Solu-Medrol and Mensis

[Hermance]

I was diagnosed in 2000 with MS, and for years I have been getting IV Solu-medrol treatments every other month, for three days. Is it possible this affects my menstrual cycle?  Can Solu-medrol cause not building up the endometrium?
Don't worry, I have had all tests: blood, bone density, ultrasound, pregnancy, and I am very healthy: un-pregnant, taking birth control, and so on. I "only" have MS. My period doesn't happen and I am way too young for menopause.

[Sparkysarah]

Hi and just to say welcome to the forum and what an interesting post this has turned out to be. You even coaxed dear Quix out of the woodwork and I just want to say YEH..it was good to see her name around. and hope that you are feeling a bit better.

Anyhow sorry about that distraction. I would be really interested to hear a bit more about your story and how long it was that you moved from RRMS to Secondary MS and how you have been affected. Hope you get answers to your menses problems.

Best wishes

Sarah

[JENNIEO]

I still am thinking Solumedrol is affecting my menses. Had some pretty extensive tests last month, and (gyn) docs are taking a wait and see approach. I had a pelvic ultrasound and then a sono-hysterogram which showed several polyps (uterine and cervical) but not enough to cause any action yet.Yesterday I had my 4th monthly Solumedrol IV and also started my period the day before - of course, the flood began after the treatment - maybe it is coincidental, and happens to be in line with pre-menopausal crazy cycles but since September my menses have been brutal compared to the 35 years prior to that.  I really think there is some kind of tie-in here, but haven't gotten any buy-in from the neuro or gyn folks yet.

[JENNIEO]

My first Solumedrol treatment 3 days ago was pretty uneventful other than the gross taste in my mouth.  I had home infusion and it went fine, but I ended up getting my period yesterday after just having it 9 days ago (so just finished 2 days ago).  is THAT a Solumedrol side effect? Hard to say when it says menstrual abnormalities. I'm not too pleased for this double whammy, but if the Solumedrol works I will not complain.

[AmishErin]

I was diagnosed in 2003 and after back to back flares that hospitalzed me my neuro at the time talked me into surgically implanting a porta cath into my arm for solumedrol which I recived for years the longest  stretch being an 11 month every 2 weeks regimen.  During that time I did not have sight in both eyes at the same time.  I was diagnosed as having osteoporosis at the age of 29.

My opthamolagist who's wife also has ms is the one who talked to me about weighing out the medical evidence of solumederal with the damage that this drug can cause long term to your body.  I didn't go of of the drug right away and I still have my porta cath even though I don't know if it can even be accessed now.

My hair fell out my bones broke my legs swelled up.

I havent had a solumederal infusion for almost 2 years.  I have regained my sight and I don't have osteoporosis anymore.  I am still borderline osteopisis but I don't break bones.  I shouldn't be saying this I just don't know if they really think solumederol really does anything or if its the only thing that they can even guess at.

Do you have a chest porta cath??

T

[sllowe]

Quixy - Ok, I'm thinking this post was for Hermance Ref: the cycle right...lol....

This is too funny, cause so far this past week I've had two husbands and an irregular period... LOL!!!!!!

Hermance - Thank you so much for sharing your history.  For me, didn't look at it as a death sentence either.  Just stubborn as heck sometimes and didn't believe the Drs, thought they were missing something.  So it was a journey of learning for me that I needed to go through to be convinced of to finally believe.  

Thankfully, I found this forum family, which is blessed with a retired Dr who still cares and is subject matter expert in various areas that serves as the glue that holds this family together.  

I'm glad your a part of it now too.  

See you around! psssst Question above from our dear GWilliker  - AKA Quix

-Shelly

[GWilliker]

Shelly, it's great that you had a normal ultrasound.  How long has it been since you had a period?  It sounded from what you wrote that it has been more than a year.  If so, an ultrasound is not enough evaluation, I don't think.  It can't show if there are cellular changes in the lining of the uterus.  If it has only been a few months, that's an entirely different story.

Quix

[GWilliker]

I wrote up my whole story to diagnosis on the first page of my (Quixotic1's) journal.  It took two years for me to find a neurologist that was concerned that I developed spasticity in my right leg totally out of the blue.

Quix G. Williker

[Hermance]

Hi Shelly,

I was diagnosed with RRMS first but had only two attacks.
Then I haven't have any real attacks but developed new symptoms in 2003: using a mouse got less coordinated and that has only gotten worse, after many steroids. My MRI's though look the same as in 2000, no active lesions and the same scars.
The dx: Late 1999 I started limping, which got worse and spread to both legs. Emergency Drs asked if my Dr had ever talked to me about MS. In March I finally could see a neurologist, and after MRI and spinal tap I got diagnosed. Since then I see my neurologist every 6 months.

You got recently diagnosed, and I want you to know that it ***** but it's not the end of the world. I am glad I started interferon within a few months. It seems to be better to start ASAP after the diagnosis.
Of course you could stop living and cry all day, but that doesn't stay fun very long! Hard as it is, you have no choice but accept the disease. That can take a while, but it makes life a lot easier.

Again, I feel quite good. I actually don't mind the steroids: they make me feel good. If you get them, drink LOTS of water and only eat what you really like.

Best wishes!!
Hermance

[sllowe]

Hi Hermance,

I'm so glad you are not in pain!  Were you dx'd w/RRMS 1st, and if so how long before you progressed to SPMS? Sorry for all the questions, and if you care not to share, that is ok too.  It is good to hear of the variety of experiences of our members though.  Also, what brought you to the Dr. and subsequent dx in 00?

Hope to see you back,
Shelly

[Hermance]

Thanks for all your comments!
Quix: I recently had a TV ultrasound that also looked at my ovaries and everything looks normal.

Shelly: I have been on Rebif since 2001. The combination Rebif and steroids seem to stabilize my MS. I am secondary progressive, so every few years something new shows up that doesn't go away. The result is bad coordination in eyes and hands. I still work full time and feel good, no pain at all.

Cheers,
Hermance

[sllowe]

Hi Hermance,

How are you doing with your MS? Since you've been dealing with it for so many years, I hope you'll stay with us, pitch in, etc.

Thanks for coming our way! I'm Shelly, was dx'd w/MS last year.  Have had ups and downs, but doing pretty well with it the past couple months.  

Are you on other treatment in addition to the steroids?

ttys,
Shelly

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Welcome to the forum!  I hope you stick around.  I don't have a definite answer for your question other than its quite possible that the Solu-Medrol has messed up your menses.  It may have done it by two different mechanisms.  The first is by failing to allow the endometrium to develop.  The more likely was is by failing to allow the endometrium to shed.

If the problem is this second - not shedding of the endometrium - this can be serious.  This problem is linked to the possible development of endometrial cancer.  Therefore: I HIGHLY recommend you see a gynecologist to be evaluated for the problem.  They need to determine if you need to be forced to have a menstrual period and if you might need an endometrial biopsy.

Not having periods might seem a wonderful problem, but it is ONLY if it occurs under the right hormonal circumstances.  A gynecologist can measure the important hormone levels in your body to see where the foul-up is.  These at a minimum would be an estrogen level, a LH and and FSH.

I hope this helped.

Quix, MD (not here officially)

[Rena705]

Hello Hermance and Welcome to the MS Forum!  It is nice to have you join us here on the forum and I hope that we can be of some assistance to you perhaps you might have something to offer some of our members as well.  There is a good group of people here that have a lot to offer fellow MS patients and those that have yet to be diagnosed so we always welcome new members because they always have something helpful to offer others.

The following is some information that I copied and pasted on possible side effects of long term Solumedrol use and you will find under the heading of Endocrine there is the possibility of menstrual disorders.  I will try to find more information in the meantime and I am sure that someone else from the forum will be able to offer a little more information for you.

I am glad that you decided to become a member and we are looking forward to getting to know you better in the future.

Adverse Reactions:

:The following adverse reactions have been reported with the systemic use of corticosteroid preparations (e.g., methylprednisolone). Their inclusion in this list does not necessarily indicate that the specific event has been observed with methylprednisolone.

Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances: sodium retention, fluid retention, hypertension, potassium loss, hypokalemic alkalosis, diuresis, sodium excretion, congestive heart failure in susceptible patients.

Musculoskeletal: steroid myopathy, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, pathologic fractures, vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, tendon rupture--particularly of the Achilles tendon.

Gastrointestinal: peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, gastric hemorrhage, pancreatitis, esophagitis, perforation of the bowel, transient nausea, vomiting or dysgeusia (with rapid administration of large doses).

Increases in ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase have been observed following corticosteroid treatment. These changes are usually small, not associated with any clinical syndrome and are reversible upon discontinuation.

Dermatologic: impaired wound healing, petechiae and ecchymoses, thin fragile skin.

Endocrine: decreased carbohydrate tolerance, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics, menstrual irregularities, development of Cushingoid State, suppression of pituitary-adrenal axis, suppression of growth in children.

Metabolic: negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism.

Neurological: increased intracranial pressure, pseudotumor cerebri, psychic derangements, seizures.

Ophthalmic: posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, exophthalmos.

Immunological: masking of infections, latent infections becoming active, opportunistic infections, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, may suppress reactions to skin tests.

The following additional reactions are related to parenteral corticosteroid therapy: anaphylactic reaction with or without circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest, bronchospasm, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension or hypertension.

Lots of Hugs,

Rena