NeuroTalk Support Groups - View Single Post

FaithS · 04-04-2011, 04:19 PM

I've been having some dizziness issues this past week. In my general MS history, these have normally been an indication of the beginning of a flare. Sometimes, in the more recent past, I have wondered if dizziness is becoming more of a residual symptom, that is mostly gone, but, re-occurs from time to time (once every couple of months, maybe).

In this case, I've had dizziness symptoms, probably 8-10 times in the past week. They are always fleeting (30 seconds or less), and, usually occur upon rising. (ie: at night, to get up for the bathroom, in the morning, or, following a nap). Occasionally, they've seemed to occur, during the day, without "rising" as a trigger. I've been keeping DH informed about them.

I tried, yesterday, taking some Meclizine (for dizziness) 4x per day, which Dr. L (my MS specialist) had rx for me in the past (probably, with the possibility of dizziness being a residual symptom), with no noticeable different results. This time, dizziness is probably occurring frequently enough for us to be able to assume that this may be the beginning of a flare.

The only other symptom that my DH and I are noticing is that I've seemed to be more tired the past few days. That is, also, sometimes (prior to mania), an early sign of a flare. I generally notice the physical symptoms, and, if there are memory or manic kinds of symptoms going on, he is often the first to pick those out. (Sometimes, I am able to notice changes in my thought patterns before DH does.)

I emailed Dr. L's nurse, regarding how to best treat this. (She generally responds quickly to emails; it is difficult to get her to respond to phone calls. Her office is located in KS City, 3 hours away.) I had fairly mixed feelings about how I'd wish to "treat" this flare. In the past, on Betaseron, if I had already gone this long in a flare, I'd likely already be manic, and, probably already hospitalized at a mental health facility.

Both DH and I seem to suspect that the Copaxone I am currently on seems to allow a flare to develop more slowly, and, perhaps, give us more time to assess things. I hate prednisone and its side effects. I dislike the weight gain that accompanies it. I dislike the nights of being unable to sleep, etc. However, I don't wish for this flare to progress to mania, even at a slow pace. Not with my daughter being home in less than 3 weeks, and her wedding coming up in May.

So, as I said, I was looking for some advice/input from Dr. L, regarding how to best treat this. (Decided to start with her, rather than going just through Dr. W, my PCP, who is locally located, but, has much less knowledge about MS.) I told her that I might lean to being somewhat conservative, perhaps (rather than aggressive) and, maybe not going for the full 5-day 1000mg treatment. But, being aggressive enough (even if it means the "full" treatment) to stop the flare before it becomes big.

Current symptoms are minor and manageable. Many people with MS would likely have the luxury of choosing not to treat the flare at all, and, just allow it to run its course. My MS history does not seem to allow me that choice.

Dr. L decided to rx 80mg per day, for 10 days, followed by a 9-day taper. Many doctors and pharmacists consider 100mg per day to be a high dose. So, even though this is considerably lower than the 1000mg I usually take, it is possibly high enough to stop the symptoms from increasing.

DH and I will continue to monitor for continued or increased symptoms.

~ Faith