Who's in a relapse right now?

[Lulu54]

It seems like there are a whole bunch of us who are in or just coming out of a relapse/exacerbation. Just for the sake of my own curiosity- if you fit this description would you let us know and if you have any clue what might have set it off, add that, too. And maybe which DMD you are on.

I finished a 5 day steroid round for a relapse that probably crept in on me in MAy or so.  I wasn't paying attention. Could have been heat or exhaustion or just about anything.  This happened while I was on Tysabri

How about you?

[anon07072023]

I guess my last relapse before this one was end of Feb/beginning of Mar. Not sure if there was a trigger there. It lasted about 4-5 days only and my neuro wasn't sure if it was a relapse of not since by the time I got into see her, I was my normal self that she always sees.

Then this one started early July. I have so much going on, it's hard to tell what exactly, if anything triggered it. - STRESS, FATIGUE, etc, lowered immune system - I had bronchitis is June and a cold in July.  

I'm on Copaxone. Yesterday was my last day of the Medrol dose pack - so much better than taking the IVSM, & my neuro increased my Baclofen back up to 80mg/day and increased my Klonopin.

[michelleric]

Just coming out of a relapse, I think, now.  Finished solu-medrol last week, still on taper.

Who knows what does it? No idea here.  Extreme heat, exhaustion as usual, plus the summer with my kids ( and new puppy) home.  

I feel like I have been in a very slow and continuing to change for a long time.

On Tysabri on and off for 1. 5 years.  I am off now, done.  Too many respitory issues for me.  I told Neuro so. Was on coax one 1st.

She has recommended cellcept again, or steroids every other month until the new med, bg12 comes out.

Kinda depressing...was told I should use a cane/walker more often.  Really sad about that blow.  (I know this is just another hurdle, things can always be worse).  Just have to readjust  continually, right?

Last week, I fell, hard.  I looked like the guy from the movie, The Hangover.  Black eye, chipped tooth, and glasses cockeyed.  Yikes!  What a summer!

I am going to be selling my ballroom gowns soon, keep a watch, as my dancing with the star days are officially over! ;)

Take care everyone...

Michelle

[TheLightSeeker]

Stress, exhaustion, trauma  and other factors lead to reactivation of dormant infections. And this  causes relapses.
Oh yes, steroids!!! Short term relief,as they help by decreasing the autoimmune activity, reduce the cns inflammation BUT for a price.
The immuno-suppressive action of the steroids give the opportunity to the underlying infectious condition to spread as well as the sufferer becoming much more susceptible to new infections.
But you all know about all these serious side effects.

My point is that the MS-infection connection is very strong.
Look into the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,
regarding the  EPV infection and MS development connection.
Their database has over 3,000.000 blood samples (of US military personnel)
making it one of the largest ever to draw conclusions from with a great degree of accuracy.
If you want the link let me know and I'll dig it out.
Cheers.
Niko

[Sidesteps]

I am in a mild relapse or just coming out of one. I am on Avonex. I think mine started with heat then stress and then more stress. I keep saying I am going to call my Neuro but then I feel a little better then don't call. I still feel a bit like I am limboland. Who said it had anything to do with not having a dx? lol

[bettebelle]

I started relapsing the second week in June. I'm on avonex, I believe my relapse could be from exhaustion, stress, or a cold/flu bug I had. It still hasn't resolved and I see my MS specialist tomorrow to see what we can do tomorrow morning. Hope all of you are feeling better!

[rendean]

In a long relapse. I am on Tysabri. My neuro and I dediced against steroids this time and I was pleasantl;y surprised at how well I did considering. It is a trade-off. Relapse pain versus steroid craziness and either way the fatigue is there in the end.

I have a neuro appt. tomorrow and I want to discuss this further with him and see about the longevitiy of this relapse.

To those out there in a relapse: Lu, Sarah, Michele and all the others I didn't mention, may your relapse be short and each day a new begining towards symptom-free days.

Ren

[doublevision1]

Sorry to hear you're in relapse Lu, and sorry so many others are too.  I'm not - knock on wood.  My last one was this time last year.  I's it really possible to know what triggers them?  Seems my neuro doesn't even want to speculate on this.  I've had five attacks overall, and life was completely normal leading up to each one.  Only exception might be in '08 when I caught a cold in Seattle and a couple days after returning home was hit by optic neuritis.  Neuro didn't seem to excited about this as a possible trigger.

I'm curious about what others' neuros thoughts are on this topic.  

[jujuminx]

Well, I am not in relapse but starting at the beginning of summer I noticed that every few days if I stay outside too long, don't get enough sleep, and/or just get overstressed, I get mild tingling in my back and right foot.

I think the biggest factor actually is the heat since the stress and lack of sleep is always a battle which doesn't usually have tingling consequences unless it's to an extreme. The heat knocks me over the edge.  Even going to the gym is dangerous for me during summer b/c I never seem to cool down after.  I am on copaxone.

Julie

[SarahL2491]

I also just came out of a relapse while on tysabri, but didn't take any additional meds, waiting to hear back from neuro