Most definitely, stress has been shown to play an important factor in TM
for many. You might talk with your neuro about checking the level of
protein in your CSF. Bad thing is it requires a spinal tap. This could
assist in confirming a relapse or not. If a relapse is suspected, some
have benefited from Plasmapharesis treatments to remove excess anti-bodies
from our system, which are thought to be the cause of demyelination in many
cases.
Unfortunately, steroid treatment/therapy is the recommended course. I am
not aware of anything to help control the side effects of confusion and
associated general malaise feelings.
Bob from Houston-Spring Tex
Class of 1994 T-1 para
BTW, YESTERDAY WAS MY 12 TH ANNIVERSARY WITH TM.
YEA FOR ME !!! HIP HIP HURAY !
dANG, AN'T THIS STUFF FUN ?
[Original Message]
From: C E [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: tmic-list@eskimo.com
Date: 2/27/2006 6:58:21 PM
Subject: [TMIC] Relapse Steoirds
You all are awesome at giving out words of kindness and encouragement.
Here
is what I am going through and if you have any suggestions, through them
my
way.
June 2005, diagnosed TM. Hospitalized 5 weeks. One week IV steroids, 4
weeks aggressive rehab. Got strong enough to walk again.
Beginning of Feb 2006 I started growing weaker. My most affected leg
becoming more limp with tighter banding. Met with my neuro, who
suggested
f/u MRI to look for any changes since June and a Visual Evoked Response
Test. The brain MRI showed no change. Which I guess is good since he
was
looking for MS. But now he says it must must be a relapse of TM.This
past
weekend, felt like my back was swollen, both legs got worse. I was on an
oral dose of
Methylprednisolone (Steroid) 250 mg 2 capsules twice daily for 5 days
then
1 daily for 5 days, the neuro said that was equal to the IV I had in
June.
Since I finished this dosage 2 days ago, I became worse. Today my neuro
is
now putting me back on a steroid, but a different one and a lower dose.
Prednisone 60 mg for 4 days, then 40mg for 4 days, and then 20 mg for 4
days. I HATE the way I felt while I was on the Methylprednisolone. I
was
depressed, food tasted like crap, and overall feeling of exhaustion. I
am
also diabetic, controlled by Actos, diet and exercise. Naturally, taking
the steroids I had to use insulin injections to keep the blood sugar
under
control. What I would like to do is crawl in a dark room and stay there
for
the next 12 days. :( AND I have an interview for a new job on March
3rd,
cause I got fired from my last one cause I can't keep my thoughts
straight
and not learning it fast enough. I have NEVER encountered this problem
before. Is there anything I can do? What else besides steroids are out
there for this monster, TM? How many relapses are probable? I was doing
so
good and now back to using the walker. Could stress from the job have
brought on the relapse. Are there any finding of this sort that stress
and
TM do not mix? How do I get through the next 12 days of steroids and and
interview? How did you all overcome the ill affects of steroids when you
were on them?
Recap: my concerns of relapse, feeling of sickness and depression and
overall feeling of cloudiness while taking the steroids.
Carol in Culver, IN
T10
