Keri,

Each time you use steroids, it reduces the effect they will have on your system the next time you take them. Depending on the dose and how long you take the the medication will determine how many times your system is able to tolerate them. They can have some nasty side effects on you as well.

I just read the other day about a long term study they did on patients who used steroids for their MS. The conclusion was that while steroids reduce the symptoms of the patient during an attack, they had no effect on the course of the disease.

Harry

Call your doctor Keri,

one time I had more steroids in a similar situation....ask the doc, he/she will say yeah or nay!

Keri, I happen to agree with Harry.

Steroids are meant for acute exacerbation and not symptom management. Steroids have some short term and long term side affects and depending on your symptoms steroids can just be a short term "fix" for what can be a long term problem. And as Harry mentioned, the more you use steroids the less affective they become. Also, some will go into remission without the use of steroids.

Unfortunately, there is no quick or permanent fix to MS. Steroids help some but not others just like the DMDs - some find relief with them and some still progress.

There are symptom management meds that might help control some of your symptoms - please talk to your neuro. I know it's difficult to understand but having MS can mean learning to live with symptom(s) and adapting when necessary.

This disease is unpredictable and it's very possible to be at your worst and down the road realize you aren't doing as bad. If nothing else this disease will teach you patience.

Here is some information on steroids -
http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclero...iple-sclerosis

Hi Keri!

I know how hard this is when you are first diagnosed. Everything comes at you at high speed, LOL!

Everyone is telling you to be patient. That's the best advice I've ever gotten. I am not a patient person.

You need to take the time to make the decisions that are best for you. Base your decisions on research, from reputable places like the NMSS, that you've done yourself.

Sometimes, I have found, you know yourself better than your doctor.

I hope your having a better day today!

Steroids are not "tylenol" for this disease, and as Harry and Snoopy have pointed out, the use of them is not to be taken lightly.

Please review the following information . . .

NMSS; steroids do not effect the course of the disease, and short and long-term effects of using them:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/doc...nm_relapse.pdf

NMSS: people treated with oral steroids for ON did not do as well as those who didn't, and the use of them caused an increased risk of recurrence:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/doc...onproblems.pdf

Optic Neuritis Treatment trial results:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/neitrials/vie...Web.aspx?id=47

Potential long and short-term side effects of steroid use:

Short term use:
- allergic reaction
- insomnia
- psychiatric disturbance
- stomach upset
- fluid retention
- increased appetite
- acne
- bone damage/avascular necrosis (although rare, it can occur even after a single dose of steroids)

Long-term use:
- weight gain
- high blood pressure
- cataracts
- hardening of the arteries
- diabetes
- life threatening infections
- osteoporosis, or other bone damage

Steroid Side Effects: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methprd_ad.htm

Steroid Warnings: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methprd_wcp.htm

Cherie

I have had tons of steroids and always bad short-term effects of swelling hands and feet, weight gain etc.


After my second cataract surgery (first one at 40yrs of age) and a bone density test that showed I have have a lot of damage I decided NO MORE steroids.


I got enough things going wrong and don't need to add to the list.

I had the steroids once (2 weeks of an oral prednisone taper)

I hated the side effects (constantly needing to go potty, stomachache, the opportunistic infections, and the bouncing off the walls)

Having said that tho, the reason why I took the steroids was because I had vertigo. Vertigo that would hit me with no warning, and would knock me to the floor and wouldnt let me get back up.

Vertigo is the worst symptom of MS that I've had so far. (2nd worst would be optic neuritis, but I never got steroids for that)

If I ever get the vertigo back (and I'm sure I will) I'll happily take the steroids for it, as long as it's IV steroids, I dont want to do the oral again if I dont have to. (I wonder if you have to do the oral taper after having the IV steroids?)

As much as I want to take a steroid for the occasional numb sensations, I wont ask my neuro for any unless it's a symptom that keeps me from having an everyday life. I'm saving the steroids for another major vision problem, vertigo, or a paralysis of any kind.

I can deal with numbness and pain and the other wacky carp that MS gives me. I may go a bit mad sometimes trying to deal with it, but I want to hold the steroids in reserve for bigger problems.