Neuro is starting me on "Solumedrol 1000mg IVPB over 2 hours qd 5 days" infusions tommorrow thru Sat at the hospital (can come home each day after infusins).

What do I need to know? I am a little bit freaked right now - please walk me thru this and tell me it is no big deal

Thanks
jane

You might want to ask the infusion nurse if they can slow down the IV drip.

I just had IVSM over 3 days last month. The first day they did the drip over two hours. Made me feel really really really weird...and bloated from all that fluid. I had the nurse slow the drip down when it was about halfway thru that first day. The next two days she ran it slowly...took about five hours or more for it to finish those days.

and find a hard candy that you like. Solumedrol gives you a nasty taste in the mouth. (sugarfree is the best, but if you cant find a sugarfree that you like, just make sure you brush your teeth really well after sucking on a sugary hard candy)

I got a nice green apple candy. Tasted great and hid the taste of solumedrol. Mine was the sugary kind. It was an old fasionied candy...bought it at Cabela's. brand name was Claeys.

Some people like peppermints. When I had IVSM last year, I had Altoids Cinnamon candy...which was "curiously" too strong of a flavor for me, and didnt seem to mesh as well with the solumedrol. Green apple flavor was much better this year. Next time I get IVSM or even oral steroids, I'll be stocking up on the green apple candies. I want to find the sugarfree kind tho.

I did fine with the drip at full speed. didnt notice it one bit.

CANDY! rootbeer candy or lemon candy. while the infusion is happening you will get a very metal taste in your mouth. its awful! and will taint whatever you eat.

Make sure you eat BEFORE you go. Your nasty taste buds wont allow you to eat after, and sometimes an empty tummy makes you nauseous.

Some folks get grouchy. Warn your family that you are just fighting the meds, and not them.

Some folks cant sleep. If you are one of them, as for a pill to help.

Biggest thing of all is to try to relax, calm yourself and just get from point A to point B.

Come back and let us know.

1)Drink plenty of fluids before and after infusions.
2)Bring candy as suggested...I bring cinnamon candy. It really masks the metallic taste.
3)Eat a low-sodium diet during and the day after your infusions are finished. No more than 2000mg of sodium. This will help reduce weight gain.
4)You might get a headache and have some difficulty sleeping...but I always notice a diminishment of symptoms within a day or so.

Thank you!!! I knew if I asked you all would walk me through it and set me straight

(can you tell I'm nervous?)

I just finished a five day infusion last week. I would follow everything already mentioned and also try to eat foods high in potassium like leafy green veggies. It can also cause some muslce weakness and joint pain. You may feel a little off for about a week after getting the meds. I feel like I can't think clearly. Just remind yourself that feeling a little bad for a week or two will be worth it in the long run.

Nothing to add Jprinz....just wishing you well and hope it works..

My neuro made sure I had a sleeping pill. She didn't tell me anything about the metallic taste in my mouth. I had to find that out on my own. So take along some mints. Some people here have extreme cleaning streaks when they are on the Solu Medrol. So watch out!

Jane, I have them do it over an hour. It doesn't both me. I don't get that bad taste because I eat before the infusion, and drink water. I do mine at home now. I hate driving to the hospital. Veins are easier to find if you are well hydrated during the first heploc stick.

Use less salt in diet, and don't put any from the table on your food. You will retain water, or get a puffy face. Eat much more potassium, like yogurt, potatoes, some vegetables too. Potassium is lost with steroids.

If you feel energetic from it, don't clean the whole neighborhood, it is a false sense of lots of energy, and you will tire quickly, since you are in a relapse. You still need to rest.

I find when tired I sleep, I wake and get four good hours up, then I sleep again. I go with my body and get enough sleep that way. If you have a problem call your Neuro and get a script to help you sleep. Mine won't give me anything to help me sleep. She doesn't believe in it.

I don't get a taper of oral steroids when I get 1000 mg for 5 days. My Neuro thinks the high dose is enough. Each dr. is different that way.

If they leave the heploc in your arm, have them switch to the other arm if it hurts or gets red. I usually get three days on one heploc, and two on the other arm.

I cover it at night with a soft sock that I cut the foot part off and just slide it over the taped arm. It's easier to sleep better covered, and it feels good. To shower put a plastic bag over it with a rubber band over the wrist, or keep it outside the shower curtain of bath, if possible.

Wash hair in the kitchen sink, since you only have one hand to work with, or if you have help no problem. Just keep the site clean and dry.

The second day they just hook you up to the heploc in your arm (small connector). That way they don't have to keep sticking you.

If you get extra hungry, don't overeat, you will gain more than water weight. Water weight will leave over a few days of stopping the drip.

In the hospital they will offer you food and or drinks, you can bring your own if you want. I drink coffee, bring my favorite cookies (just a few). I bring reading material, or you can sleep if you want.

I may sleep when I am get home if needed. I wish you lots of luck and hope the steroids do their work right away. They may not, so don't be surprised if you have to wait for them to work.

I had my infusions run in over an hour, and the only side effect I noticed was the nasty taste in my mouth. Peppermint worked for me, but anything you like that will mask that metallic taste should be OK.

If you're not having the infusion early in the morning, then you might think about asking your doctor for a sleeping tablet for that night. Cortisone tends to make some people hyperactive and you might not sleep well otherwise.

Everyone is different though and what happens to us may not happen to you.

I wish you luck. Take a good book to read and some nice sweets to suck on.