Promised update from here:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=606734
On April 29th I went to the emergency room by ambulance because I thought I was having an allergic reaction to strawberries. Turns out it was a bit worse than that, though random food allergies are bad enough. They released me from the emergency room after treating me with steroids, Benadryl, and Pepcid (apparently it’s an antihistamine?) and I went home with a prescription to continue the steroids for a few days and to continue taking Pepcid and double up on the Claritin I already took daily.
Over the next 3 days, I was still pretty messed up. I was dizzy and bumping into things, had double vision in both eyes, and the right side of my face was numb. I was having a lot of trouble concentrating and I was slurring my speech. In hindsght it was clear I was having some sort of neurological episode, but I put it off to the effects of the drugs and let it go for a while.
By Tuesday May 2nd it was pretty serious that I get myself back in front of a doctor, I could not function. The double vision was getting worse, I had zero coordination and I couldn’t type or speak coherently. Dad and I agreed that I go back to the emergency room, and he dropped me off on Tuesday evening.
The doctors were alarmed that I still had all these symptoms four days later, and immediately sent me off for a CAT scan. The results of the CAT scan made them want a better look, so I went in for a head MRI. Based on the results of these scans they admitted me to the hospital at about 2am and would not let me walk off by myself. The ER doctor showed me the report from the MRI and talked about plaques formed on my nerve cells, 6th vertebra palsy, evidence of demyelinization, and the possibility of Multiple Sclerosis. He told me that further testing was in order to confirm any diagnosis or treatment.
On Wednesday the tests began again, another MRI and a spinal tap (I do not recommend this - no fun at all) to check my spinal fluid, and blood tests - they took so much blood. Then I played the waiting game for a while. I was in good hands, the nurses and techs were kind and took care of my every need. The doctors who saw me talked to me straight, and answered all my questions.
By Thursday they were pretty sure I had MS (there is no definitive test for diagnosis, arriving at that conclusion means they ruled out any number of other illnesses) from the results of my two MRIs and the spinal fluid analysis. The neurologists advised that I should have some super-duper mega steroid infusions, to help my body fight the antibodies that were attacking my nerve cells. There isn’t a whole lot that can be done to fight the actual effects of a MS attack, they can only help me get through it a little faster.
So I stayed another 5 days in the hospital in order to receive these infusions via IV. Altogether I was an inpatient from Tues May 2 through Monday May 9. I was released from the hospital after 5 days of 1000mg steroid infusions. Dad came by every day and made sure I had everything I needed and wanted to make my stay easier. I stayed in contact with my friends who helped ease some of the boredom.
It has been almost three weeks since I first went to the hospital, I am not sure right now if I am allergic to strawberries of if I just happened to be eating some when my attack began. I will have a full allergy panel done ASAP to find out for sure, I enjoy food too much to have to be so careful of it, and I love strawberries. I haven’t worked since April 28th, so that’s a worry. I cannot return to my job right now in the same capacity I worked in before, and going back part time would mean a major pay cut and would almost not be worth it.
Now all the steroids are out of my system, and I feel kinda weird. Three weeks and the right side of my face is still rather numb, my vision is weird though all the doubling seems to have stopped. I still feel unsteady on my feet, and my left side is weak. My hands don’t always do as they’re told and I have trouble concentrating. A few little things I am having trouble doing like brushing my hair. I am not all better or back to normal yet, and I am starting to get used to feeling this way, which is also no good. I get tired easily from doing little things, and I want to take a lot of naps. It’s all getting better daily, though.
I am waiting to find out if my application to use the clinic at the hospital has been accepted, but I will be following up and making sure I have the best care possible. I am eager to ask some questions and work on a long-term treatment plan to manage recurrence of neurological symptoms. Seems that’ll be hovering over my shoulder waiting to pounce for the rest of my life, and I intend to be as ready for it as possible.
Some links:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001747/
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx
I hope this was at least semi-coherent. I am also interested in hearing from other Dopers who have MS or are close to someone who does. Contact info in profile.
