I have been flaring lately, and I have been having massive cog difficulty, and now a dropped left foot, and increase in anxiety, and I just keep spinning. They are talking of advancing my dx from RRMS to SPMS and have asked me to go to the big girl hosptial tomorrow to talk about starting me on some IV Solumedrol.

So, im scared! I did steroids years ago, and have sworn the only way I would repeat them was if I had optic nerve issues. The trouble is this flare doesnt seem to want to break, and I am spiraling from one issue to the next, like my brain is really angry. I am considering letting them restart some steroids, but am lost, confused, cog fogged, and worried.

Tell me your stories please. What was your experience?

Oh Dej ...I'm so sorry the Beast is being so stubborn this time. I absolutely hate steroids. That being said, there are times when they're the only things that help. I don't have any good steroid stories to share, just wanted to give you a cyber-hug!

I also hate steroids so I do not have any good stories to share. I have only used iv 'roids once - 5 days/no taper. In retrospect, if I have to use them again, I will be asked to be closely monitored. Blood sugar , etc. My heart rate was rather rapid for several weeks. I am also not sure if they helped. The only good thing steroids is that I lost 50 pounds in the few months following my infusions. Of course, I gained it all back over the next year. My neuro and I have agreed to no more steroids unless I experience optic neuritis or significant, rapid impairment. Take care!

I won't do steroids again. Besides being terrible for your bones they really didn't provide me with the relief I thought they would. It just wasn't worth it to have to endure the side effects for such minimal improvement.

I had ON a couple of months ago and my Neuro recommended IVSM but I declined. My episode resolved itself within 4 weeks.

The only good story I have is, the first time I had IVSM, was in the hospital and about 2 weeks after, with some PT, I went back into remission.

However, it was short lived and a few months later, I had to do IVSM again and it didn't work....AT ALL.

I hated it the first time but even more the second time. I even tried it a third time, glutten for punishment that I was, and it did NOT work, again. No more roids for me.

I had segwayed into SPMS....and 'roids do not work on SPMSers (period, paragraph). I don't care what your Doc or anyone else says.

I still think your best bet is Paxil or some other dirty little SSRI.

3 rounds of IVSM 5 days, and 7 rounds of oral roids 10 days in a year and a half... I can say nothing nice about them, other than my doctor refuses to try them on me again. Good luck, hopefully your experience will be better than mine. I can say it was easier when they let me do them at home since I kept getting car sick from them and the ride to and from the hospital was horrible.

LOVE IVSM! I wish I could have it all the time, I'm not joking. It does keep me up late a little and make me irritable (I'm told) but they seriously help me every time.

My system has always been robustly tolerant of such things, I'll admit it, but please don't assume they're not for you until you've given them a chance for yourself.

Prednisone does a number on my mood and makes me eat everything in sight, nonstop, morning, noon and night.

They're delicious with fava beans and a nice chianti.

Jim loved his steroids too. He felt really good and wished he could have them all the time.

Hope you get relief too! Don't be scared.

I am sorry for making such a stupid broad statement about SPMSers not being helped by IVSM. I'm just mad that it doesn't work for me anymore.

Obviously, where there is inflamation, IVSM can help, at any stage of MS. As with anything else, just don't overuse it.

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!