Any advice you would like to share would be most welcome. I have felt like a truck has hit me the last 3 days - wobbly legs, numb, blurred vision a little and so tired I can't sleep. Dr advised me coming in tomorrow for IV for next 3 days. I'm hoping this will help - but I have heard of side effects so your first hand comments would be great. I have a tendancy to get anxiety easily, and I"ve heard that getting the tapered packs would help this? Also - is it best to get something to help you sleep? I haven't slept the last 2 nites so really don't need to fight sleep any further. Thanks for your advice.

It's been a long time since I had IVSM, but my Neuro gave me valium with it. Seemed to help with the not sleeping thing and the anxiety thing. She also gave me potassium because Steroids lower our potassium level.

Good Luck and lots of hugs..

I stringly suggest you get a big bag of mints to take with you. You acquire a horrible taste from the IV. The mints really help. Also, my doctor gave me ambien which really helped with the sleeping issue. Also if you easily retain water, tell your doctor this. The Iv tends to make you balloon up. Good luck tomorrow. Oh and drink plenty of fluids.

Good advice all around...my Dr's office even had a big jar of assorted mints and candies
for patients! My last experience, 2 mo ago, was fairly easy and I was feeling better even
after the first day!

Hope you have a bearable experience and get some symptom relief as well!

kami

Piece of cake, don't sweat it, honest! Sometimes I do get the 'metallic taste' from it and the best help I have found is rootbeer or ginger candy.

I recently discovered that wintergreen Altoids do the trick neatly too (so strong, they come in a metal box ).

I don't really get a lot of side effects from it, usually just that bloated feeling from the additional fluid on board. You'll do fine!

I have had 4 IVSMs since November, and every time I do, the spasticity and pain are gone within a day, and I'm walking like a 30 yr old again instead of an 80 yr old...and bladder issues get much better, too, which is great!
I heard that cinnamon candy helps with the metallic taste. And my NP gives me Ambien CR to help me sleep the first couple of nights. I do retain water the first week or two...so exercise more or eat less. Eat bananas, too, since I heard it affects your potassium levels.
Let us know how it goes...and good luck

The only thing I noticed with IV Methypred was that nasty metallic taste in my mouth.

Everyone here pre-warned me so I took mints with me to the hospital.

I didn't yet the "hyper" effect that some get. I didn't get the "roid rage" that others get, in fact I didn't get any side effects except the nasty taste in my mouth.

Everyone is different and what happens to one will not necessarily happen to another, so go there thinking positive..... and don't forget your mints.

Relax about the IV! Remember you may or may not get side effects that you had before OR that other people have had.

The metallic taste is just plain weird. I couldn't shake mine, but it didn't put me under either!

I turn into a not so nice person on steroids, BUT it helps the symptoms, so we all endure it.

Good Luck!

Mints, Ambien and relax!