Mike Has MS
Friday, November 21, 2008
Light at the end of the tunnel
For the past three weeks, I’ve been dealing with an MS relapse. This has sucked. But I think it’s just about over. Most of my serious symptoms have passed, and I’m just now dealing with the side effects of being on heavy steroids. My emotions have balanced out, the acne is still raging, and I now have a new 20 pounds to lose. Actually, I only gained about five pounds, but it looks like I’m carrying it all in my face. That can be lost quickly.
Honestly, the worst part of this has been emotional. Now I know that being on steroids can mess with your emotions, but at one point I was convinced this was the end. I’ve always said that we caught my MS early and that my rate of progression has been slow. What I don’t tell most people is that I recognize my rate of progression can kick into high gear at any time. Obviously, my preference is that this not happen. But it could.
I still need to take it easy for a little while, but I think the worst part is over.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Numbness
Healthwise, the past week has been rough. After my appointment with the neurologist, she put me on the steroid therapy. That hasn’t been fun. But I thought I was managing.
It’s funny what stress can do to you when you have MS, especially when you’re in a relapse. I’ve had stress impact me, but not like this.
I mentioned that some of my former coworkers from Shawmut have lost their job. It hit me hard. It was like a member of my family being hurt. When I found out that someone who had been a mentor to me lost her job, the right side of my face went numb. Being a very passionate/emotional person, I deal with my emotions, but calming them isn’t easy for me. Instead, I have to work through them. I spent a bit of time on my chiropractor’s table this week, and that certainly helped a lot. But it was really rough.
Finally today, I was starting to feel better. I got up this morning with a bit of a sore throat. After the past week, having a physical ailment that wasn’t MS-related was very welcome. Knowing that I wasn’t at a hundred percent, I thought I’d put in a half day and get some stuff done. Somehow, I managed to get through the whole day and then leave about 3:30 to head into the city to attend the gathering for the former coworkers who had been let go.
I allowed myself to step off the wagon tonight to have a beer. Singular. One. It wasn’t difficult. With all of the meds I’m on right now, a lot of alcohol would be a very bad thing.
Realizing that I’m still dealing with an MS relapse, coming down with a cold, and the other stresses of my life, one would think that I’d know better than to push myself too far. Still, I was just socializing and catching up with old friends. When I left the bar, my legs felt like jello. That should have been my sign to go home and go to bed, right? Nope. I went to the grocery store and picked up the stuff I need for tomorrow’s cooking. Let me be the first to say it. That was dumb.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that when my legs feel like jello, it’s really time to stop. After the jaunt to the grocery store, I came home and very quickly put stuff away. Reggie and I walked to the post office to get some NetFlix movies in the mail, and now I’m done. I’m going to let my body rest as long as it wants tomorrow. If that means sleeping until noon, Reggie permitting, that’s what we’re going to do. I’m wiped.
The past week has been rough and I need to get through this.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Better Living through Pharmaceuticals
My neurologist is absolutely amazing. Dr. Marion Stein at the MS Clinic of Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center never ceases to amaze me. She’s kind of old school, and I trust her completely. I’ve been dealing with some issues, and she gave me the option of some heavy steroid therapy.
I’m on my third day at the Infusion Unit at BIDMC. This is my third daily dose of 1 gram of Solumedrol as an IV drip over four hours each day. That will be followed by an 11 day taper of oral Prednisone. I do three days of 80 MG, three days of 60 MG, three days of 40 MG, and two days of 20 MG.
As you look at the article about the steroids, you’ll see there are some pretty intense side effects. My neurologist, being as good as she is, has me on some other stuff to deal with that. First, I’m on a light dose of lithium to help take off the edge and irritability. She also has me on Serax to help me sleep at night. That stuff is amazing.
I start the oral prednisone on Saturday, and Dr. Stein did warn me that I’ll probably crash on Sunday. She gave me out of work until Wednesday, but if I’m out past Monday, I have to use my short term disability, and that means I lose a week of pay. I plan on going back to work on Tuesday, meaning if I miss Wednesday, I use my sick time.
In other news, I have a date tomorrow night.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Infusion
I went to see my neurologist this morning. I can’t say it was the best visit we’ve ever had. Lately, I’ve been having some fatigue, which has gotten a little better, but I’m having some issues with my vision, and some serious issues with my balance.
Tomorrow, I’m going to be going into BIDMC in the morning for steroid infusion. It’s a three day outpatient thing, so I’ll be out of work at least until Monday. I’m not thrilled about this, but it’s the right thing to do.
The good news in this is that since the fatigue is getting better, she thinks I may be on the upswing of this attack.