Steroid Pictures
For a combined total of nearly four years, I have been on three types of steroids: solu-medrol, prednisone, and prednisolone. All three are essentially the same drug, just in different forms. Solu-medrol is made to be injected intravenously (through an IV), the other two are oral. As with any medication, all three have some systemic side effects (side effects throughout the whole body). Steroids such as these have one unwanted effect that most people can't hide: weight gain. These medicines make the body retain salt and fluids, which means that while you don't actually gain fat, you look bloated, pudgy, and "round", if you will. One could avoid this by not eating salty foods and drinks, yet most people find that it is something you just have to live with. The weight normally goes away within 3-5 months after stopping the steroids. Below, you can see some pictures of me when I was on between 20-40mg of these drugs (although I have gone as high as 60mg). As much as it may seem, the pictures are not distorted!
This first picture is one taken 4-5 months before I started steroids. The last two (one was taken down...working on that!) were taken 1-2 months into two separate doses of steroids. Notice how my eyes get very swollen because of all the fluid buildup in my cheeks. In general, I double in size and gain close to 25 pounds in the span of one month.
I obviously don't like showing these as they aren't my best looking pictures.
Yet, I think it will help others (like maybe you reading this) who are going to
start steroids. Not everyone gets this type of bloating, nor does everyone get
it so much, but a lot of people do.
In no way to I intend to deter you from using steroids if your doctor recommends it. In some cases, they are the best option. However, I think it is good to know what side effects may happen and be prepared for them. Imagine going through chemotherapy and not knowing your hair was going to fall out. You'd be pretty shocked, right? That's my philosophy here.