Wondering about relapses...

[marti]

What would happen if you didn't treat a relapse? There are times that I am not sure if I am having one or if it's one of my many various health issues causing me to FEEL like I'm having a relapse. So far, I have never treated any of them.

Most recently I am getting a lot of burning pain in my back, shoulders and arms. But, I also have Fibro, IBS and Gastritis. So I sit around and run thru my options and possibilities in my mind and try to decide which med I need. Sometimes I end up just toughing it out without taking anything. Other times I convince myself I'm having a heart attack or a panic attack.

It's so hard to separate all these problems and symptoms that come up.

[Mamabug]

For most people, nothing happens if they don't treat it. Treating it will likely make it go away more quickly.

Some people decide not to treat with steroids because they'd rather put up with the symptoms of a flare than the side effects of steroids.

For me, I'm unable to decide not to use steroids. Without them, my flares won't go away, and even continually worsen. Even if the dose of steroids is too low, that has occurred.

It is likely your choice, whether to treat or not. If your symptoms are from one of your other illnesses, are steroids also effective for them, or do you use something different to treat them.

[marti]

For most people, nothing happens if they don't treat it. Treating it will likely make it go away more quickly.

Some people decide not to treat with steroids because they'd rather put up with the symptoms of a flare than the side effects of steroids.

For me, I'm unable to decide not to use steroids. Without them, my flares won't go away, and even continually worsen. Even if the dose of steroids is too low, that has occurred.

It is likely your choice, whether to treat or not. If your symptoms are from one of your other illnesses, are steroids also effective for them, or do you use something different to treat them.

Mama I always enjoy hearing from you. I have only done the steroid thing once and that was right after I was dx. In the last few years I have acquired a bunch of other autoimmune problems and they all seem to run together. The all have the same symptoms for the most part and I'm never sure what is kicking up at any given time. So I use the same meds (except for the gastric problems) to try to calm everything down.

The meds I try are Gabapentin and Baclofen. I have Zantac and Librax for my intestinal stuff. It's just a crap shoot. If something works I am glad, but don't know for sure what it is targeting since I can't always tell the difference between the various illnesses.

I am sick of running to all these specialists. Trying to just stick with my local clinics unless I am out of control. These doctors either all give me the same answers or they contradict each other and just cause more confusion.

[Mamabug]

Mama I always enjoy hearing from you. I have only done the steroid thing once and that was right after I was dx. In the last few years I have acquired a bunch of other autoimmune problems and they all seem to run together. The all have the same symptoms for the most part and I'm never sure what is kicking up at any given time. So I use the same meds (except for the gastric problems) to try to calm everything down.

The meds I try are Gabapentin and Baclofen. I have Zantac and Librax for my intestinal stuff. It's just a crap shoot. If something works I am glad, but don't know for sure what it is targeting since I can't always tell the difference between the various illnesses.

I am sick of running to all these specialists. Trying to just stick with my local clinics unless I am out of control. These doctors either all give me the same answers or they contradict each other and just cause more confusion.

Thanks, Marti. I'm glad that I can say something helpful sometimes.

If you are able to manage and tolerate your flare symptoms without steroids, that might be preferable. Steroids are horrific!