Hi Lisa,

I don't come around this forum much these days, but I happened to today and saw your posting.

Is there any chance you have an untreated infection going on right now, like your sinuses, a TOOTH, a UTI, etc? It has always been infection that has stirred up these attacks for me, so I must be sure to treat them promptly and fully when I get one.

During my first attack, the "on again/off again" stirring occurred for 18 months after the initial attack, and during the second one, it lasted for 2 years. I did not do steroids myself, but often-times people do, and that may only serve to interrupt the inflammatory process. Instead I opted to ride it out, because it seems our bodies want to go through that one way or another, and I'd rather get it over and done with (even if the relapse is more severe).

So it may be that the steroids calmed things down initially, but the relapse is back to 'finish the job'. Or, it may be the normal fluctuations that seem to happen for many of us for the (up to) 24 months after the initial relapse ... but if that is the case, for me it never got as the initial event. Or, perhaps it is infection ...

Please be sure you have NO infection going on though, especially with things like your teeth (my third attack was due to inflammation in a tooth and I didn't put 2+2 together at the time).

Cherie