Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

I go next week for my 5th treatment of Tysabri. So far - no problems. I was on Rebif....hated it...lots of hair loss and too many 'bad feeling' days. I have not had any of that "yucky" feeling with the Tysabri. I go once a month to the hospital treatment room for a one hour infusion and a one hour of the nurses watching to make sure I have no problems prior to going home. If your Neuro says you can have the Tysabri then go for it. Sure is better then Rebif for me! Let me know what happens.

I have been on Tysabri monthly infusions since October of '06. Two years. I had neutralizing antibodies on Avonex and Betaseron, and Copaxone wasn't very effective for me. That is why my doc suggested Tysabri. I haven't had an exacerbation since April '05. I don't have any side effects from Tysabri that I know about, as I have arthritis in my back and joints, and that is a side effect supposedly (joint pain). I also have a hx. of depression for which I am on an antidepressant, so it is hard to tell if I have any side effects of depression. The main thing, I am sick of going for 2 and a half hours every month to the hospital for my infusion, but the nurses there are really nice and they pamper you. It beats daily or thrice weekely or weely self-injections though, I must say. And so far - I am exacerbation free for all these years.

My relapses with the other drugs were bad - some times I could only take mincing steps, I couldn't take a stride; I can hardly remember what they are like now, but I sure remember the last one - it took me months to recover.