"My IV Steroid Treatment"
by Karri Thompson
The words "IV steroid treatment" had always been foreign to me. They didn’t become part of my vocabulary until after that fateful day in 2001 when I was diagnosed with MS. It was then that I entered into a bitter-sweet relationship with the fluid-filled bag of steroids. I loathed being hooked up to an IV for an hour, and I hated the metallic taste that was left in my mouth afterward, but I loved the fact that the drug could tame my immune system when I had a relapse. The discomfort of water retention, insomnia and moodiness could easily be quelled by my anticipation of being able to regain function in whatever part of my body that had been compromised during the attack.
So far I have been fortunate enough to remain on a mild course of MS. I have an attack about once a year and a lot of the time I’m able to recover from it with no lasting damage to nerve function, but sometimes I’m not able to completely recover. It is those times that keep me on the edge of my seat.
I have made some friends in the IV infusion room. I’ve become well-acquainted with my IV nurses and with a few of the patients. The patients and I swap stories… "What are you in for?" is a common question, usually asked after exchanging a few smiles. "What are you in for" sounds like I’m doing time for a crime. I’ve even been tempted to reply back with some penal code violations, just for laughs, just to lighten the mood a bit. I momentarily chuckle at the thought, but then I’m quickly sobered by the appearance of an elderly man who’s fighting cancer. I remind myself of why I have a needle embedded in my arm, and then I count my blessings.
During my treatment, my thoughts become a mantra: the needle isn’t so bad; I have to give myself a shot every day, so I’ve become accustomed to being poked.
It’s the side effects of those steroids that can be really uncomfortable. Hours after my IV treatment, I begin to feel sleepy, yet my mind is racing and I can’t fall asleep; I feel like I could complete every chore on my list and on my neighbor’s list, but with my eyes closed, of course, because I’m sleepy. This lasts about two days and I’m always amazed at where all this energy comes from. After a week of buzzing on my solu-medrol euphoria, I become very moody. Actually, the word is "cranky". I don’t know why this is, and my family has learned to expect it. It doesn’t last very long, maybe a few days, though my husband seems to think it lasts longer than that.
The old saying "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse" feels absolutely true throughout the whole week, and I, again, explain to my husband why I have such a voracious appetite. A good tip is to minimize carbohydrates during IV steroid treatment. Blood-sugar levels can be increased greatly with steroid treatment and you don’t want to over-do it on the chocolate cake, no matter how much you’re craving it.
Also, I make sure to take my calcium with vitamin D to help prevent osteoporosis and I drink as much milk as I can tolerate. Let’s face it, the metal taste in your mouth makes milk taste horrible. But drink up, your body really needs it, especially during this time. Then there’s the water retention. I feel like the water is just sloshing around in my body for at least a week after treatment and my pants become tighter. I’m always sure to remind myself (and anyone else who notices my rapid weight-gain) that it’s just temporary.
After the side-effects start to wear off, I begin to notice that my unsteady balance is now improved; I don’t have to rely so heavily on the wall next to me to keep from stumbling. I notice that my tremors have decreased enough that I can tweeze my eyebrows without inadvertently tweezing my eyelashes. I also notice that the burning sensation in my face is intermittent rather than constant.
During the uncomfortable side effects of IV steroids, take comfort in knowing you will feel better soon. The side effects are just temporary but the benefits of taking charge of an MS attack last much longer.
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