Eye is 'worsening' ... but I'm not too surprised either. I know the steroids will take a while to work.

Went bright and early this morning to have round 2 of IV done, 3+ hours again on the drip. Still with the annoying port in my wrist too.

Weather's dreadful here today. Windy, rainy, cold. Isn't helping the 'healing' process, that's for sure.

Least I have plenty of yummy homemade comfort foods to eat. Made a carrot squash soup, seasoned with cinnamon. It's like Autumn in my mouth! Warmed me right up Cooking and baking are so rewarding and relaxing (I find!).

That soup sounds like a cure to me..

Feel better soon..

Thanks dear

It was really easy to make:

1) Cut a medium butternut squash in half, remove seeds, place on lightly oiled cookie sheet/pan in oven for 35-40 min at 350F.

2) Remove from oven, let cool, then scoop squash out of the skin. Toss skin.

3) Heat 2 TBSP oil (I used Olive Oil) in a pot on medium heat. Dice 1 medium onion, and about 2 inches of peeled and diced fresh ginger. Add to pot carefully when oil's heated. Continue on medium heat until onions turn translucent a bit.

4) Add 4 cups of water, 1 LB of peeled, diced carrots, the squash from earlier, and the diced ginger. Bring to a boil.

5) Continue to boil (I put my burner to 7-8 of 10) for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender.

6) Remove and let cool a bit. Then take the mix and put in a food processor. Puree the mix.

7) Divide into 4 potions (or whatever you choose). You can add salt/pepper at re-heat to taste, but I don't, I add 2 pinches of cinnamon and it tastes sooooooooooooooooooooo good! Warms the tummy up nice.

(had to share... such an easy recipe to make!)

Day 3. Went fine. I guess the Solu Medrol doesn't so much taste like pennies (as I recall) but it has a nasty taste. I realized after my coffee was gone how gross the drip tastes!

I was so excited to be at day 3.... yay they'll take the port out for a night and put a new one for the last 2 days! Wrong! They said I have great 'return' through the current vein (after flushing the line) and they're trying to see if I can go through the full 5 days with only the 1 port. Sigh....

Can you guess who will be washing their hair with 1 hand tonight? :\

I'm noticing a flaring up of other MS symptoms that had been dormant for quite a long time. I am guessing this is my disease and body's initial kick back punch. I feel worse now than when I originally started the steroids! I'm wearing my sunglasses indoors (tried an eye patch - wasn't good) which helps a bit, but lucky me, my trigeminal nerve's flared to heck and the arm of the sunglasses pinches my head in a spot that's in pain/sensitive. I can't win!

Least the sunglasses cut the brightness down significantly on the PC. With that said, I can't look at black on white very long, or the eye worsens/pain increases.

Day 5 done, IV SM done, port out of the wrist. Eye has not improved, but isn't worse today from yesterday either.

Now I do a 7 day taper (8x4x8x4x8x4x8 prednisone/day) and see my GP this week coming. I have no idea when I'll see my neurologist yet. Haven't heard a peep from his office.

I had postpartum optic neuritis about 9 moths after the delivery of my first child in 1984. A few weeks of blurred vision which later resolved. My daughter also had the same thing after the deliver of her daughter, Blurred vision in the ribht eye that later cleared up. I don't know if this has anything to do with the Valsalva maneuvers associated with childbirth or not. Had 14 years of no symptoms after the CIS of optic neuritis. Then have gotten progressively worse the past 6 years to where now I'm considered SPMS.

Were you Diagnosed with MS before or after the birth of your child? How long, before DX, did you have MS symptoms?

Dmplaura, I have no experience with ON - yet - but I wanted to drop you a note telling you how sorry I am that you are dealing with this. I remember seeing a message you left a few weeks ago stating that you were fortunate to have avoided many of the typical MS issues so far. I feel the same way, although I know that it can change at any time.

I just wanted to let you know that I noticed your change in status and wanted to track you down and tell you that you're in my thoughts.

Laura, how are you doing?

Awww thanks guys and gals!!!! I am 'sick' for my mood, only because a more 'fitting' word wasn't available!

Overall I'm doing okay. Eye's slowly improving, however I attribute this to time away from computer and tv. Wearing my shades everywhere too.

I'm off work until at least November 14. My GP was great, called up the neuro, asked me about Copaxone (to which I said I don't believe 30% is 'right' for me to go back on it). She didn't argue with me one bit, just noted it down.

My neuro, whenever I see him, may have a different opinion.

I discussed my week of prednisone with my GP as well, said I didn't think a 7 day, 8,4,8,4,8,4,8 (day to day) would be sufficient as a taper.. and asked "Was I put on this dosage as to discuss how to add more 'weeks' on to the current prescription?" The other doc I'd seen had made no note as such, but my doctor agreed that I should be extended on the prednisone, so that's what we discussed doing (rather than take 8 pills for the last dose per above, I'll take 6 and then begin the next prescription which will slowly ween me off).

Anyways, as I work 100% on computer, and my eye needs to 'heal' (and isn't close to being back to 'good') I'm off work for a month. Which is okay with me, I'm still paid via STD (short term disability) since I'm salaried. So the time off will probably be just what was needed for me.

Just trying to de-stress, rest up, and enjoy 'Laura' time. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts again, I really appreciate it.