I took a form of this and I know we all have different tolerances and allergies but I was apparently highly allergic to this and it sent me into shock in the middle of shopping before work one morning in 2008. I started to go into shock while I was trying to check out of a store.

I took an ambulance ride to the E.R. and nobody could find me for half a day. I couldn't even communicate - words came to my mind but I couldn't speak them. My boyfriend happened to be stopping by the store at the very same time and came up behind me in line -I was so glad he was there when they called paramedics for me.

The thing I learned is how to spot my own allergic reaction to a medication. I had a very euphoric feeling that I'd only experienced once before in a much smaller scale back in 1984 or so. Going into shock and being lost for half a day was the worst feeling I've ever had.

My intention here is just to remind to watch your symptoms, listen to your body.

I am glad you found something that helps you - just be careful with any new drug. I don't want to put a damper on your good news but I did want to share what can happen with a reaction. I always thought that the small print of side effects was nothing - but after my experience, I'm just a lot more aware now.

Lorrieonline- thank you for your response. I was amazed at what happened to you. I was walking better and. I had none of the symptoms that you presented with.

I am waiting for a new script to be sent and I noticed how badly I walk now without the Meds . I just wonder if your body becomes dependent on the medication to remember how to walk.

Hi Marilyn - I don't know about your question but I would hazard a guess that we do get dependant upon meds we take. I'd ask the doc about it and pray for a nonbiased answer.

After trying my scrip and it not working for me, I was curious about the CCSVI response and how to try to get better circulation. I think exercise, difficult and challenging as it can be, is key to so much if we can do some.

Recently I got a "Dr. Mercola" daily email that was explaining a new exercise machine apparently invented for kosmonauts due to having to be in space for 400 days at a time and losing muscle and bone mass.

Well, this $5,000 (!?!?!?!?!?!) machine looks like an oversized scale with an LCD readout at the top. I forget what it's called but it has to do with "acceleration" and "vibration." But I don't have that kind of money to exercise on a machine. I started to research other ways to get that circulation benefit.

I had justd seen a Dr. Oz repeat where Timothy Ferriss gave some advice about doing some jumping jacks each day to boost circulation. I thought, "yeah, right! I'll be on the floor!" Well, I gingerly tried a few and it turns out I can do 10 at a time fairly easily. Of course, I'm careful to wear supportive sneakers and be near something I can grab onto if need be.

I love the way I feel after jumping jacks, so much so that I'm doing them whenever I need a little boost. It's like a natural high! Also, his Ferriss' advice has me doing air squats after meals - he says one minute is good. I'm feeling a difference in my legs already - they getting firmer real quick. I never knew they'd help so much - never tried to do several sets in a day! When I first tried these, I braced myself by holding onto the table or the wall or the counter.
If you can do these, be very careful NOT to extend your knee over your toes while bending - it can tear the miniscus in your knee.

It's a bit more challenging, but the motion would be more like squating down to sit on a chair and then back up again. This is why I reach out for something - in case I lose balance - easy to do. (If you are already aware of all that, I apologize but I haven't come across many people who are careful to watch out for their knees by using this method.

If I can be of any help, please let me know. Oh, I'd definitely ask the doctor your question. Also throw in there that you'd like to know if there are any exercises that could help you feel better too. I think the typical response is always, "well, not practically speaking." It's worth a try though.

~Lorrie

Was approved for Ampyra at no cost to me! Yea! It will be delivered on Monday!

The substance Ampyra is made from has been around for a number of years. It was originally custom made for patients by compounding pharmacies.

The new drug form is designed as an extended release form. The main side effect is seizure and the compounded form had a higher risk. I don't have the cost figures handy but it was something like 50 cent a dose compounded versus $500 a dose pharmaceutical version. Considering this drug was already available I resent the excessive profit this company is making. Drug development is expensive but these folks hardly started from scratch.

I'm glad if t helps some people. Just bear in mind this drug was originally developed as a bird poison for pigeons. It was desgned to make pigeions seize to death...thus the seizure risk in humans.

Sorry for gory details but sometimes the whole story is not shared with the patient/customer.

Melanie

Be careful with it. The first time I was prescribed it I had a seizure at work. It was a petite-mal so thankfully non of the kids in my class noticed.

Thank you everyone for your posts and great information.lorrieonline, I wish I could do jumping jacks. I saw the same show, tried it and ended up on the ground. Lol! Well, I will stick with dumbbells for now.

Aympra has some wonderful success stories, and I hope you become on of them. I started Aympra when it first was released and I was so excited. Howeve, I soon deveoped severe pain ad had to stop it. The pain stopped too. I re-started up a few weeks later, and so did the pain. I just can't take the medication, and I'm bummed about it. Good Luck to you! Let us know how you ar doing soon, okay?