pseudo flare while still in a flare?
 

This may sound crazy. As most of you know I had surgery last week which caused the MonSter to rear its ugly head and bite at me. Not at all surprised by this, was surprised the new symptoms it created went away the next day. So I assume this is a pseudo flare?

Fun part... did my Avonex shot last night, woke up this morning with a fever and yucky stuff at the incision, looks like I am getting an infection, so the new numbness I woke up with doesn't surprise me either.

Following up with surgeon this afternoon. But here is the question...

My original "flare" never remitted. It's been over a year and the neuro agrees that it is still the same flare and not residual effects, or whatever. Now with the symptoms and times I have experienced them in the last week and because they didn't stick around, I would by all means call them the pseudo. But is it possible to have both at the same time? Because that seems crazy to me.

I don't have answers for you Legzz, but keep a close watch on that infection at the incision site. You know us MSers don't do well with infection in our body. :hug:

Im glad you see the surgeon today....feel better:hug:

It's always confusing to me whether it's a flare or a pseudo flare. I do know that any kind of infection will cause any sx to worsen and new ones to show up (sometimes). Make sure you get something for it (the infection) and start taking it ASAP. I'm wondering why they didn't put you on something when you were released just in case. Better safe than sorry.

Get thee to the Doc's as quick as a bunny..:hug:

an increase in body temp from the infection can make ya do all sorts of crazy stuff. the lesions get overactive when the body temps go up.

Call the MD. Get some help for the infection as quickly as you can. :hug:

Nope my neuro is God apparently.

I drove all the way to the doc (52 miles each way) by myself because he would not call me in an antibiotic without seeing the incision. And we do the follow up about the pain, the MS probs, and the fever/ infection.

He tells me..."it's such a minor infection that I would treat it topically, and recommend tylenol for the low grade fever, which was 100.9 when I got there. "If it goes above 101 come back", but he does not feel comfortable prescribing me more antibiotics because I am on immune suppressive drugs to treat the MS.

The pain is from my uterus spasming and he will be happy to call me in more pain pills (which I don't want)... and to follow up with my neuro!

I feel like I drove over 100 miles with a fever and stitches for nothing. All for him to tell me that the reason it's taking longer to heal is because I have MS. And because I have MS I need to call my neuro... who apparently is supposed to follow up about the pain in my uterus?? So tomorrow I get to call my neuro and ask her opinion on the antibiotics. Even though last time I checked she treated nerve damage.

What a run around. That is the oddest thing I have heard a doctor say.

He could have given you a script for a mild anti-B to fill for *if* or *when* the infection might get worse, instead of a pain script, so you don't have to travel back and forth.

Now it's up to the Neuro? Did he give you a topical Anti-B cream or ointment to use on the incision? Do you keep it covered and dry (shower wise) until the stitches come out? He must have given you some advice besides saying call the Neuro.

Are you on steroids? What does the Avonex have to do with treating an infection?

So you have to ask the Neuro if you can have anti-B's? Is that what he meant? I am confused leggs. :confused:

I don't think an exacerbation lasts a year with small flares in the mix too. Maybe overlapping attacks, one after the other and no remission and the infection made it worse.

How bad is this year of attacks? What old or new symptoms? Maybe it is just steady progression? I'm lost here sweety.:hug:

HA HA I am confused too!

Well according to the neuro..it is progressive not RRMS like I was told from the beginning. But she canot tell me if it is SPMS or PPMS at this point, which is really confusing! What I do know is we are on Avonex now, and she already has plans to switch me to TY but we have to do the 6 months of Avonex first.

The silly surgeon has done what every other doctor I have seen lately does. As soon as they hear you have MS they try to push you off onto the neuro. He did give me a cream to put on the stitches, and that was about it. And he recommends I follow up with the neuro. For some reason he seems to think that because I am on Avonex that I should not be on an antibiotic. I stopped seeing this particular dr when I had my daughter because he went on vacation while I was in labor (I was at his office in labor when he left and got on a plane to Bermuda!). I continued to see the midwife there who is amazing, but she couldn't do the surgery, we had to call this guy back in. And as we discovered today... once again.... this guy is a moron, and this is why I switched to the midwife.

I did speak to the lovely nurse at the neuro's office who told me if the fever doesn't break or the infection gets worse to call her right away and they will call in an antibiotic. She understands I am not too concerned with the MS probs (new ones anyway) because it could be from the stress of surgery, or the infection, or a number of things. Plus they plan on doing another MRI on the 15th so we will look at it then. And no, no more steroids. they only make me sick. For some reason they seem to make all of my sx worse and do nothing good for me.

It is just frustrating! I should not have to call my neuro bc my uterus hurts. That is not her department. That's like going to McDonald's and asking for laundry detergent!

sounds like a right to-do back and forth when you should be resting. last thing you need is an infection. take it easy.