[taben07]

Hey all...yep, know we all have the side effect of this "necessary evil" drug. Just wondered if and when will my body go back to the way it was after I start to taper more? I never had a belly, my legs are starting to look like sausages (bad enough, I am only 5'1") and my skin feels spongy-like, just kinda different feeling to the touch. Get very BLOATED and it is like that just waking up, some days more than others and try to watch my sodium intake, drink a ton of water and now starting to exercise again. GAH! This really does bite! I luckily do not get the MOON FACE like some of you do and I can only imagine how you feel.

Any tips/suggestions/advice?

Will I look the same again or is my body that way it is going to be now? Wonder if I will lose any weight at all since it could be fluid retention too. Do you just lose a couple pounds where you see it on the scale or just notice how your clothes fit after you start to taper? Just trying to understand how this works. I am on 20 mg. for another week, go see my GI next Wed. and hopefully, he tapers me down to 10mg where I think some folks have said that your budda belly, bloat, etc., re-distribution of fat around your abdomen area, will start getting better and going down. Yes, I to have gained about 10 pounds since I started this mess (40mg) but yet, was sickly thin for my height, etc. at 111. Normal is about 120 (carry all my weight in my lower half-Italian gal) LOL I struggle with my weight all the time since I am so short. I feel I look like a oompa-loompa the way I am built! HA HA Even 5 pounds looks like 20 on my frame so that's why I am so concerned/BUMMED about this weight gain, bloat, body shape changing mess and not eating the calories to justify this gain. Yes, some days I get a little more hungry so I just eat healthy snacks. GAH! My clothes are so uncomfortable around the mid-section and am so miserable. I am not used to having this GUT so stretchy leggins are my best friend right now. LOL BUT on the flip side, trying to be positive, am doing much better...about 4-5 BM's a day now and a lot more formed so I know I have to have this medicine in my life. Also, am on Imuran now as well.

Hope you have a blessed Monday!