I'm getting pretty tired of it. I called my nuero this week and all she did was order another Medrol dose pac. Last week when she did that it gave me wonderful relief the first day and then as each passing day when the dose went down, the pain came back. I'm trying something different with dose pack. I'm taking all the days pills at one time every morning. I don't know if that will do any thing different or not. But as expected, I had a good day today because I started the med yesterday. So I probably did to musc.

My families Christmas is at my house this Saturday. All of them know that my house won't be spotless and decorated for Christmas and they don't care. I just want to enjoy the time with them and the new baby. So I hope history won't repeat itself and I am having more pain as the dose goes down.

Right now I am down. We draw names now for Christmas. I don't like it but go along wtht it. I think it gives the children the wrong impression of Christmas. We have one family that has had car trouble and won't be able to come. They usually make excuses not to come. So of course they have our name. My husbadn thinks it's silly to give presents, one daughter has no money, the other will give even if it puts her in debt and now the family that drew our name isn't coming. In the past, we have sent them a nice Christmas box, really loaded. And they send nothing in return. I know that's not the right spirit but right now I hurting and I'm feeling a little hum bug. Maybe my own little pity party. Sorry for the rant

Hey Doydie, I understand the rant. What a bummer, to still have that darn old pain and then a pain in the neck relative, trying their best to ruin your Christmas Celebration....sheesh!!

Well you just make up your mind right now, to have a marvelous time with your Family. And buy yourself a nice gift.... something you've wanted for a long time, and wrap it up and put it under the tree, for yourself.

Have a Wonderful time, Doydie, and Merry Christmas on Saturday.

Love and Hugs,

Hi,
You are right to be hurt by the people who continually treat you rude. Who wouldn't be. It isn't the giving so much as the lack of respect, right?

I don't know what your doc said you had because this is the first time I have seen a posting of yours. The medrol pac as you probably know is prednisone. It is used as an anti inflammatory.

The first day or two are pain free and put some people in a state of euphoria and hyper-drive. As you back-down on the dose, the pain comes back and there is a big drop in mood also. It is natural and it is not you. Prednisone is considered the BEST/WORSE drug on the market, mainly because of the side-effects.
Go on-line and research the side-effects. It does help to understand what you are feeling. Prednisone can have a big affect on some people mentally too.

I am on the back-down after almost 5 months. I am beginning to get all of my symptoms back also because I am at 20 mg from 65 mg.
Not everyone has all of the side-effects but it sounds like you are having some.

It doesn't help that it is the holidays. Don't be so hard on yourself.
Take care and give yourself a break. Christmas can be a tough holiday on people for many reasons. The economy hasn't helped any of us.
warm regards and a better 2007 to you,
Judy

Thanks guys. I have had a Medrol/Prednisone or any other kind of cortisone dose pack quite a lot in the past. That used to be one of the only things that would help an antibiotic take care of a nasty sinus infection. Since MS though I only use it if really needed for MS sx. I know what it can do and I want to protect my bones and anything else it can effect.

Yes, I will have a wonderful Christmas because my family will be together and it is a celebration of Jesus birth. I get my daughter and her two girls here at my house for two days! One of those girls is my new 6 week old grand baby. I always buy myself something for Christmas. This year it was a remote start for our van. I laugh at my husband now. He has really been ogling this big screen TV at Sams. Before Christmas it was on a nice sale price but now it's back up to its unapproachable price. Well for us.

Well my rest period is over and it's back to house cleaning again.

Hey, Doydie. Soooooooo sorry you are having to deal with that pain. It sure makes the tough things tougher. I am disabled with chronic (never ending and uncurable) pain, and one of the worst places is in my left leg. So, I inderstand. Don't let it get you down. Fighting depression is a trick unto itself!!!

And don't let the bad boys get you down!!! There are always those who are takers, thinking nothing of giving. Excuses. I am also familiar with that. But, I also know the feeling of what it is like when nothing is under the tree for me. It hurts. I was blessed this year, and felt like a kid with goodies...but, I have been where you are.

Anyway, I am thinking of you, and praying for you. A blessing is right around the corner!!!

your friend.....sally

Christmas was somewhat yucky in a manner somewhat similar to yours. But over the years I've learned to be grateful just to see my son, his wife, and his two little boys. I have learned to expect nothing (some Christmases were absolutely nothing) and then anything that comes along is a delightful surprise. I am so grateful that my kids are absolutely healthy so far. But of course they have a heap of living to do to learn what's what in some areas.

Well, I can't take any of those prednisone things. I can only take demerol for pain. I am concerned because I've taken it more than I was lately. So I'm working on a new thing--finding out about thrombocythemia. I have an above average amount of platelets. This can cause the pain in my feet, even though I am not yet at the stage where the thrombocythemia is official. I got in touch with an on-line group who address myoproliferative diseases. Three of them are in my immediate area. I am going to try what one of them suggested, take one-fourth of a regular aspirin (not baby aspirin) a day, chew it, then rinse the mouth and wash the teeth. I am hoping this may help my foot pain, which does aggravate me when I have to be on my feet, for the first time in my life, really, during the last months. It may be I have not been able to take aspirin because of taking the prohibited baby aspirin (wrong coatings, probably) and not chewing it. Worth a try.

Mariel

Well I finished the dose pac on Monday but of course it was New Years day and couldn't call the doc. Sooooo, I was going to call today. I have a bad problem with being a procrastinator. Plus my Mom had a doctors app't today and it lasted 3 hours form time picking her up till I got home. I was absolutely exhausted. I had what I like to 'fondly' refer to as an Avonex night last night. I dreamed weird dreams and didn't get much deep sleep at all. So as soon as I got home I went to bed. Yeah, you got it. I couldn't sleep. So I didn't call. So tomorrow I have to call. The pain is increasing again daily. It's not at all what it was 5 weeks ago but I'm tired of it. I would put it about a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1-10.

Hi Doydie,

Well, you sound like you had a satisfactory holiday season with the family and grand kids. Aren't grand kids great fun to visit and then when they poop or wet their diapers you just give them back to their parents. I love that part. I have two grandsons ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old. It is such great fun to play and talk to them. Of course little brother gets into whatever big brother is doing and in his house Thomas the train is the big thing right now.

As for your pain it seems that they could put you on Tramedol to take care of the pain. It is like a super strong Ibuprofen without the side effects. I love it for my chronic leg and back pain and it works great for headaches also. Try to keep the Prednisone at a minimum because it too has some serious side effects including leaching of calcium from the bones. Weakening the muscles from the bone, and unwanted weightgain that is hard to lose.

Do what you have to that works for you best.

Well I have an appointment for Jan 18 unless there is a cancellation earlier. Now as far as the steroids. I have found out that I am pre-diabetic, probably due to my generous size. So the steroids are probably the reason for my nice yeast infection.

Have u tried Lyrica? it does help a lot w/
neuro pain.
I take 50mg at night but I can increase
the dosage if needed.

Hope you find relief soon.