Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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I just had a quick question for anybody whose medication is working. I started Tecfidera about a month ago and a have noticed a lot of improvements. I was curious if anybody has had any changes in their sleep patterns/cycles. I had always been a night owl, never really got tired but told myself at a certain time, "it's probably time to go to bed," but would take FOREVER to fall asleep and when I would "sleep," I never felt rested or even like I had fallen asleep at all. NOW, however, since my fatigue has improved, I find myself getting tired around 9-10pm, fall asleep relatively fast and wake up rested. I actually feel like I am sleeping better. Anybody experience anything like that on any medication?
I also KNOW that a new leision was forming and that IT seemed to slow/ stop THAT ONE too; cause of how the drills in my head ONLY happened 4 or 5 times the weeks that I took the entire shot of that dreaded Avonex!
Sleeping or most anything, I haven't noticed with that drug. I also take Ampyra to help me walk, but THAT drug does keep me awake a lot; it DOES help steady me though.
It's like EVERY drug has a good side and a very BAD side too!
Good luck with that drug; I may be changing to that one in a month or so; now that I'm getting to see the GOOD neuro again!! He knows how much I hate Avonex and being I'm way to high with the JCvirus for a smart dr. to force me on that drug, HE would know what I should do!
The general rule of finding out if your DMD is really working is to have an MRI performed, and see if there are any changes in your lesions, like them shrinking, or not getting any new ones. I don't see why improvements in your symptoms couldn't be used as a yardstick either. I'm glad you have experienced whatever miracle you are with your sleep patterns.
Other nights I get up early w/my kids but when they leave I'll take an hour nap then be ready to go. -- strange I know. :0
tech, the weather getting more stable, me gaining weight(thats a negative in the big picture but eating more may be making me feel better right now & sleeping more because of it?) wih tech i notice i am very sleepy, its a pleasant feeling i know i could excersize to get rid of some of it but it is such a pleasant feeling i'm sleeping alot, i don't want to excersize and cause it to leave-maybe depression?
with dmd effectiveness the biggest evaluator is time weith ms , how consistent is it.
as you can tell for me its about making a list of all things that could have caused it first...then the dmd. my bladder issues have definitely improved.
As we've all come to know, every MS patient is different.
The medication Gods are on your side this time!
Congrats...
can anyone say they know these symptoms? Please?
Being stiff should not be a change about from the Tec. I've never heard of that as a side affect, but there is always a first time for everything. I did get flush and red in the face for a while (several months) from Tec. It finally subsided. The itchiness sounds like an allergic reaction to the medicine. I would mention this to your neuro, maybe Tec is not the medicine for you?
the balance and stiff muscles i think are weather related + i don't like drinking anymore. ichoppel you were the one a few years ago that told me not drinking can cause sore/stiff muscles, i looked it up you were right about that...to tell you the truth i eally don't like incontince and i'm too quick to solve it by not drinking.... eventually i pay a price for handling incontence that way, today's the day for me... i have a large glass of cran j warming up & i think i will be drinking alot today along with taking magnesium suppliment.
this morning it is so comfortably cool, i love it! but it always takes ms a while to adjust to weather changes...so that happening too. ..it not really about a specific temperature it about what a person is used too. colder weather is more comfortable for me but it does maKe me stiff
funny thing i read that "flushing" and itching are both skin reactions...funny they are the same thing( caveate in medicine: except when they are not, but less probable that they are not.) at a start pre treat with aspirin, i'm finding aspirin suprisingly helpful. I talked to pharmasist about this side affect and the asp[irin i'm now using for it. if that doesn't help go up to a claritin-D(i use waltin -D, less expensive) if that doesn't do it, get the big guns out and start benadryl.