I think I am having a Flare Up

[Zacksmomi]

Hello all,

I just realized it has been a month since I have visited here. July was not a good month for me and I guess (luckily) the time just flew by.
My computer has been quite uncooperative as well so I try to stay away from it when I am stressed in order to prevent myself from throwing it out the window.
It is good to be back and read updates on everyone.

I am afraid that I am having a flare up and I am also afraid of having another round of sol u medrol. I take Rebif and have been since March of this year.  My Neuro recommended Sol U Medrol in May to treat my flare ups and hopefully the Rebif would slow down my future flare ups.  I hated the treatment.  
Now I have been through a very stressful month including bronchitis, my dog of 12 years was killed by coyotes, I went to my family reunion (always very stressful) and then my brother in law was in a horrible accident and injured his brain (he will be fine but he's living with us for a while till he's better).
Ok so needless to say...a stressful month.  
I am having tingling in my right thigh now and my spasticity in my right hip is out of control. I actually bought myself a cane. Some of my old symptoms are worse too.  
So I just don't know what to do.  I have a Neuro appt next week and I am looking for advice on alternative treatments to the steroids.  Or am I just kidding myself and maybe I should call my Neuro in the morning and tell him about my symptoms?

I don't know!!! Any Advice?

Thanks D

[Sarahsmom46]

I may be wrong, but I was told by my neuro that they don't advise Solu-Medrol treatment for parathesias per se.  During last months relapse I was actually falling because I had very little feeling in my feet and couldn't feel anything on the left side of my face.  

Can you ask your doctor if this is true? Maybe he has a different oppinion about when to treat and that would be good for us all to know.  No two doctors think alike as most of us have come to learn.

I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow and you doctor gets you back on track whatever treatment you both decide on.  

Julie

[Zacksmomi]

Thanks Ladies,
I called the Neuro first thing this morn.  I am going in tomorrow at 215.  It is so amazing that I found a neuro that will do that for me.  My original appt was the 18th of this month.
He was very quick to put me on the sol u med the first time.  
Are there questions I can ask about alternatives first?

to shell:
No prob for the questions.  It helps me think about the right things.
I have been taking Baclofen since my first symptoms and recently switched to zanaflex.  It did help more at first but the neuro upped me from 2mg to 4 mg 3x a day.  Until this last 2 weeks, it was helping.  I think the max dose is 6mg 3x a day.  I would hate to hit that mark though.
I did have to do a ton of walking in the hospital which attributed to my spasticity in my hip.  I just wish it would subside.  I am having new parasthesia now too and that is the part that has me thinking this is a flare up.  
Well I am gonna chat with neuro tomorrow and pray that this is just a little stress.  I did notice that taking a xanax helped my hip pain hhhmmmm??

Love you all
D

[Sarahsmom46]

You have certainly had  a couple of full plates this past month.  I hope August will be kinder to you and your family.

When was the last time you saw or spoke with your neuro?  Since it looks like you have made it through the weekend ok, then you might want to give his/her office a call tomorrow and talk with the nurse and see if you need to treat this. They know how to ask the right questions to see if what is happening is a bonafide flare or a pseudoflare.  

I know you don't want to be on the IVSM, who does especially when you just had a treatment recently.  See what you doctor has to say first.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Hugs,

Julie

[sllowe]

Hey D,

Nice to see you.  My, my this IS all so very stressful. It's totally understandable to hate the solumed.  

Only thing I can think of is this -  if it's not an attack, and just an uprising of symptoms (which you can have - due to these recent events and the bronchitis) you could very well simmer without going full blown (where you'd know it for sure), and have to get the treatment to control it.

Maybe the spasticity can be controlled with a med too.  I'm on baclofen.

When do you go next week? How's the Rebif treating you?  

(sorry for all the questions)
ttys,
shell