Drugs not working....help me out?

Well after taking Copaxone for four months and having 2 relapses since I started taking it. my Doc. is throwing in the towel on this one as well. Avvonex did not work either. She has suggested that I start the Tysabri. Kind of scared. Really upset that nothing is working. I really need support.

I started school again (post graduate work) Medical Massage Therapy. Because I have problems with optic neuritis I choose this based on I would not need to see clearly. I'm doing really well in my A&P classes. I haven't told anyone that I have MS so that I know during clinicals I am getting a fair assessment. Now with my right side mainly becoming weak the longer I do things..I'm not sure. Do I continue school? I really like what I'm doing. I don't want to just hang out and have this control my life.

I am really disappointed and kind of depressed. I was doing so well keeping up on the injections. I only missed one and it was not even on purpose.

I thought I was doing the best for myself and I guess that its not going to work.

Tysabri - I just told someone to wait until they have everything sorted out and now it seems like my only option.

My husband had to come home early and stay home the following day to help me out. (I'm the one with the extremely active, very cute 1 year old.)
I don't think my husband understands.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm super bummed out.

Interferons like Avvonex had long lasting side effects and depression. It was awful that I could not function for days, not to mention the needle size is too long for any part of my body. So I think interferons are totally out at this point.


What does "Crabs" mean?

Its a scary decision that I was willing to make when I was finally convinced to do the "safer" option.
Well now they don't really feel the same now. So I guess I'm suppose to take the "unsafer" option.
Perfect.


I'm not much of a desk person, the computer really bothers my ON.
I don't think "doing" the massage caused my relapse. I think it was caused by stress of mid-terms, going on vaction soon w/o my baby for 5 days... I've already been crying about the vacation. Ultimately I've had this three times now and each time I feel that I'm not getting full strength back.

Thanks for listening.

I'm a little surprised your doctor took you off the drug so quickly...usually they like to give any of these drugs at least 6 months to a year to see if they are "working" or not.  Avonex does by far have the largest needle. The other interferons - -Betaseron and Rebif -- are injected under the skin. Betaseron uses the same sized needle that many folks with diabetes uses..and folks with diabetes inject themselves several times a day, sometimes.

Depression can be a side effect of any of the interferons, but it also can be treated with antidepressants.

As for MS controlling your life...unfortunately you really don't have a lot of choice there.  It'll do what it's going to do.  You might be fortunate that you'll have a relatively mild course...or not. And it's not your fault, nor is there much you can do about it, other than to keep trying to take your meds and hope for the best.  You might want to talk with your doctor about career choices, and see if there are some other alternatives you might not have considered that aren't so physically demanding.

I started out on Avonex and after 8 months of feeling icky and getting worse I started Copaxone.  No side effects but I wasn't seeing any improvement in MS symptoms.  Then I had three Novantrone treatments and it really turned me around!  I was off the cane and my vision cleared etc., etc.   That was about 4 years ago and I've continued the Copaxone with  very little progression of the disease.  I use the cane very little and only when I have to walk very far.

Hey Buckeye!

U GO!!!! I'm so proud of u friend!! Go forward with all u'r plans and adjust as needed...in whatever way to make it possible to keep going and getting what u want in life!! FANTASTIC OUTLOOK!!!!

I'm excited about u'r new doc! A fresh person to look at things for u and a different perspective as well. That has to be a good thing! Hang in there and keep taking good care of u'rself. U'r gonna do great!

My wife just completed her 3rd Tysabri infusion. She had been taking the CRAB injections for 10 years and had been getting progressively worse.

The absence of the side effects of Betaseron alone has helped her feel better. The infusion center is seeing more patients weekly taking Tysabri. You might want to investigate your eligibility.