I havent slept yet, I dont feel all that good and I've just gotten really anxious.

I just finished the antibiotics for the UTI, and this morning, I'm feeling like I still have a UTI. The numbness that I've had feels like it's coming back...tightness around the ribs that had actually gone away several days ago is back.

My left leg is numb and burning, my right leg isnt as numb, but it's really weak and I can barely move my foot. The numbness is creeping across my waist, and the numbness that had gone away in my back a few days ago is back.

I feel cold and I'm shaking, I constantly have to go to the bathroom and I just cannot sleep. (I've been trying since about 2 or 3am, it's 630am now)/

The panicked person in me is thinking that the UTI isnt gone and the MS is mad at me because I apparently didnt get the right antibiotic, or the UTI is gone, but it's done it's damage and is out ot get me now.

I dont know if I should call the neuro's office if I should go wake up my dad and see what he thinks. (he's a nurse)

anyone out there want to try to reassure me that the MS isnt about to do something more horrible to me,. All week my walking has been getting worse (using my mom's rollator and the wall to get around) and I think the stress of it has just been getting to me.

I dont know if I want to do steroids again, but if this is screwing around with my ability to walk....I may have to. I really hate this. I think I'm going to go wake up my dad.

Erin, every time my H gets a UTI he gets very weak like you, his mobility gets much much worse (can't uise his canes and has to use a wc) etc.

He often winds up in bed for a couple of days. UTIs always seem to make ms much worse for a time. But my H always goes back to the way he was before the infection, in about a week.

Hope this helps. Please try not to panic -- the stress will only make you feel worse.

What did he say?

hugs for you. When I am in a panic, its really not something I can be dragged out of unless I rest, and get some sleep behind me. Sleep deprivation really adds quickly to mine. I hope you find a nap.

I went upstairs, and my parents were still asleep (it was 7am) and I decided not to wake them, so instead of going back downstairs (on the noisy stair lifty elevator thing we have) I stayed up there. Sat in my mom's chair which is one of those made for handicap people. Electronic controls to lay you back, and when you get up, push the button, and it lifts you to a near standing position. It's a very comfortable chair, even after my mom slept in it for a year after breaking her shoulder.

My parents have a couple of down filled small throw blankets up there. I grabbed one, and tried to sleep. My dad got up about 20 minutes later, and I was still wide awake.

He came out into the living room and sat on the couch and went back to sleep. I think listening to my dad sleeping, and comfyness of my mom's chair helped me to fall asleep for two hours until the cable guy showed up.

nothing is any worse except that I feel like I'm trying to walk on the moving deck of an old time clipper ship or something, and there's a hurricane going on.

I took my last antibiotic this morning and right now I feel like I just got another uti. Keep having to go potty. I'm hoping that's because I've been sucking down water all week and I'm just trying to get rid of the extra. OR I'm hoping this is a side effect to the antibiotic.

I am so tired and wobbly and I want to get my hair cut and go rollator shopping. But, I'm so tired.

This MS crap is really starting to suck. I want to send it back to wherever it came from. I dont like it at all. I want my old normal life and real body back.

I'd like to suggest that you contact your local MS chapter and ask about psychological services that they offer or can refer to. Anxiety is an AWFUL demon and does nothing to help the disease.

I see someone on a regular basis and it is so very helpful especially when times are tough. It is an out-of -pocket expense for me. But I believe that mental health is paramount when contending with physical challenges and that I am worth it!

The internet is good for support up to a point, but if you really want to not panic and get help managing the anxiety, consider calling in the professionals

All I can tell you is my experience, Erin.

During my last relapse I was terrified because I had foot drop on the right side and was really scared I wouldn't drive again.

It took a while (about a month or so) but the foot drop went away ! I did do a 3 day course of iv solumedrol (1000 mg each day).

People can and do recover from relapses without lasting issues; I'm proof of that.

You probably know this but I'll tell you anyway, the steroids won't make any difference in whether you'll recover from the relapse. They will only speed up the process (hopefully).

Feel better soon!

Erin,

Get re-checked for a UTI. Sometimes the antibiotic doesn't completely get rid of the UTI or it wasn't the correct one.

I had a UTI in Oct 2010 and then another one in Jan 2011. I didn't have any of the typical symptoms that one usually gets that indicate a UTI.

What I did have with both UTIs: tremors/shaking that were becoming non-stop, feeling very weak, trouble walking, and very tired. When I went in to see my PCP I was weak and shaking enough I had a very difficult time getting up on the exam table. The shaking were even affecting my speech.

It was confirmed I had a UTI.

Also consider a yeast infection as a possibility. Anytime I am prescribed antibiotics I also get diflucan to avoid a yeast infection. Unfortunately, it didn't help with the second UTI...I got a yeast infection which caused the same symptoms I had with the UTI.

Snoop! On the same track as me!

I called the doctor's office and had the on-call PA call me back. She said it sounded from my symptoms that maybe the UTI was still there, but also suggested that there could be a yeast infection, which I had already considered, but wanted to ask about before I took one of my two diflucans that I have in my stash of meds. (I had a 100mg in a bottle, and a 150mg blister pack)

I'm giving the diflucan a few hours to get going to see if that helps before I take the Cipro that the PA Rx-ed. If the symptoms dont let up or feel worse, I'll start the Cipro. Just want to hold off on another antibiotic that I know will wake up the yeastie beasties, so I'm giving the diflucan a chance. So far, I think it's working. I was starting to get a sore throat today and weird little cough, so it might have been a yeastie beastie getting mad.

Anyone know if yeast infections can trigger MS flares??

I got to the pharmacy/med supply store today, and we not only got me a rollator, we bought my mother a brand new one to use when we go out. Ok, we're sharing that one. It'll be the outside only walker. (mom actually walks better than me now, she just doesnt have stamina) She really needed a new outside walker. The old one was about 6yrs old and had seen a couple of really nasty winters. We're keeping the old one because the new one doesnt have a basket, and my mom likes to have a basket. So if we both have to go somewhere together, we can take both and then fight over who gets the new one.

Didnt use insurance to get them so the pharmacy gave us the best possible price $199/per rollator. Not sure if that's expensive, but we got the rollators right off the "showroom" floor, so they were completely assembled and didnt have the wheels on backwards like the sample rollator at the Costco store. No assembly required.

IMO, yes. Viruses, infections, and, for me at least, allergies all seem to trigger MS flares/symptoms. Sometimes the flares are psuedo and sometimes they are the full blown thing. Stress triggers symptoms as well. I think anything that taxes our immune system has the potential to cause a flare or pseudo-flare.

Remember to drink plenty of fluids while you are on these meds to keep you hydrated and help flush the nasties out. Also, eat yogurt to keep your natural tummy bacteria in balance. I always do that when I am on antibiotics and it helps prevent secondary tummy troubles as well as yeast infections.

I hope you start feeling better soon. You've really had a go of it lately and I hope things settle down for you.