7th March 2008
Hi Nenu. Just for the record, DMD is diseas modifying drugs...these are Copaxone, Betaseron, Avonex, Rebif and Tysabri....if you have a definate dx, they will probably start telling you to get on one of the first four immediately...Tysbari is usually not a first line of defense drug.
And, you do have a choice to do this or not do this. Plenty of people choose NOT to take the drugs and do well. Its a very personal decision.
I would question why your Neuro is going to work with a family doc on treatment for you. family docs USUSALLY have next to no knowledge about MS....youre lucky to find a regular Neuro who keeps up on the studies/meds and optioins....what you truly need is a MS Specialist at this ponit to help you get thru the first year or 18 months, watch you for changes, order your MRIs and if you go on DMD drugs, to monitor you. A family guy isnt going to know what to look for, or what blood work needs to be done quarterly if you go on DMDs....why not find a good MS guy and stick with him every 6 months and then use your family guy to do what they do best??
Dont worry about how many lesions you have- its not important. I have more lesions then my MS Specialist has seen in any of his patients, and he has well over 3000 patients ...I have over 50 lesions. I stll work fulltime, take care of a home and familiy fulltime- cook, clean and ride horses when its not too hot outside. Number of lesions means nothing in the grand scheme of things....so dont fixate on that. If you have enough to meet the mcDonald criteria, and the symtoms to match, then you have a dx....
take good care of yourself.
Nikki
And, you do have a choice to do this or not do this. Plenty of people choose NOT to take the drugs and do well. Its a very personal decision.
I would question why your Neuro is going to work with a family doc on treatment for you. family docs USUSALLY have next to no knowledge about MS....youre lucky to find a regular Neuro who keeps up on the studies/meds and optioins....what you truly need is a MS Specialist at this ponit to help you get thru the first year or 18 months, watch you for changes, order your MRIs and if you go on DMD drugs, to monitor you. A family guy isnt going to know what to look for, or what blood work needs to be done quarterly if you go on DMDs....why not find a good MS guy and stick with him every 6 months and then use your family guy to do what they do best??
Dont worry about how many lesions you have- its not important. I have more lesions then my MS Specialist has seen in any of his patients, and he has well over 3000 patients ...I have over 50 lesions. I stll work fulltime, take care of a home and familiy fulltime- cook, clean and ride horses when its not too hot outside. Number of lesions means nothing in the grand scheme of things....so dont fixate on that. If you have enough to meet the mcDonald criteria, and the symtoms to match, then you have a dx....
take good care of yourself.
Nikki