My experience is make sure they whin you off them.My first timei had a 5 day treatment 6th day I had more energy felt like energizer bunny I did chores around the house all day until late into evening.THe next day I couldn't even get out of bed to shower my neuro said that I needed to be whinnied off it.That day was awesome just a bummer after that.bleedinblue

I did a 5 day treatment & had great results. I felt better than I had in a long time. My Dr gave me Valium to help me sleep. I didn't have a taper nor did I have any problems coming off the Solumedrol.

Make sure to take hard candy, mints & a drink. It does leave a really bad taste in your mouth. Kinda taste like your sucking on a copper penny :P I didn't gain any weight or have any other symptoms, at least that I can remember. Good luck & let us know how it goes

I was not anxious on them (I do the three day treatment) but I do have energy it feel great for me I can get things done.
I do not have other side effects but I am sick to my tummy so I take something for that.
I can move on steroids without them I am paralyzed from chest down
so for me the benefits out way the side effects

My original neurologist would have me plugged into steroids every chance she got until the second neuro in her practice took over and felt that I really didn't need them.

Afterwards, I felt that I am no longer obligated to finance someone's new hot tub so I haven't gone in for steroids since.

The steroid IV itself helped my eye problems, but I did not get that boost of energy eveyone said I would, Until I started the predisone afterwards, then I got the energy. Never had any side effects, no problems, didn't gain any weight. Good luck

Hi Shellos8,
I did the steroids for 6 months after my my first 3 day dose, have never did the taper. If you don;t like the first one they can go from 500-1000 on the dose. My first was 1000 and to be honest I hated it after the first day, I thought if they stopped after the first day, I would have felt better. When he wanted to do the 6 month pulse I would only do the lowest dose of 500, I do think the 750 would have been just right for me, but I had a fever problem not from the roids so I was stuck at the 500. Anyways it did work great and I did not gain weight but I did eat everything in sisight. You will probally need something for the side effects and lack of sleep. I take .25 Xanax and Ambien so I can sleep. You should ask beforehand about something and also it will screw with your stomach so previcid or if you have insurance ask for something and try to get candy that is sugar free as it will spike the sugar levels in your body. Good luck and you will be fine, you will either hate or love it.
Take care
Dave

Here is some info on steroids.
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/11643767

Best wishes,
EP

Regardless of love or hate, iv steroids have their usefulness in curbing the ravages of ms...as well as other immune probs. I've had the 5 day with no taper....and have had several one to 3 day solumedrol infusions over the years. Solumedrol works so well, I never hesitate when I need it.... while it does give ya a burst of energy, it also may make ya anxious....but the benefits far outweighs the side effects.

Ya get on here and ya get so many varied responses of love it hate it...but I say...take it regardless....it works. People seem to second guess their docs...makes ya wonder why they go to that doc anyway....I stay informed and on top of things, nevertheless, I still need the advice and help of my health professionals.

ive had two experiences with steroids, the first time i didnt have half the feeling in my body the doctor put me on 3 days of iv steroids and i gradualy gained back my feeling with no side effects except being very alert all the time but not to an annoying amount, the second time i had optical neuotis and couldnt see so they put me on 5 days this time and i couldnt even stay awake during the day to do anything, i ended up having an awful reaction and couldnt walk becuase of what they did to my bones and joint. my doctor says this is rare though and i know i will still definitely take them without too much anxiety but next time im making sure it is only 3 days worth

Thanks for all your input and advise. I will go into it with a positive attitude and some candy. lol

Thanks for the link EP. I already take D3 and Alpha Lipoic Acid every day. I also have Fish Oil although I hardly ever take it.

I'll try not to eat everything in sight and will eat a lot of bananas and drink a lot of water!

I'll come back and let ya all know it went. I don't have anything scheduled yet and with the holiday next week it may not be until the following week. Thanks!!

I never had the IV ones but the pill ones kept me awake for over 36 hours and I got bronchitis while on them

Glad you liked the link in earlier reply.

It is just most people don't know some of the negative side effects of steroids are due to the reduction in the ability to absorb Calcium (Ca) and leeching potassium (K).

So speak to your doc about taking more of these vitamins with Vitamin D3 (tells your gut to absorb calcium), fish oil/ flax oil / GLA fats and magnesium to try and reduce the side effects

Best wishes,
EP

Just like any other drug or diet, some work for others and some don't work for others. Not a judgement call, just listen to your doctor, do your own research, and take a friend or relative in with you when you go so you will retain info much easier! Best of luck.

B

Be sure to take Pepcid prior to your first infusion, otherwise everything will taste like metal for a long time - YUCK! My experiences have'nt been energetic, but sleepy, I tend to sleep through 7 days of infusion. Perhaps my body is so drained by the time I actually get the steroids in my body has something to do with the way I feel. The results with solu-medrol (the I.V. steroid I use) are pretty miraculous. I have always returned to nomal from an exacerbation - almost immediate reaction by my body to steroids - thank God. The last time I gained 12 pounds, lost 7 right away, and two and a half months later, still need to lose about 3.5 pounds.
Best of luck to you with this treatment. I hope you get the positive results that I always have. Oh ya, baby your hair as steroids are hard on the hair - buy a protein shampoo (Aveda has a good one) and use it until the bottle is empty,,, your tresses will thank you!

Going in next Thurs, Fri. and Sat. at 8:00am all 3 days. Ok, so Pepcid, candy or breath mints, D3, Fish Oil, Magnesium and a good protein shampoo. Did I forget anything? Should I eat some bananas every day? I already have a few a week...