Hi, its normal to feel scared with changes. For a whole year I saw my daugther battling with Avonex, injections, side effects, crying, etc,,,then I get dx, Avonex for me too!!! :( and now she gives me my shot, thank God. Now she is on Extavia and have little or no side effects and still battling with shot, no shot , can't wait till next MRI to see if Extavia is working. Sometimes I feel I don't care what happens ,but won't miss a shot. Choices!!

Alma

hi- well lol!! i have thought that- but without anything how would u bee- soooo i still do it- copaxone- i ok- well -i take other meds- anything that would help-not hurt -yeh i do it- but id do something- cause of the damage- it does-maybe slow it down- hugs

I'll see my Dr in a few weeks, after my Neuropsyche test. I'll talk to her about waiting & see what my next MRI shows. Maybe I'll go back on Copaxone or maybe nothing. No interferons for me!!
Hugs
Tammy

Have you tried Rebif? I've been on it for about 7months and had only one reaction otherwise my life has remained fairly normal - though I do have to go for my follow-up in a few months and am not sure how that will go.

Treatment typically focuses on strategies to treat attacks, to modify the course of the disease and to treat symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary.

These medications do not cure MS, but they do reduce the frequency and severity of attacks and the development of new brain lesions. In addition, they slow down the progression of MS, reducing future disability.

MS drugs can improve the quality of life for many people with MS. The most important goal is to find a treatment you can use comfortably and consistently.

Hi Tammy,
I'm wondering why you changed from Copaxone if you had no problems? I was never on that but had real bad side effects to betaferon & avonex (both skin & sick all the time) so went with the no medications for a while. If I could have found one that didn't impact my qualit of life so much I would have stayed on it.
I tried to eat healthy with fruit & vegetables, vitamins etc but progressed very quickly. I now can't walk far, use a walker to go outside at all & inside a lot, use a scooter or electric wheelchair to go out further or for the day, shopping, or anything else.
Am now on Gilenya capsules & so far (since December) no side effects. I dont feel bad next day & so long as don't overdo it can do more before fatigue kicks in. I can even do the shopping, (on scooter) & then still be able to look around other shops & try on clothes (hubby helps me to change lots of times) where if we did shopping that was it for day, same with if we looked around shops. Could only do one thing at a time in day so changed lifestyle heaps.

It is your decision but plenty of people have no reaction to various of crab drugs. I actually found the avonex hurt less than betaferon so give it a try.
Good luck with whichever way you decide on & let us know how you go too.
Hugs, Aussue

AusSue, Copaxone was great for me, no side effects. One of my Dr's thought I should try Avonex cause I had 6 new lesions in the last year.
I think he wanted to b more aggressive. I'm going to go back on the Copaxone, it's better then nothing.
Hugs
Tammy

I was on Avonex for 9 years. When I started I was walking with a cane, in a wheelchair full-time today. I had no side effects from Avonex except occasional Migraine, My doctor should have tried more because there is a lot of damage to my spinal cord that is irreversible. I think Avonex stopped working-hard to know.

Be cautious with what you do. I went off Avonex for 1 year and had increase in lesions to brain.

Can't emphasize caution enough. You are up against a disease that can be doing progressive damage silently and the end result is not pretty.

Melanie

Oh my well I guess I'll chime in again as the only one who says screw the CRAB drugs--they're not PROVEN effective. There is no real treatment for MS--just guesses. You have to do what's right for you. I was on all the meds--avonex was fun with stabbing the giant needle in my leg adn having a flu for 3 days a week, but yes I said enough is enough and quit all shots, infusions, pills, and synthetics of any kind.
My neuro gave me many evil eyed looks and tried desperately to scare me into doing something--giving me ultimatums, saying how severe my MS is, and that I'd be in a wheelchair in no time.

2 years later, only ONE new and slowly lesion, all old ones barely visible, walking without my cane, feeling better in terms of pain/fatigue...
Am not cured, not by a long shot, but yes I feel that the natural medicines are the only treatments that have come close to working for me--and no side effects! (or very few let's face it)

Diet, supplements, cannabis. Try it and don't let anyone scare you off!

I was on Avonex for 5 years. I been off Avonex since Jan 22 of this year due to allergic reaction. Plan not to use any other DMD. I have ordered CA-2Aep and Calcium Ororate, Malic Acid, Triple complex Magnesium with other supplements I already have plus eating healthy. I can't see the point when my disability whether from MS or other (ME) has me housebound. I feel better as not going through awful side effects. Symptom wise is about the same. This is an individual's choice. Do what you feel is best for you.