MS HUG - NOW - Help guys!

[SarahL2491]

Got too hot today, MS hug in full swing.  Took cool shower, hydrated, put on cooling jacket, turned AC WAY DOWN,
do NOT want to hit the ER and spend the night trying to convince a bunch of idiots that I am NOT having a heart attack or anxiety attack........Neuro is 3 states away.....grin........but when I see him on Wednesday, will leave with a script to handle this for sure!  Only 4th MS hug in 30 yrs, not bad but

can't catch my breath, BP is normal, HR is 85 (gee because I'm panting trying to breathe, 02 sats is 98, so know what ER staff is going to say "hysterical 70 yr old female, presenting with Cardiac symptoms and run 50 zillion tsts

anybody have any tricks they have tried at home?
No Lulu, am not stressed over trip, think the 91+ temperature outside and my impulse trip to town triggered it.

nothing like an idiot RN but feel like one......

[SarahL2491]

Dennis - I am allergic to codeine and tylenol, so can't even cheat.

Debjen - if I could have put my hands on some steroids, I would have certainly taken them.  Everyone's suggestions helped.  Now that the 2nd phase has passed, am exhausted and am going to bed shortly.  Stressful week coming up, trying to pace myself, no time to go thru this again!

You guys have been a great support team!  I needed that!

[debgen]

Oh Sarah, I am so sorry that you are going through this. I don't think I've ever had it that bad. The last time I felt like that was last summer in Florida when it was so hot and humid. It actually sent me into a full blown relapse. I hope this doesn't happen to you. I stayed inside with the AC going full blast. Getting into my pool helped a lot. I ended up taking steroids for a few days which helped immediately. I took Diazapam at night for the pain which  helped me to be able to sleep. I hope you "hug" ends soon and you start to feel better!
Hang in there :)
Deb

[SarahL2491]

Thanks everyone.  It tried to come back again today (the nerve of it)
and went straight for my jacket and laid down.  It's not as bad as yesterday and have a note going to the neuro so hopefully he will have something to give me some relief this week.  It will be a long trip home if I keep having these.  I woke up last night with a leg cramp that absolutely drew up my right leg into a folded position and stayed there for a good 5 minutes.  Egads, I can just see him upping my baclofen when I tell him.  

Will try and check in tomorrow for "what everyone is doing" and hope to be on the road by mid afternoon.  It's already too hot here for me.

[Guitar_grrrl]

Ugh!  I've had that intense hug a few times.  Never more than 20 minutes.  I can't even imagine 8 hours!!!  For mine, I lie down and do a good deep savasana (Yoga - "corpse" pose).  It takes a while, but eventually it relaxes.

I'm sorry you went through such misery!  Take it easy on yourself.

[bubbles_04]

Sorry no suggestions here, but glad you are feeling better!! I just want to offer my thoughts and *hugs* (but the nice ones only!) :)

[Sailorsong]

I'm not really suppose to take them either, but my PC allows me 30 pills per year for such times. This doesn't leave me room for many episodes since a single bout of TN will use up around 15 of them very quickly. Yes I treat my TN the same way in case you were wondering.

For some reason when ever I go to the ER due to extreme pain they always seem to go for the big guns (morphine)  without me saying a thing. I guess I don't wear pain very good and they can tell how much pain I am in from just looking. :)

Dennis

[SarahL2491]

Oh I envy you Dennis, I can't take codeine or tylenol.  Really shortens the "can take" list and is a royal pain when hitting the ER.  Automatically get labeled "drug seeking".  LOL  

[SarahL2491]

UPDATE:
Ah, breathing and then sleep finally came about 2AM.  I was finally able to breathe deep breaths about l:45.  Thank you all for your suggestions and support.  I tried them all!  Laying down helped.  I wore the cooling jacket until the packets melted and then took another warm shower and went to bed with hot tea and my heating pad.  Eventually, the trunk settled down and I was able to get to sleep.  What a night.  That was the worst HUG I have ever had and hope it never comes back.  8 hours.  Will definitely be talking to the neuro on Wednesday when I show up for my infusion!

Back to packing and I promise to pace myself today and stay OUT of the heat.

[Sailorsong]

This is one of the areas that my drug sensitivity is a blessing. I just take one of my Hydrocodone and it puts me to sleep for several hours. When I wake up the hug is gone. So those that mentioned trying to get some sleep I agree with completely.  

Dennis

[bettebelle]

The only things that helped me was laying on my back on the floor and doing deep breathing exercises along with taking baclofen. I hope you get sone relief! It's the worst symptom I've experienced!!! My thoughts and prayers are with you

[supermum_ms]

Bugger!!

The hug is my frequent companion, for god sake lay down, takes all the preasure off your skeleton frame, muscle dont need to keep working, are you laying down yet?!

Strip, wet cold towel around you or under you, to help bring your temp down, hot pack on the offending muscles, strange to cool you down whilst heating the offending area but it helps sometimes.

Relax, yep hard when your being squeezed so hard but think of it being like child birth (lemaz), breath through the squeeze, you wont get a bouncing bundle of joy but it will help you to keep your breathing under control. :-)

Sleep. or drift when its calm but dont make the mistake of thinking its over too soon, it will hit you again if you start moving around again so drift or sleep as much as you can, they are or can be very exhausting, so sleeping is good.

HUG..........JJ (no pun intended)

[Lulu54]

Wow, SARAH, didn't expect that response from my query if you had finished packing.  Some folks here swear by using hot compresses to relax the muscles.  

My acupuncturist suggests practicing breathing east to west, rather than north to south.  You want to stretch those bad boys as best you can.  

If you can't get relief, you may have to be the 70 year old hypochondriac  and show up on the ER doorstep.  

gentle hugs to you,
L