Shots and Pain

Today I had my monthly visit at the MS Center. This was a short visit, just an hour with Alyssa--vitals, shot, bloodwork, medication update, vitals, making copies of my log book. I keep a log of the shots I do at home, with pain levels before and after the shot. It is not a big deal.

My blood pressure was 133/80 and pulse 80, but I was chatting with Alyssa at the time. Then it was 120/62 and pulse 75. That is still higher than normal for me, but that is what it has been the last two months whenever I go to the doctor. I hope it is not really increasing, that I am just nervous to be there.

My vein ran dry after about five tubes of blood, and I still had six or seven more. Then she had trouble getting another vein. Ugh. The needle sticks did not hurt very much, though. I asked Alyssa to print my labs from the fall, which she was kind enough to do. That had my Vitamin D, calcium, etc.

The subcutaneous shot with the daclizumab/placebo STUNG again. Yeowch. I would take the bloodwork over that shot any day.

I did my own shot at home, and it went fine. I remembered to pull the skin taut. It hurt a little, and then it spurted some blood when I took the needle out. That surprised me. I must have nicked a little blood vessel. I put pressure on it, and it was fine.

My mouth had been so dry today. All of my mucous membranes, really, but my mouth was the one that bothered me. I suspect the amitriptyline.

I had a great morning, and an alright afternoon, but the evening has been pretty bad. Severe pain in my butt, legs, and feet. Oh my goodness. So bad. And in my tongue! The pain in my lower body has often been more like electricity than freezing/burning. It is bad either way. Oh, and the pins and needles get in there. The three sensations morph and blend with each other.

One thing that is worrying me a bit is that I seem to have lost the ability to feel full. I eat and eat, and I stop when I realize that I have eaten way more than I typically would. I wonder why I do not feel full. It gets to where my stomach feels huge and I even (grossness warning) reflux up some food, yet I do not feel full! I do not like this at all. I think it has been going on for several days now... maybe since Monday. I seem to recall eating a lot for lunch that day. I really hope this is related to the steroids, not MS. I want it to go away. I also do not think I am as good at tasting things and detecting temperature with my tongue--I am sure that is because of the numbness and pain.

So far my side effects are ok from the shots. I guess. I feel hot, but my temperature is normal. I was very achy for a while, but it got better. That was 30-60 minutes after my IM shot, so probably too early for that to be the reason. I guess I am still achy, now that I am attending to it. And I started feeling really sick around 5:00. That was before I did my IM shot.

Sensory:

-Pins and needles: 8
-Tingles: 1
-Dysesthetic pain: 9
-Paresthesias: 9, the electricity

-Numbness: 3
-Vision: 4, it was a lot better this morning, got worse again in the late afternoon. I am very hopeful for tomorrow.
-Nerve pain: 7
-Hearing: 1

Motor:
-Walking: 1
-Sore muscles: 7, my upper arm really hurts where I had my subcu shot. And my legs, with the spasticity. But I had little pain this morning.
-Fine motor: 2
-Weak muscles: 5
-Spasticity: 6

Cognitive:
-Processing: 2
-Memory: 1
-Attention: 2
-Confusion: 2

General:
-Fatigue: 6, but I would probably say 3/4 until early afternoon. Later in the afternoon and all evening it has been more like 7/8.
-Balance: 2
-Sleep: 0
-Bladder: 1
-Proprioception: 1
-Swallowing: 0
-A: 2
-B: 0

Emotions: Nothing to talk about. Maybe a little irritable.