be so gross but thats how bad it was!!! Jaw problems, teeth and gums as well, skin sensitivity and have little bumps all over my skin (kindof like tiny little moles), itchy, broke out with acne and pretty much NEVER had more than 1 pimple a month, had facial hair (VERY DISGUSTING!!!! HAD IT WAXED EVERY WEEK!!!!) and then on top of all of that the swelling of my liver not to mention the PAIN! I was recently in the hospital again with 12 new lesions, pneumonia, and 104 fever. My doctors said the Methotrexate was the cause and i was having a bad reaction to it so they now have me on 100mgs per day of Azathiroprine. I am now finally down to a maintenance dose of 5 mgs of prednisone cause my body was starting to reject that as well. I thank god that i am now down to that dose!!!! It as only been 2 wks and the withdrawl symptoms are horrible worse then they were but i know what is to come =) loosing all this fluid and all of the HORRIBLE side effects i listed above. I will have to be on the maintenance dose of 5mgs the rest of my life and can live with that cause when my body gets back to somewhat normal i wont even notice that im on this CRAP!! I will be on the high dose of Azathiroprine for a few years and then on a maintenance dose of that as well for the rest of my life to keep whatever this is that i have under control.... the scary thing is is that they arent even sure that all of these meds will even work...... im a guinea pig..... The only thing that i am on out of all 25 pills/meds that i take everyday that works is my pain meds. Oh and i also forgot to mention that i had to be put on some "HEAD CASE" medication (thats what i call it =) ) for depression. Its a low dose but it does seem to help... I am terrified of what the future holds but continue to be strong and have an amazing support team... my fiance and family =) I dont even want to think about how i would be without them. I go back on the 25th of this month for my MRI so please who ever reads this keep me in your prayers as for all of you are in mine. I feel for each and everyone of you that has to endure this horrible drug everyday and i hope that everything works out you. =)

Sue =)

I am currently on Prednisone for Minimal Change Kidney Disease. I started at 60mg a day and my symptoms from the Kidney issues (swelling in my ankles and legs) went away within about two weeks. I had a lot of energy at first on Prednisone and trouble sleeping. I actually enjoyed the added energy. I also got headaches those first couple weeks and jaw pain. I wasn't really upset about the drugs until my face started getting puffy at about 4 weeks. I was reduced to 40mg at that time. I definitely noticed an increase in appetite and have just recently started counting calories to avoid potential weight gain. My weight so far has only fluxated about 5lbs. I am currently on 30mgs of Prednisone and can not wait to be off. I do have some slight acne on my upper back and notice a little extra weight there (maybe that camel hump thing someone mentioned). I am nervous these things will only get worse so I'm hoping my doctor will reduce the meds more rapidly after my next appointment. Overall it seems the Prednisone has done its job, but I'd still like to be off. I have been on a total of about 2 months now.

While coming off I have noticed heartburn (severe at times), mild depression, loss of energy, and I've been very bloated throughout the process.

I would only take Prednisone if absolutely necessary and get off it as fast as possible. Good luck to you all.

Hello- I was Dx with Sarcoidosis in February, 2007. My lung specialist put me on 20mg Prednisone, increasing to 40mg within two weeks. My Sarcoid symptoms were from enlarged lymph- extreme trouble breathing, middle and lower back pain, kidney pain. Within a week of being at the 40mg level my heart rate and BP became so erratic that he had to start weaning me down. Initially I had extreme energy which felt good after suffering from fatigue but was short lived due to the cardiac problems.

The Prednisone has resolved much of my inflammation for the Sarcoid but I will not go on this again. I have been weaning now for over three weeks. Down under 5mg of Prednisone and it is almost unbearable. Each time I took a drop my mental symptoms became intolerable. Anxiety, extreme fatigue with extreme weakness, irrational thoughts, blurred vision. Within the last couple of days I could hardly get myself out of bed. My weight has increased steadily, bloating stomach, stiff joints, skin rash.

My biggest complaint is that doctors are not giving us enough information as to how this will affect from a negative side. Yes, it takes care of the inflammation but no one prepared me for these awful side effects and withdrawal symptoms. I feel like a nut case most of the time with no coping skills.

After numerous decadron shots, I finally went on a prednisone dose pak last week. All this started after falling and pulling a muscle in my side.

My 1st side effect was this wonderful feeling/energy after day #2. If I would have been up to it, I would have cleaned my entire house and still hunted for something to clean. I told someone I felt 20 years old and may feel 15 after finishing the pak. No such luck.

2 nights ago, I couldn't stop feeding my face. This went on for about 3 hours. I ate everything edible that I could find, even going as far as pouring italian dressing all over a chicken breast and gulping it down, yucky.

Today, I'm miserable. My stomach feels 10x's bigger than usual, and I feel so bloated/full even though I've not eaten much today. I actually took a laxative thinking this might help the fullness feeling.......no such luck.

I've never taken this. The extent of my medications is Crestor 10 mg 2x week. I'm an LPN in a busy doctors office, so I know what's going on with my body.

I'm hoping this fullness feeling will go away without any complications. I'm off work tomorrow, so it will be tuesday before I can report my side effects.

Hello all,
I have been on the Medrol dosing pack that is a six day taper. I am on day three and I am a maniac. I have insomnia, total body aches, headache and feel bloated. Does anyone know something I can take to help me sleep that is over the counter? I tried Tylenol PM and Benedryl as that is what the pharmicist suggested. I have tried melatonin in the past without seeing any benefit of the herbal drug. Please help:(

I took 60mg prednisone for 4 days to relieve poison ivy. I could not continue because of the painful digestive problems, blurred vision and yes I looked like the pillsbury doughboy to top it all off. The doctor had me discontinue immediately (since I was on it for a short time), however I am still having some of the digestive problems 10 days later. My stomach is bloated and I am constipated for days. When I have a release it is accompanied with vomiting. My vision is getting better. I think my dosage was too high, when will this all go away! Oh yes, the poison ivy is gone also.

I began taking prednisone 7/13/06, and the side effects are terrible. I have thush so bad that my tongue bleeds when I brush my teeth, I'm constantly hungry and I usually only eat twice a day, I feel bloated, my eyes ache and I have heartburn so bad that it feels like someone is literally pouring acid down my throat. I was given predinose to relieve chronic laryngitis. The side effects are much worse than the loss of my voice. I wish I would have been worned by my Dr. prior to taking the medication. My concern now is what type of long or short effects will taking this medicine have on my body and how long before I notice an improvement. I'm also a diabetic and my blood sugars have been out of control.

Hi,

I was placed on 40mg first 2 days then down to 30mg for the next 2 days and continued lowering dosage until pills ran out in 8 days total. I have a stubburn sinus infection that's been on going for 3 months now. After starting the prednisone, my face was very red and my neck became stiff and bloated. Headaches followed with terrible indigestion and sleepless nights. Sinus is not much better for all this trouble. I have been off for 3 days now and still feel really lousy with continued headaches and swollen neck. Hope this clears up soon.

Hi Angela,

Honestly, I do NOT think you should take diuretics while taking Prednisone. If it was okay, my Dr. would have mentioned it but she didn't until I came off of Prednisone. Diuretics may make you dehydrated so you may have to drink even more water to hydrate and Prednisone will make you even more bloated thinking you are depriving your body from liquids so your cells will hold more water! Now that your going to the city to get your MRI is a good opportunity to ask your Doctor or any Doctor around.

hello, i was on prednisone for 3 weeks to treat shingles. my face is so bloated like chipmunk cheeks! is this normal and will it go away??? how long will it take? i feel like i don't even look like myself anymore. also i sweat a lot at night and have a hard time sleeping soundly. when my dose started tapering off, i was so freakin' irritable and suffered from low self-esteem. i felt like a monster inside and out. kind of still do but i am realizing that it is drug-induced and not necessarily me. thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences.

In regards to your son....I remember I also used to get this unbearable stomach pain, it was so bad that I couldn't even walk straight, my back was usually curved to the front, sometimes it felt like a sharp pain right next to my belly. It usually seemed to happen after eating salads, soup or too much liquid....my belly was bloated but I wasn't eating much...it was terrible. Anyway, so I went to the Dr. and prescribed me this medication called "Dicyclomine." Ask your Dr. about it...it took away the awful sharp pain like magic. I also heard from a friend that Apple Cider Vinegar does wonders and I must say it worked for me...didn't need to take Dicyclomine anymore. It might be helpful and may relief you son's tummy pain.....you can get it at any natural food stores...it worked like a miracle on me so I figure might as well pass the word around ;) Good luck w/your son's recovery :) & if you try the Apple Cider Vinegar pls. let me know how it worked for you.....thanx

It's scary in here...lol..Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis,Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sjogrens. Yes, it makes you feel better, especially at the beginning when the side effects aren't there. But MAN, does any body else feel like SCREAMING? LOL. I look like an entirely different person. Been on it for one year. Not even a large dose. My weight has just kept on coming. I think there is an alian in my stomach. And I think someone has inflated my upper body with something. Swollen, bloated,uncomfortable, fatigue, weakness, etc,. Do you eat like it's your last meal on earth sometimes????? Like some primative instinct separate from common sense. Some days I feel like it's the end of the world. But we'll make it. All of us.

On an 8-week taper down from 80mg for ulcerative colitis. Lost 30 pounds from UC and was bedridden, miserable, and fully dehydrated for about 3 weeks before hospitalization. I was very worried about taking Prednisone due to past reactions (primarily insomnia and associated extreme emotional distress). My UC responded immediately to the Prednisone, and I went from 20+ daily bowel movements to 2-3 in a matter of 3 days. I'm now 2 weeks in to the taper, taking 30mg and feeling completely refreshed.

Definitely having some negative reactions. I've been taking Ambien nightly for 2 weeks, permitting 6-8 hours of restless sleep, waking every 15-30 minutes. The first time I took predinose, I did not take any sleep aids. I did not sleep for over 3 days and extremely sporadically for the following 2 weeks, with frequent auditory hallucinations.(So 6-8 hours of restless sleep is fine by me). My face is very bloated, acne breaking out worse than ever, insatiable hunger(gaining my weight back too quickly), muscle weakness-spasms-cramping, abnormally pulse/blood pressure, and fatigue/unnatural energy. Had severe dizziness and headrushes for the first 3-4 days before tapering to 40 mg.

All in all, I'm very thankful for the results. I feel considerable relief. My apartment is spotless, I have heightened concentration and motivation. Hopefully the negative effects will dissipate by the end of my dosage, and I won't be too far overweight.

I started the drug this past Tuesday afternoon. It's now Saturday afternoon.

I just today noticed red marks on my arms and stomach that almost look like early stretch marks. I know this is from the water weight gain as certain pants of mine already don't fit and my stomach, arms and face feel very bloated.

I have had a headache, severe, the past 24 hours.

The biggest and hardest thing I am experiencing right now is SEVERE mood swings, bordering hostile and maybe even life-threatening.
I am worried that noone here has talked about people with bi-polar (manic depression) taking the drug....

I am bi-polar and was never asked by my doctor about it.

I strongly feel it's a big reason I am feeling very, very sick (mentally). I have had my bi-polar under control for almost 10 years and right now, I feel as suicidal as I felt when I was at my sickest.

I feel crazy and dizzy and out of control. I am crying constantly and biting off any head that gets near me.

This is the scariest thing I have ever experienced and I have only been on it 4 days!!!!

I will NEVER take this drug again.

I am a singer which is the reason I was put on it. I have been having vocal problems.

If you are a singer reading this, I highly suggest you weigh the benefits of taking it...and if it's worth it for a quick voice fix.

I'm scared and I want off.

Hi,
I'm taking prednisone along with hydroxychloro for mild lupus and it helped ease my pains. I'm on other meds but since taking prednisone I noticed some side effects that I didn't have before.

After reading the comments on this site, I have a sense of relief to know that I haven't lost my mind. Prednisone does have side effects. Although I am on a low dosage, I have gained weight (I had lost 20 pounds prior to prednisone and have gained back 10 pounds); have an increased appetite especially for sweets and treats; have difficulty sleeping through the night--I sleep about 3 hours, get up, then try to get back to sleep to no avail. My abdomen is bloated, my face is slowly becoming rounder.

Prednisone has helped me to feel better but I'm looking forward to getting off of this medication.

I got a bad case of poison ivy & was put on prednisone--50 mg for 2 days, 40 mg. for 2 days (no improvement) so went back to the doctor and he put me on 80 mg for a day then 50 mg for 3 days then 40 mg., and I was so crazy I went to 20 mg then quit it altogether. The poison ivy never went away. I was very depressed, no energy, bloated, hungy, lethargic (which no one seems to have mentioned), no initiative, and everything I do is a total effort on my part. I could just sit and stare at nothing, and this is NOT me! I have severe itching, burning, bruises, weight gain, and I just don't feel like myself at all. I was never so glad to get off any drug in my life, and I hope I don't ever have to take it again as I did not sleep, felt "out of it", couldn't think straight, and felt so discouraged and helpless--the helpless is gone after I'm off, but I just don't have any energy and am so mad about that and the weight gain! I could eat everything that is not tied down. Also, night sweats terribly and lots of hot flashes where I break out in sweat and am about to ruin my clothing. Having to do laundry constantly of sheets, clothing, towels, etc. I would recommend no one take this drug unless it is a last resort.

I'm a 25 year old guy who was diagnosed with IBD- Ulcerative Colitis right before Christmas. Started out on 40mg prednisone and now im down to 20mg (get to drop to 17.5 tomorrow!). At first the side effects were anxiousness, sleeplessness, and an insane hunger. Now those have died down for the most part, but I have gained 20 pounds (which isn't a huge deal as I lost about that in the hospital), my face is much fuller, my stomach is always bloated, increased acne, and increased facial hair growth. I will be on prednisone at some dosage through april...so im really hopeful the weight gain/bloating will decrease as i lower the dosage. I would be interested in talking to others who have lived through this or are currently in a similar situation...******

taking prednisone for ulcerative colitis. . .can't seem to get below 60 mg. a day but my doctor is going to try tapering me off again while the Imuran he put me on hopefully takes effect. can't stand this freaking drug! my face is bloated and huge (moon face) and it makes me look at least 30 pounds heavier than the 15 pounds i have already put on in the last couple months! i'm hungry all the damn time . . .and so i gain more weight and i'm major mood swing girl so i'm super sensitive about my appearence. i know the prednisone is the only thing keeping my disease at bay (and me out of the hospital) but the side effects are horrid!

Well, I took it twice for my severe eczema. The second time the dose was 60mg for two days 50 for two days and all the way down to 5 then none. eczema went away, but as soon as I stopped taking it...I started itching again and my rash came back. The only thing I really noticed was my appitite increased, and I was a little bloated. But nothing major, and I'd rather gain a few pounds then be a swollen tomato! I'm going back to the doctor tomorrow to see my options to be on it more long term. I'll come back and update.