Hospitalized?
 

My dad had MS for 40+ years, and was never hospitalized for it (after his initial diagnosis). I've been diagnosed for over 6 years, symptoms going back 10...and not been in the hospital so far.

How many of you have had to be hospitalized because of MS? How many times? Has it been for IV steroids, or other? Was it directly MS ("my left side stopped working") or indirectly ("I lost my balance, fell, and broke my arm")?

I know it will probably be a small sample, but just curious.

I have been inpatient 2x. Once for severe sx related to MS, and the other was for blindness from optic neuritis and they wanted to keep a close eye on my optic nerve with constant exams...

Most folks do IVSM outpatient now. Hospitals are dirty places full of virus' and germs and we as the immune compromised want to stay away.

I've been hospitalized 4 times in 40 years. I started young;)
ANN

I had surgery in November 2011 but came home the same day. I wish I had stayed at least one night. It did cause my MS to flare up and I'm still dealing with some weakness on my left side but that's about it. Nothing as bad as I envisioned.

The last time I was hospitalized before that was in 1986. At that time I didn't have (or know about) MS.

But no hospitalization related to MS?

Not for me. :)

I just reread your post and see that you asked specifically about being hospitalized because of MS. :o Sorry......got holes in my brain!

I was dx in January of 2006. I've only been hospitalized once for MS and that was just recently. It was for MS symptoms and to make sure the steriods were calming things down. (Eyesight, weakness, unable to walk, etc.). I've only done steroids 3 times but this past time was the only time they kept me in the hospital overnight (2 nights) for them.

I have never been hospitalized since being dx. I did spend 10 hours in the ER a few weeks prior to dx. I have had IV steroids once (five days in a row:eek:) right after I was dx. It was done on a outpatient basis at a local clinic.

Tell me about it. Still fighting Rash from hell, gifted to me by the hospital.:mad:

3x here.. 1. For DX in 1976 2. for flare and 2nd DX in 1991/92 3. for fall, flare and PT/OT Nov 2011.

Here is my recent hospital HORROR story...
 

http://www.thisisms.com/forum/antibi...opic19500.html

jackD

p.s. I still cannot believe that I was in the Hospital for about 60 days.

Wow Jack, how awful for you..:hug:

You sure got me to thinking that maybe my so called diaper rash is Mirsa and I better get some medical help. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Damn hospitals!!!!:mad:

I agree Sally, if something isn't healing or clearing up in a normal amount of time get it checked out.

Sally

I also had the diaper rash problem and I learned that it required an ANTIFUNGAL CREAM to treat it.

The antibiotic creams and ointments did not work.

My dermatologist put me on Nystatin and Triamcinolone Accetonide Cream.

The second ingredient is a corticosteroid.

jackD

I probably should have done this as a poll, but couldn't figure out how to do the choices...I thought of this:
1. I have never been hospitalized due to MS
2. I have been hospitalized due to MS once
3. I have been hospitalized due to MS 2-3 times
4. I have been hospitalized due to MS more than 3 times.

HOWEVER--it occurs to me that those questions don't factor in how long someone has been diagnosed. For example, if someone has had MS for thirty years and been hospitalized twice, that's way different than someone being hospitalized twice who's only been diagnosed six months.

Maybe there's no good way to find out what I want to know. Or maybe I can find a study somewhere.

I've been hospitalized twice, spring 2005 and 2006 for MS. I had five days of heavy IV steroids each time. I feel like the roids did more harm than good. I'd had leg weakness and some other scarey symptoms like affecting my bowel, bladder, speaking etc... But the aftereffects of the steroids were horrible and I'll likely never use them again if I can avoid it.

I've been hospitalized once due to the effects of steroids, but never from MS directly.

I had a bad flare six months after diagnosis and almost couldn't walk. My neuro put me on IV steroids and I had a sixteen hour attack of full body paralysis. It took a few years after that, but we now know why I can't do steroids. :rolleyes:

You mean that the IV steroids caused your paralysis? Wowee!:eek:

Well, they triggered an attack of paralysis.

I have HypoKalemic Periodic Paralysis. The steroids aggravated it and caused a 16 hour attack. I went in and out of attacks for the next five days. When in an attack, I cannot move in any way, not even my face, and breathing becomes difficult. I had 3 sternum rubs in less than 12 hours and could not respond to one of them. Boy let me tell you what though, I wanted to punch the last guy who did one, those things HURT!

So steroids are a big no-no for me. Now we know :p My next appointment with my neuro after getting out of the hospital she told me that if she ever recommended steroids to me again I should run screaming from the room, or hobble, whichever the case may be. :)

It's okay though, just means we have to find ways to be creative when treating anything to do with the MS because a lot of meds affect the periodic paralysis.

Wow, that is amazing. You must have been terrified! I had no idea that steroids could bring on paralysis. I had awful symptoms from using huge dose steroids (not for MS), and I too will never go on them again unless it is a life and death situation.

Well I don't know what they can do in a person who doesn't have periodic paralysis already. This wasn't my first attack of paralysis, it was my worst by far though.

Sorry you have issues with the steroids as well.