I've had IV Solumedrol 2X. The 1st was 3 days (in office- lab) - the 2nd was 5 days (home health care). It did not help me either time. I'm still in the flair the 5 days in Oct was to have stopped.

The 1st time I had IVSM was worse then the 2nd. I had all the bad yuck, pain, sleep, taste, food... I really had no problems from the 2nd time except having a poor spot for IV. That was the fault of the nurse. I was scared of the 2nd time too. I may have got lucky - this is just what I experenced.

Yes, I would try again if it was belived it would help.

I hope you feel better soon - take care!

Dej, I happen to love them. When a flair lasts long, it goes acute and needs something strong.

I have had so many types of oral ones for 25 years and they don't help me anymore, but do make me moon faced and sick to the stomach. I only take IVSM when my mobility is effected, or for symptoms other than sensory symptoms.

With the IVSM I have had it 5 days, 10 days, 5 days and 5 days, and recently 5 days in the past. No oral taper. I get 1000 mg a day. Sometimes they do 750 mg day one, 1000 mgs for 3 days and day 5, another 750 mg as the taper.

I have it done at home. The Infusion nurse puts in the heploc, the pharmacy delivers the little 5 tiny balls in 5 little pumps. I connect myself up and walk around and do what I want. I love the little pump balls. Not much salt and water to bloat you. No metallic taste.

I eat well before infusion, and nap after. Then I am good to go. You can have the nurse come daily to connect you or a family member. Just twist and connect. They give you saline and/or hep to add before and after, to keep from getting any clotting. A nice clean line to connect to.

The IVSM stays in the refrigerator until three hours before you use it so it is warmer when put inside the body, rather than cold from the refrigerator.

They work for me. I take extra calcium, magnesium, zinc combo and vitamin D for the bones. I take food with extra Potassium in them, like a potato or a banana, etc.

This is just my way of making them work for me without the hassle of going to the hospital.

I hope you feel better soon. Good luck to you.

I still dont know if I will do it or not, but either way, its time to go. I will let you know later what I decide. its a 2 hour drive one way to this place, so it wont be till much later.

Have a safe trip. You'll make the right decision.

saw the big girl hospital today, and I am starting IVSM tomorrow. They wanted to do it there today, but its 2 hours from home, and I didnt want to start treatment, only to have to ride in a car for 2 hours afterwards. it wont kill me to wait a day. So..tomorrow is the big day. wish me luck.

Deji -

Good luck with the steroids....may it be seamless, painless, quick, and easy for you...and of course, bring you much needed relief!!! (As I said in my posts above, I definitely find them worth it....and you can always look at it this way - what do you have to lose really - well, besides for time and money - but you have lots to gain if they work!!)

I also agree about not accepting the SPMS label......let them "think" what they want as long as the papers still say RRMS!!!

~Keri

Hope it helps. I had a 3 day treatment last month, and it was great...all sxs went away...for a whole 7 days. Then they all crept back within a week
Just be careful about how many days/amount of chemicals infused. And I hope they watch your glucose levels during infusion.

Don't have more than 2000 mg sodium each day and also the day after your last infusion. It will reduce swelling, etc. Good luck with this, by the way. It's nuts and berries/raw food and little else.

day one over. it was fine actually. I only have a nasty taste in my mouth. the lemon candy really does help. They left the IV in since I am such a bad stick. now I cant bend my arm..

I am tired, not buzzed, and my DH said my speach pattern is already better. I was halting my words, and picking out wrong words before. he said my speach is already more fluent and less of a worry tone. I guess I was messed up in the head huh?

anyway. im going to bed. one down, 2 to go.

Thats awesome Dejibu! Glad to hear it helped already! All it did for me was give tons of energy (i dont drink coffee, just 1 coke with lunch) so I used it. Went shopping, cleaned car, house, exercised, ect! Also had the nasty taste in mouth. It goes away by next day dont worry.

I had the same inhome precharged 1G balls that sure make nurses job easier. I still speak with her. She was awesome too. I had 1g x 3 days. Drink lots of water that morning and do curl exercises if possible. The fact that curls get your veins to show give me drive for more reps.

Yeah for you Dej. That is so great that you feel some good effects already. I wonder why I always get 5 days or more? Then others get 3 days. Hmm

What dosage of IVSM did you get today? ..and the next two days?

Rest. I find I may sleep four hours, wake four, sleep four and so on, until I eventually sleep the whole night and sometimes 8 to 9 hrs once I am better.

I always keep the hemlock in my vein too. Put some paper bandage tape if they didn't secure it. I take a nice soft fluffy sock and cut the toe off. I slip that over my hemlock and that way I can sleep without pulling on the connection in my vein.

To shower I put a small, clean, kitchen garbage bag over the arm and put a rubber band so water does not wet the arm. I try to keep my arm up in the shower too.

Just things I do, maybe you have your own method. I wish you great success with the steroids. I am glad you were a brave girl.