Question for Quix...............

[MedicGirl]

Hi Quix, I had a question for you. I have begged my doc to do something about my vision, and he won't. He keeps saying prednisone will help, but it dosen't. I went to an ER in another city, all they did was check the pressure in my eye's. The doc said my pupils are un-equal, which he said was prob due to the MS. I don't know how to get anyone to listen. Do you have any suggestions?
I was also wondering if MS can aggervate SVT/sinus tach? I was born with the SVT and have taken meds for it all my life. I currently take Toprol XL 100mg, and Cardizem SR 120mg bith one a day. My hr is in the 120-150 range every day. This has been going on for about three weeks. I told my doc and he wasn't concerned about it, but I am. It's not right, and I know my heart is working to hard. Both of those meds should keep it down. I can't/don't drink any caffeine, and have stopped taking benadryl. If anyone has had similar eposodes??????????

[T-lynn]

I'm surprised your GP just didn't have you admitted to the hospital for the 3 days.They could monitor the steroids and your vision,plus they could of given you some therapy for the weakness.

You definatly need to find a neuro ho deals with MS and get started on a treatment regimen.

Yes,I have the foggy brain and the forgetfulness midsentence.I suffer from leg weakness(wear leg braces).Keeping a positive attitude is half the battle the other half is proper treatment.

Hang in there.

[Nanners123]

Floridamom 2 posted the question on cycle changes.

[Nanners123]

I too have the same sx you describe. Oncetri has posted a question that several of us have responded to regarding your question on your cycle changes. Check it out it is very interesting.

Feel better soon.
N

[MedicGirl]

Does anyone else have the severe weakness, tremors, and cloudy head? I can't remember words, I'll be in the middle of a sentence and forget my next word. It's embarassing. I was also wondering if anyone's mens. cycle changed after the MS. ( sorry if it's a personal question) Mine go for two to three weeks straight now. They have never done that before.

[MedicGirl]

Thank-you for your help/advice!! I printed a copy and took it to my doc. (it's a husband/wife family care office here in GA) He sent me to the ER for iv steroids, they couldn't get an iv started. I got stuck 11 times, no luck. The doc said the 29 years of heart meds destroyed my veins. He refused to order a pic line in the ER. They said I would need to schedule an outpatient appt. for a picc line. I tried that and can't get an appt. until next week. My vision hasen't improved yet. My legs aren't working well at all. The left leg "drags" behind my right one, with numbness and decreased sensation in my arm. My doc said it is another flare, or a continuation of the last one. My reflexes are poor. I am trying to find a new neuro. They have said it's MS, now I'd like to try a treatment. I have the spinal lesions, high LP protein, and symptoms. It's frustrating, I haven't been able to return to work yet. I am trying to stay positive, things could be worse.

[Quixotic1]

Okay, I have found exactly what I thought I remembered seeing a couple months ago.  The only accepted treatment for Optic Neuritis is either high dose IV steroids or no steroids at all.  a recent study (within the last two years) Called the Optic Neuritis Treatment Tests found that use of IV or oral steroids over no treatment at all had no benefit on preservation of of visual acuity at five years.  Use of high-dose pulse of steroids caused resolution of the eipsode faster.  AND, this goes in caps:  The USE OF ORAL STEROIDS ONLY RESULTED IN A HIGHER RELAPSE RATE OF THE OPTIC NEURITIS THAN IV STEROIDS OR NO TREATMENT AT ALL!!!  Your doc is out of toucvh withthe standard of care.  No steroids at all is better than using oral prednisone alone. The next paragraph is a quote taken from a website:
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http://www.eyemdlink.com/Condition.asp?ConditionID=28

"The treatment of optic neuritis has changed in recent years due to a landmark series of studies known as the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trials. In these studies, patients with optic neuritis were randomized to treatment with intravenous (IV) steroids, oral steroids, or placebo, and were subsequently followed and intensively evaluated for several years. From these studies, ophthalmologists learned that treatment with steroids had little effect on final visual outcome in patients with optic neuritis. However, patients treated with IV steroids had fewer repeat attacks of optic neuritis than patients treated with oral steroids alone. In fact, patients treated with oral steroids alone had a higher risk of repeat attacks of optic neuritis than patients treated with placebo. Even more importantly, patients treated with IV steroids initially, had about half the risk of developing MS in two years as patients treated with oral steroids only, or placebo. Seven and one-half (7.5) percent of those patients treated with IV (followed by oral) steroids developed MS in the following 2 years versus about 16% in the other groups.

As a result of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trials, ophthalmologists now treat patients with optic neuritis with either IV, followed by oral, steroids, or no treatment at all. Specifically, patients are not treated with oral steroids alone. For those patients who are treated, the regimen is typically 3 days of IV steroids followed by 10 to 14 days of oral steroids."
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Here is another article that says the same thing:

http://www.emedicine.com/oph/topic186.htm

"Medical Care: The ONTT was a carefully performed randomized clinical trial and yielded useful information. Despite the ONTT, the treatment of ON remains somewhat controversial. From a vision standpoint, observation without steroid treatment versus intravenous steroid treatment showed no difference in ultimate visual outcome at the 5-year mark.

The ONTT showed strong evidence against the use of oral steroids in isolation in the treatment of ON, because oral steroids alone caused an increased rate of recurrence of ON. Intravenous steroids (methylprednisolone 250 mg qid for 3 d with oral steroid taper) decreased the short-term risk of development of MS in patients with CNS white matter plaques, but had no long-term protective benefit from MS. Intravenous steroids do little to affect the ultimate visual acuity in patients with ON, but they do speed the rate of recovery. Some clinicians advocate intravenous steroids in patients with severe visual loss or bilateral visual loss.

Intravenous steroids are sometimes administered in an outpatient setting or at home. Admission to the hospital is recommended for the duration of high-dose intravenous steroid treatment because of the potential risk of serious adverse effects from this treatment."
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Your doctor is actually placing you at higher risk for more of these attack, athough not necessarily a greater chance of losing vision - just more suffering.  He's out of step with the Standard of Care. Who is this guy?

I'll have to think about the SVT heart rate thing.  Certainly stress, anxiety, paun, fear and anger could override the meds.  That's not MS per se, but is what you have been going through.  Steroids can cause flushing and water retention which can up the BP and maybe the HR.

I hope this helps, Keep us apprised.  I despair at your getting adequate care.  Quix

Three new symptoms - if they persist that is worrisome for a new flare.

[MedicGirl]

I started having left sided numbness in my arm and leg a few hours ago. My foot has sharp shooting pain. Is there anything to stop it? I called my family doc and left a message with the answering service. I hope it isn't a flare-up.