8 Steps To Accepting Your Body While On Prednisone

As a healthy woman, one would think that being diagnosed with PMR would have been the lowest point in my life.  I would have thought so also, if anyone had asked me the few days after I found out what was going wrong with my immune system.

In reality the worst came when I was put on the ‘miracle drug’ prednisone. As an actress and speaker who spends most of her working life in front of either the camera or a live audience, the side effect weight gain and puffy face blew out my self-esteem and ego.  As shallow as it may seem, I always found myself making excuses for the ‘prednisone puff’ that had taken over my body.  I hated looking in the mirror.

Well, that was three years ago and after gaining 20 pounds I am now down 17 of those as I have reduced the prednisone.  But I still have had to learn to accept my “prednisone body” that has still has a bit of a puffy stomach that has always been flat, a small double chin that came with the “poison” and varicose veins that came out of nowhere and heaven help me, the small wrinkles appearing in my once smooth skin in my face as the puff gets smaller.

Those of you who are dealing with the “prednisone puff” here are 8 Healing Tricks for you and your ego. These are some tips that my vain aging ego gave birth to helping me survive the fat, fat, fat issue.

1. •   Hard as it may be, stand in your underwear, or if you are really brave, stand naked) in front of a full-length mirror.  Accept what you see and know it won’t be forever and that right now you have little control over what eventually is going to make you better.
   

1. •   Don’t make the same mistake that I first did. Don’t draw attention to your body change with your PMR and prednisone story.   If asked, be honest, but don’t volunteer.
   

1. •   Accept those extra pounds and go up another size in figure-flattering outfits instead of trying to squeeze in ‘denial old size’ outfits.
   

1. •   Choose flattering wide-leg pants, long jackets and lots and lots of long skirt outfits that hide the ‘veins”.   If you browse your local shops or the internet you can find great outfits in all price ranges.
   

1. •   I’m more of the ‘natural makeup’ kind of person, so less is the best for me.  But my daughter showed me how to  shade around my jaw line with a medium powder foundation that helps camouflage the puff under my chin.  Of course, it’s still there, but not quite as noticeable.
   

1. •   Now that we have worked with our cosmetic ‘’puff”, take time each day to sit in a quiet place for a few minutes and spend time with your eyes closed envisioning healing, wellness and see the “puff” melting away, from your face, from your stomach, and washing healthily away from your body.
   

1. •   When your muscles will allow, walk away your “puff” depression.  Not only will you be burning small calories, raising your endorphin level, you will be counteracting the side effect of bone loss with prednisone.  Sometimes I cannot do this because of the pain, but there are times when I force myself to over-ride the pain and I feel better, even for just a short time.
   

1. •  Even when you don’t feel it, having a positive attitude goes along way in helping with the puff and the pain of PMR. 
   

Good Luck!