Know Multiple Sclerosis

What a brilliant site! I'm so impressed.
I'm (hopefully, they still need to let me know) going on the trials for Fingolimod. The new oral treatment for ms. In phase 2 trials they actually lessened the relapse rate of rrms by over 50%. I'm going to keep track of it all on my blog, for any interested readers out there.

Hello to all,
I have been reading this wonderfull site for about 6 months now. I was diagnosed with MS in may of 2006. My treatment is avonex and some vitamins. I am 34, married and the mother of 4. I usaully am the one who always reads , staying silent and never posting or speaking out. But I recently have already had my first flare up since my diagnosis and they deceided to treat it with 5 days of IV steroids and then a 10 day taper of prednisone. ( the flare up is this dang pesky optic neuritis, which was my initial presenting symptom and now my left hand is numb) I could type for ever but I will get to the point. I am now on day 5 of my prednisone taper and I feel like I am going out of my mind. Has anyone had problems with a steroid treatment to that extent? I have never had panick attacks in my life and now while I am on the treatment I have to take adavan to calm down. I can't sleep with out a sleeping pill and one second I am laughing and the next I am crying over a silly hallmartk commercial. My husband and parents are wonderfull and do everything they can for me but I feel like they don't understand what I am going through. So now I turn to you guys to tell me if maybe its all in my head or has someone else had strange side effects with the steroid treatment as well. Thank you to everyone on this site it is great and I am on everyday.
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
Jeanette

Hi Jeanette,

I've heard of people having similar anxiety while taking steroids. I've never taken them personally. I'm curious how you're doing now. Did the steroids help with the flare-up and has your anxiety subsided? Hope you're doing well.

J

Hi J,
I think the steroids have helped a little but my optic neuritis is always flared up by the heat so now I can't tell if its coming back or just the heat. I do know it has helped a great deal with the numbing in my left hand. I am feeling better and tomorrow is the last day of my prednisone taper and then I stop the steroids all together. so I guess we will see. The adavain really helps calm down the panick attacks, so I think I will make it. Thanks so much for responding, its nice to hear someone understands what you are feeling like and going thru.
Have a great day
Jeanette

I totally understand what your going through, they put me on the same iv steroid and the predisone, and yes, I cried one minute and laughed the next, although I think I cried more, my husband finally called the doctor about it and he told him it was normal, what a thing to deal with, but it will subside or atleast mine did. My big problem has been with my legs going numb and feeling like they vanish on me. Hang in there. Always remember you have MS it doesn't have you... God Bless