How do your MS flares start?

[plethora]

I'm trying to figure out if I am having a flare right now. I have been feeling a bit worse every day for a couple of weeks now, a little more numb in my arms and legs, a little bit less motor function in my hands, etc. Is this how flares start for you, or are they more sudden? And would you go see the doc? Thanks!

Sam

[BadKittyCat]

Mine are not that slow... it took a couple of days for me. Honestly, every relapse starts differently for me! And my last one I needed a nice nurse at the MS clinic to figure it out.

Definately get it checked out, though. It may be a relapse, or some other illness aggrivating MS symptoms. My nerologist wants me to report all my relapses.... are there any special instructions for you?

[plethora]

Thanks BadKitty. He hasn't given special instructions. I made an appt with him this next week.

You needed a nurse to help figure it out? What happened with that flare?

[civickiller]

seems like it. my first flare was one leg going weak

[Ladymac]

Thanks BadKitty. He hasn't given special instructions. I made an appt with him this next week.

You needed a nurse to help figure it out? What happened with that flare?

Hello.

BadKitty answer is spot on, they are all different. In the first few years I needed help figuring out. Now I pretty much know for sure.

Assuming I haven't caught a cold or the flu, and as long as it isn't something critical like suddenly I can't walk or see (I would immediately activate my plan for exacerbations in those cases), I make sure I am in a cool place (come in from outside, etc) and make sure I am very well hydrated, take temp, BP, and I go to bed for a day, and if things were still there after 24 hours I would activate my plan.

My plan includes a call to my Neuro (1 hour away) that I am going to the ER and need solumedrol. I always need to be admitted due to other health concerns. The ER locally calls him and the hospitalist gets the instructions for the solumedrol. I can also go to the ER that my Neuro has privilidges and he has a protocol there for all his patients. Once we start the solumedrol infusions we decide if I need 3 or 5 days along with pain medication while I am there if needed, etc.

The one very constant thing that happens with my flares/exacerbations is I get cognitively messed up and usually can't do anything but sleep. But that is just me. It could be that I have an MS Hug or my balance is so bad I am crashing into walls, but I still get the brain fog that makes me totally unable to cognitively and some times emotionally deal. My husband, family and friends all see when this is happening. But that's me.

Good luck

[BadKittyCat]

Plenthora, my last relapse started with dizziness that just would not go away. I had just finished a cold, and I wasn't sure if it was a relapse, or something else. No, the bloodwork they did said I was otherwise healthy!

I think reporting relapses are standard for this clinic... probably since seeing my nerologist is hard (I'm in Edmonton) and they want to track how my MS is progressing.