Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

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shellos8 07/10/2012

I just did 3 days of IV steroids for the first time,Thurs, Fri & Sat. The process went well with my only real side effect being a very flushed face for a couple of hours each morning.

Sunday I was fine. Didn't really feel any different.

Then starting yesterday I went all haywire. I'm more off balance than usual. I'm so shaky that it's embarrassing. I'm an insurance agent so have to deal with clients and here I am shaking like a leaf and also in such a fog I have a hard time saying and doing what I need to do. The pain in my left hand is back to where it was before I started taking the Lamictal that was helping with the pain. And I'm really, really tired.

Is this normal to feel so much worse after the steroid treatment? And if so, how long does it last? I don't even want to go to work today and for that I feel like such a burden. Like this disease is taking over my life and I just want to be able to work and not feel like total crap.

juls65 07/10/2012

I have had IV steroids a number of times in the past - always 3 days IV followed by tablet form of the steriods which taper off over a number of days - no problems. It may be that you are experiencing some kind of withdrawal, I'm not an expert and recommend that you speak with your doctor.

Hope it passes soon, take care.

AusSue 07/10/2012

Hey, dont be so hard on yourself. Steroids affect everyone different but it is usual to need time off work after them to get back on even keel. Some people are really bouncing off walls with energy & others are real flat & just want to sleep or still have the signs of ms flare. It doesnt always work on everyone immediately too. Did the give you a taper down dose to be taken orally? If not maybe you need that as I know without that it never worked for me.
Give yourself time to heal.

shellos8 07/10/2012

Thank you. I'm going to call my doctor as soon as they open. I had heard of the oral taper with Prednisone but it was never mentioned by my neuro. I wonder why? I'll ask the nurse to mention that to the neuro as well.

pinkfranz 07/10/2012

When I was on the steroids it really put me of track. It made me very shaky and flushed. (Very embrassing I must say). I noticed that my blood sugar was off due to them. I would watch my intake of sugars which helped a little.

I do hope this helps and I hope it passes soon for you.

lchoppel 07/10/2012

I can't offer any advice, as I've only had steroids once. But I do know that steroids affect your blood sugar levels like Pink mentioned. I'm a diabetic and that is the reason I don't get steroids unless I'm in a really bad flare, because it affects my blood sugar level and they run high. All steroids do this to people.

oleblue 07/11/2012

Hi shellos,
what dose of steroids did they give you? I don'tknow if this is the first time but for me the first was 1000 and I felt good after first day and went downhill for a week so when my neuro wanted me to do 6 months of pulse every 6 weeks I at first refused and than he told me they can adjust the dose and amount of days, so I agreed to the lowest dose of 500 and always seems to work the next week. So ask about a lower dose as my neuroo said I could have 500,750 or 1000. At first the 500 was working well but at the end I wanted him to up it to 750 but he refused because of fever issues, which I'm still trying to address and see my PCP on Thursday as he suggested that I go to the CDC for more testing, but I think the 6 months did me a world of good, so maybe for you like me a lower dose would work better, we are all diferent so talk to your nruro about a lower dose
Take Care
Davd

shellos8 07/12/2012

I'm feeling better. It only took a couple of days but I felt really bad. Oleblue, they did 1,000 for 3 days.

My neuro said an oral taper is not necessary with a short period of IV steroids. Yesterday she had me go to the lab for blood tests (CBC) and urinalysis. I really don't know what she's looking for. Any ideas???

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