Dr's don't always know what is best for you

I kind of get side tracked but I get back on subject towards the end!!! Sorry!!!

Doctors prescribe meds based on symptoms because that is all they can do is work on the symptoms. It is your body and you have the right to try other things to eliminate some of the drugs you are on. Explore and educate yourself.... Herbs, Vitamins, nutrition, teas...massage, acupuncture and so on...

My last exacerbation (flare up) was last October. It was what my Neuro described as a "Major" exacerbation (flare up). I held out for a while until I finally called him. Here's the thing when I start having a flare up I go as long as possible before calling him. Mine typically start up with all my normal symptoms ( fatigue, muscle spasms, tightness around right leg, burning and prickling sensations) acting up. Then within some time the normal symptoms get continuously worse or some more of my symptoms that appear less frequently start happening. ( spasms and numbness in both legs, bladder and bowel problems, double vision,and the fatigue gets more severe). At this point I still don't usually see that it is going into a flare up. All of a sudden a NEW symptom kicks in. Depending on what the "NEW" symptom is. It still doesn't quite kick in as to what is going on . But I do realize at this point that I am not doing well. I usually start to get very frustrated and I tend to start crying a lot. Then the new symptoms starts getting worse and I am fed up or one of the symptoms usually my eyes will cause me to be nauseated. Nausea is a symptom that I can't stand. This is usually the point that I call the Dr. and beg them for help. when I say help... I always say Is there any thing besides steroids that can help me? And there answer is "NO" It is either steroids or keep fighting through it. However by this point I am so worried about what else is going to come or how much longer this is going to keep going? So I agree to the steroids. Once I say yes to STEROIDS. I usually start getting very depressed. Because I know what is going to happen. I am partially relieved because I tend to respond well to the steroids when it comes to putting a halt on the attack. However like I have said in the past... the side effects are so extreme for me and that is what I get so depressed about.

All in all I try to find the positives when dealing with MS but in those times I get so negative and depressed. I don't get it. Some people that get the steroids get excited because they are overcome by a huge amount of energy. Not me!!! I can't sleep for 3-4 days but I never get the energy boost like those people. 2 days after the treatment is over, my face swells out until you can't even push in my skin. I usually put on 35 pounds in 5 days and it takes of course a year to get off again. It also usually starts up my bowel problems. Why does it happen to me and not others??? I have no answer to that question.

From the time I make the decision to do the steroid treatment. I usually have 24 hours to get prepared. So this is when I move downstairs. I move downstairs because I already struggle with the "rubber band" legs so my balance (gait) is really bad. By moving downstairs then I am not using the stairs during this time. I have my kids help me bring down my "MS Clothing bucket" with my "MS sheets and blankets". I bring down my meds and shots along with my "Medical sheet". I usually have my husband go and get me lemonade (which I mix with water), He also gets me cinnamon candies and lemon heads to help with the metallic taste and stuff for soup. And now I am ready for the treatment.

The Nurse comes to my house, which I am grateful for. When I first had a steroid treatment I had to go to the facility. Not good!!! So, I explain that I do not have a ride due to my husband's work schedule and of course due to the symptoms they won't let me drive...So the nurse comes to my house and does the treatments. I prefer this so I can sleep during the treatments. This is a trick I found that helps.
The rest is History. I have written about in my past blogs.

Oh!!! I got side tracked from my main topic.... "Doctor's don't always know what is best for you"


The point I was going for was that the doctors will give you meds to help with each symptom you have. This will continue until you have a pile of 15 meds. When it comes to the meds. You need to learn what they do for you. It is up to you to learn when you don't need those meds or when to lower the dosage. I usually label the bottle as to what it helps with. Example ***Med name and then write "Vertigo with nausea"*** on another bottle write ***"vertigo no nausea*** Since I don't have those symptoms all the time then I know to stop them as soon as the symptom goes away. When it reappears again then I go to those meds again. I guess what i am trying to explain is that when you are on so many meds, it makes it difficult after awhile to know what meds you really don't need to be taking and that is just extra chemical in your body everyday that your liver has to try to process.

When I am done with my flare up - I then have time to try to determine what meds I have to have and what meds I can stop. then I take the "symptoms book" with me to the Fruitful Yield store and GNC store and tell them the symptoms I was having and what meds I was taking. They help research what other options I have. "naturally, herbal, herbal teas, Nutritionally, etc... I take that info and start asking others with MS or research these ideas online. So then when those symptoms reappear. I can now try these new alternatives before using the medications that the Dr's prescribed.

I really hope this makes sense. I have so much info swirling in my head on this topic and trying to type as fast as the ideas are coming out.