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Spinal tap while on prednisone. Bad idea?
Today I called my GPs office to see about continuing the prescribed steroid taper despite some symptom increases the last day when I tapered down. He wasn't there and none of the docs want to touch anything neuro if they don't know you so I got referred to the neuro and had to see him right away.
He was a bit ticked my GP prescribed steroids to begin with because there isn't a definitive diagnosis yet. I told him they were helping. He said it was euphoria. I had to clear him up and tell him these are physical symptoms getting better and the fever under control, none that can be explained by euphoria.
I told him there were no other options and I wasn't about to end up in a nursing home with half a brain at the age of 45 because I didn't have the right positive tests in time to do something that stops this process from causing more damage.
His advice - continue to taper down and come in for a spinal tap next week. I asked about infection risk being on preds and he shrugged his shoulders. Not sure what to think of it. So I'm asking here. I've not been on them very long. Two medrol dose packs a couple of weeks ago and then last week started 40mg for 4 days then tapered to 30mg yesterday. I will be down to 10mg before the tap.
Thoughts?
He was a bit ticked my GP prescribed steroids to begin with because there isn't a definitive diagnosis yet. I told him they were helping. He said it was euphoria. I had to clear him up and tell him these are physical symptoms getting better and the fever under control, none that can be explained by euphoria.
I told him there were no other options and I wasn't about to end up in a nursing home with half a brain at the age of 45 because I didn't have the right positive tests in time to do something that stops this process from causing more damage.
His advice - continue to taper down and come in for a spinal tap next week. I asked about infection risk being on preds and he shrugged his shoulders. Not sure what to think of it. So I'm asking here. I've not been on them very long. Two medrol dose packs a couple of weeks ago and then last week started 40mg for 4 days then tapered to 30mg yesterday. I will be down to 10mg before the tap.
Thoughts?
An interesting question.
The HERV etiology diagnosis is rather recent. Scientific American magazine did an article on it. There is, apparently, a very recent test that defines the infection. And the possibility of a drug treatment. I don't have the issue handy, but I believe it was in one of the specials on the brain. A patient of a doctor friend was recently diagnosed with this curious infection after being told he had Parkinson's.
Many people have these HERV creatures within them, and it appears that there is a co-factor, apparently herpes, that activates them. Once activated, they methodically destroy neurological tissue. They are nasty creatures. Once such way of making a diagnosis is to provide a prednisone challenge. If the body returns to normal, this suggests such an infection.
The HERV etiology diagnosis is rather recent. Scientific American magazine did an article on it. There is, apparently, a very recent test that defines the infection. And the possibility of a drug treatment. I don't have the issue handy, but I believe it was in one of the specials on the brain. A patient of a doctor friend was recently diagnosed with this curious infection after being told he had Parkinson's.
Many people have these HERV creatures within them, and it appears that there is a co-factor, apparently herpes, that activates them. Once activated, they methodically destroy neurological tissue. They are nasty creatures. Once such way of making a diagnosis is to provide a prednisone challenge. If the body returns to normal, this suggests such an infection.
Would that infection be detectable with blood labs? I've been tested for every infection under the sun, multiple blood cultures, even a gold TB test.
Yes.
My thoughts are, if you are having neurological problems, exclusive of spinal compression. and prednisone provides significant relief, I would suspect an HERV infection. Such an infection causes the immune system to become super-active and attack nerve cells.
Such an infection can lead to eventual paralysis, dementia and Parkinson's like symptoms.
My thoughts are, if you are having neurological problems, exclusive of spinal compression. and prednisone provides significant relief, I would suspect an HERV infection. Such an infection causes the immune system to become super-active and attack nerve cells.
Such an infection can lead to eventual paralysis, dementia and Parkinson's like symptoms.
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