IV Solumedrol is the PITZ - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

KTMorra · 09-05-2008, 11:14 PM

Hi Everyone,

Hope every body enjoyed their holiday week, I escaped to the Outer Banks in North Carolina with IV Steroids and all. Great mental health break that was badly needed. I didn't do much besides watch the waves, try and stay relatively cool and of course gaze at the amazing starlit sky at night, it was almost like a show just for me. Very Relaxing.
I had hoped never ever ever to have to take steroids again, well that point is mute.. I had been having severe chest pain that wrapped all the way around to my back like someone had stabbed me, combined with nerve pain going from my waist down to my toes. This went on for 4 days and 3 ER visits. They worked me up for the standard cardiac stuff, kept me over for observation and even did a nuclear stress test, all tests were A OK but the pain persisted. I tried to explain that I thought it was an MS Hug that just wouldn't go away. It would come on out of nowhere and bang I would almost pass out from the pain. Lamaze breathing did seem to help (glad I took that class 24 yrs ago didn't think I would need it again

Surprise!)
They contacted my Neuro and of course as soon as I couldn't stand to get on the scale he already had his mind made up that it was past time for steroids. I had forgotten all the wonderful side effects from that stuff. Swelling, leg cramps, nasty taste, fever, hot flashes, blurred vision, No balance, headache mood swings from out of this planet and I got a brand new one.. Thrush! Couldn't understand why my throat was so sore and my tongue felt like it was on fire. On the ride back from the beach today I looked in the mirror expecting to see a red throat instead it was nothing but white gooky looking stuff covering everything. This came out of the blue 3 days after I had taken my last dose of steroids. My Neuro called me in an RX to help get rid of this nasty stuff, hope it works soon cause I am hungry.

I do have a question, aside from my rambling, how long does it usually take for an MS exacerbation to subside after steroids? My chest back and legs are still messed up and my vision is still very blurred. They do seem to be a little bit better but nothing to write home about. I would hate the thought of having to repeat this wonderful stuff for another week.

Thanks for listening and my apologies for this being so long.
Take care
KT

Bearygood · 09-06-2008, 07:30 AM

Hi, KT. Glad you had a nice break but sorry you're not feeling well.

Others who have had steroid treatment can answer you better than I but from what I've seen, the improvement can sometimes be a residual effect a week or two after they've been administered.

Sorry about the thrush, too! I would think that could also be part of why you're feeling bad. Yeast can trigger an autoimmune response. Just thinking out lout but I wonder if it might be a good idea when on steroids to take a probiotic?

I'm going to have to look into this one!

MSNik · 09-06-2008, 08:12 AM

Hi KT, sorry you arent feeling well....that white stuff in your throat might be thursh, did he give u an antifungal? You should be on it, steriods can cause that...
As for how long do they take to work? They can stay residual in your system about 3 weeks and still kick in, or they might not work at all. The mor you use them, the less they work on many people. ...its a crapshoot, they might help some of your symptoms, but not all of them. They dont help mine at all anymore.

Feel better, lots of rest lots of water to stay hydrated and less worrying about it is the only advice from this end...hugs
nikkki

DavidLeeK · 09-06-2008, 08:12 AM

its not always immediate with steroid treatment, its in your system for quite awhile and can take weeks to get the issues to subside

i did a oral prednisone high dose about 3 weeks ago, i still have issues, all depends on the person, what type of ms, what the symptoms are, etc

most of my symptoms are going away, except for my hand/finger numbness, but its getting better, my back is still a pain also