question about flare ups! - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

oceangirl19 · 08-22-2007, 06:23 PM

So, I had a 'exacerbation'...which was the first one I have ever had.
I had 5 days of steroids last week and feel MUCH better. In fact, other
than week I felt up to 80% better. Then Monday I went back to work
and went about moving to a new apartment. Now I feel crappy again...

Essentially, I'm wondering about the progression of exacerbations. Did
I do too much and not rest enough? Was that a really dumb move on my
part?

Thanks,
Rachel

MSNik · 08-22-2007, 06:38 PM

Hi Rachel, Thats a really good question. I dont really think anyone can or will be able to tell you what brings on or back a relapse or excaberation. They are the same thing....If you were successful with steroids, thats a great thing, because not everyone has success with them. I myself, usually get about 50% success; and sometimes that IS good enough!

There really is NO progression to these excaberations. You might have brought back some symtpoms due to the stress of moving, and of course going back to work; however if you had stayed home in bed those same days, theres no saying that they wouldnt have come back anyway. In my experience with steroids, they generally HELP while they are being given, and then I feel AWFUL for a few days while my body gets used to coming off of them, and THEN I start to feel alittle bit better again. You might be going thru the withdraw period and experiencing coming off the steroids...which means that once your body gets used to THIS feeling, it will start to level out and youll start to feel better yet again!

Relapses can hit at the strangest times. Stress of course is documented to bring them on, as are changes in the weather, especially when it gets hotter. Humidity can make you feel extreme fatigue, as can being dehydrated. (SO always keep water handy). It sounds like you are going thru what many of us are dealing with this time of year, which is the overall yucky feeling!

SO, hang in there and keep us posted as to how you feel in another day or two. Steroids are pretty strong stuff; they can really knock the socks off of you for a few days...glad to hear that they helped you though- that is really positive.
Nikki

moore170 · 08-25-2007, 04:21 PM

You are lucky that you are a steroid responder. As Nikki said, no one can say for sure why an exacerbation happens but stress and fatigue certainly don't help
Candy

shumogy · 08-26-2007, 10:12 AM

Hi Rachel, I've heard it said that from one day to the next we can't be sure how we're going to feel. In my experience, that's the case. I was so sick when I had my first round of steroids, I felt no difference except that my double vision cleared up right away but I was still so tired. The second time around I received a huge boost in energy and my double vision went away. I'm always edgy and witchy when on them and have some anxiety coming off them. I don't think you did any thing "really dumb." We all have to learn how to live with this disease. I've been doing it for 10 years now. I plan on having fatigue. On the occasion I don't, it's a plus.

shumogy

Quote:

Originally Posted by oceangirl19

So, I had a 'exacerbation'...which was the first one I have ever had.
I had 5 days of steroids last week and feel MUCH better. In fact, other
than week I felt up to 80% better. Then Monday I went back to work
and went about moving to a new apartment. Now I feel crappy again...

Essentially, I'm wondering about the progression of exacerbations. Did
I do too much and not rest enough? Was that a really dumb move on my
part?

Thanks,
Rachel