Been a rough couple weeks...lots of questions

[Zacksmomi]

Hi all of you loving people! I need to ask a few questions about what has been going on these past 2 weeks.
I went to a new neuro last tuesday.  My old neuro was non participant in my disease and symptoms and I did not like him.
This new guy sat down and looked at my MRIs with me. He discussed my symptoms with me and he decided that my Rebif (Started March 5th with full 44mg going for 6 weeks not) has not taken effect yet and he prescribed Sol u Medrol. He ordered a new brain MRI, a new C spine MRI and a first T spine MRI. I did these and a VEP the wed and Fri after my Tues appt and started the Solu Medrol on Monday with my 5th day being today.  
I went back into the Neuro this Wed for a follow up.  He said that my VEP was normal so I am guessing the blurred vision is from my meds (Baclofen, Lyrica, xanax)
He said that the report does not show and new lesions on the MRI and he can not see and active lesions in the brain.  There may be a new lesion in the C spine but the report was not there. and No lesions in the T spine.

So my question number one is... If I am not having new active lesions, then what was the point of the Solu Medrol? I feel horrible and almost think my body just rejects steroids.  I have had a problem with cortisone injections in the past.

On the brain MRI the Dr said I had some signs of possible brain atrophy.  I was reading in the health pages that brain atrophy usually occurs after you have had the disease for a long time or in progressive MS.  I had my first signs of MS Dec 7th 2008, so should I be worried about the atrophy?

And my last problem (that I will whine about today) is that for the last 10 days my right ear has been plugged solid deep in the middle.  I have expressed this to the neuro with the idea that it is just allergies.  I have tried Nasonex and sudafed. I try gum, yawning, peroxide, nose plug blow and nothing works. I am having so much trouble hearing.  I read in the HPs that loss of hearing in one ear could be MS related.  Does anyone have any suggestion?

Thanks for listening
D

[PastorDan]

I was told by someone who should know, but who swore me to secrecy, that the best cleaner for inside the ear is a 50-50 mix of distilled white vinegar and rubbing alcohol.  Haven't tried it; I think I've been fortunate for a number of years that my ear wax has not accumulated enough to cause any problems.  Part of that might be because I do stuff to keep them clean that they all tell us we're not supposed to do! ;D

[Quixotic1]

I am so glad you were proactive and changed neuros.  This new one sounds like a keeper.  As far as the Solumedrol goes, it is not used to treat the MRI changes, but rather the intensity of the symptoms.  No doctor should be determining whether one is having a relapse by the appearance of the MRI, but rather the resurgence of symptoms.  Sorry you do so poorly with them.

About the possibility of wax in the ears.  Yes, Q-Tips are a Bozo NO-NO.  If there is wax, I personally don't recommend olice oil, even though it is a good folk remedy.  the reason is that olive oil in the ear can become rancid.  This is a horror beyond the pale, lol.  I had a baby brought to me who was being given olive oil ("sweet oil") for the pain in the ears from teething.  It was hot weather and the oil became rancid and no one could stand being in the same room with the poor child.  An alternative is mineral oil which is enert and qon't get smelly.  Just sayin'..

I don't know how early brain atrophy can appear.  We know that many people have a large lesion load years before the disease becomes symptomatic, so it seems possible that a person could have visible atrophy "early" in their disease.  And, yes, hearing loss is documented in MS.

Quix

[sllowe]

Hi there,

I'm sorry you are feeling so badly.

It does sound to me that your new Neuro is really looking out for you with ordering the course of steroids.  This combination therapy has really helped MSers during their course of the disease.  

I'm glad nothing new was seen.  It's ok to not have new demyelination (via MRI) and get put on Solumed.  Dr. sounds proactive to me - I just hope you start to feeling better soon.  

How much longer on it? Many members here have said they have seen improvement once the course was through....

One day at a time, D.  It's all you can do sometimes...

thinking of you,
shell

[Erin0313]

D

  I know that you said you used peroxide but was just wondering do you leave it in for a long time until there are no bubbles left?

  One other thing to try is a blow dryer on low for several minutes. My son used to suffer major ear trouble (5 surgeries) and that was his best treatment unless there was an infection. Even with an infection he said it helped it feel better.

Now to tell you what NOT to do. We all use Q-tips even though most of us have been told not to but I got carried away last time my ears were acting up. When I finally went to the ENT doc I had the tip of a Q-tip stuck so far in the ear canal he had to use some scary looking thing to remove it, lol. Talk about feeling stupid!

If it doesn't get better soon maybe a trip to the ENT or PCP instead of discussing with the neuro.

Feel better

Erin :)

[kmil1999]

I have to take my mother-in-law to the doctor because of her ears becoming plugged so bad that she can't hear.  We have tried the OTC ear drops and peroxide water mix with no help.  The last time we went to the doctor, he said all the stuff we had tried doesn't work.  He had us use 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water solutions.  A couple of drops 4 times a day for 4 days that really loosened it up.  He had to flush them out, but maybe if they are not totally plugged it will help you out.  ~K

[Fluffysmom]

I was thinking along the same lines as ess about the ear; i have a friend with small ears who produces a lot of wax, and actually has to go in to the doctor to get it cleaned out.  I'll suggest ess's remedy to her; maybe she can avoid some of the pain and trouble hearing.

I hope it works for you, too.

I don't do well with cortisone.  I've had a few epidurals where it just made my pain a lot worse, and I had lots of flushing, some stomach issues, sleeplessness, and stuff like that.  I hope i don't reach the point that I really need Solu-Medrol.  Unless I get really bad, I think I'll pass on it.

My first neuro thought I had brain atrophy; he's the only one.  The other two neuros, three neuro-radiologists, a neuro-opthalmologist, and my PCP said that I do not have brain atrophy.

Of course, I have some normal abnormality like a arachnoid cyst or mega cisterna magna (just the guesses of radiologists), which probably confused the first neuro.  He's the guy I only saw once; he was rude, dismissive, and I didn't like him.

Did your neuro say there was atrophy just since your last MRI, or is he saying that it's been there before, too?

My eyes are still blurry despite a clear VEP and all sorts of other eye tests being normal.  My vestibular physical therapist suggested it could have something to do with my dizziness.  I also have dry eyes, which doesn't help.  I need to use more moisturizing eye drops to see if that helps.

I've been taking pretty much the same meds for years, so I don't think they are the issue with me.  Have you added or changed some meds around the time that you noticed the blurred vision?

I talked alot about me, but I was trying to give you some other ideas, another point of view.

I hope things improve soon

Kathy

[essdipity]

Hi, D. Just a comment about your ear problem. Remember that common things occur commonly, and therefore look first for the common occurrence of wax blocking your ear. That may not be it but it won't hurt to find out. And besides, it's easy to get an infection under the wax plug, which of course is not what you want.

Years ago my PCP gave me the following remedy: Each night for 3 nights put a couple of drops of olive oil in the affected ear. Insert  a small piece of cotton to keep the oil in place. Put an old towel over your pillow when you sleep. On the 4th morning, use a small ear bulb and warm water to wash out the blocked ear. This works so well! The oil softens the wax so it comes out easily. It's such a relief and voila! your hearing is normal again. I hope this works for you.

ess