I have been dx with MS for 15yrs and taking Copaxone for 12yrs. Haven't had a major attack in 11yrs. Overall doing OK but lately symtoms have been worse. Mainly, fatigue, increased numbness/tingling in hands and feet, bowel/bladder urgency/constipation, fatigue, fatigue!! You know..the usual. My recent brain MRI showed Dawsons Fingers. (ie many lesions) whereas before I have only had 2 small brain lesions for over 10yrs. My question is... Should I be thinking about changing therapys? Obviously my disease is progressing, and I would like to treat it more aggressively. I tried Avonex in the past which didn't agree with me. Maybe my copaxone is not as effective after being on it for 12yrs?? What about tysarbi therapy? Any comments would be appreciated.
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Hi Nurse Nancy,
It's great that you were attack free for 11years, and I imagine it is unsettling that you are experiencing these symptoms. I gather by the title that you had an MRI and that it appears there is increased disease activity? Do you have a more specific question? It seems like part of the question is missing.
Please advise~
Amy
Sorry for how your MS is going, it sucks, they tld me that I had it all my life, but it does not rear it's head until I am 44 yrs old, imagine that, but it also explained a lot of things. Maybe you could ask your doctor about Betaserone. I was using that with no side affects. But when my insurance stopped, I could not afford $3600.00 per month. But it seems to do real good. I am going to go natural from this point out and see how it works for me. I am about to be approved for disability but I steel am going to go natural and see what happens. Since I have gone natural my walking has improved, but natural is by no means all right for everybody. The Fatique is the worst, I am going to try B12 or is it B6 either way, that is what I am going to eo. I wish you btter health, good days, everything will be all right. Yes we struggle, but everydody does. Some just hide it better than others. sherry/smomdukes
Hi Nancy,
I too had been on Copaxone for many years (15 to be exact). I didn't have a span of remission that you describe, but was functioning in a reasonable place. When my symptoms increased last June and my Dr saw increased disease activity on the MRI he suggested a change. I went on Rebif and have been enjoying the 3x a week shots instead of everyday. (It's the little things). Have you spoken to your doctor about it? I have great confidence in my neurologist, and take his recommendations very seriously. If you don't have a similar relationship, there are a number of resources online that can be helpful. Let me know if there is any other information I can share that will be of help. In the meantime, here is the NMSS link to a brochure that lays out all of the disease modifying drugs. And if you are looking for a little comic relief, I've written a blog post about going off copaxone and the emotions associated to that change. All the Best,
Amy
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i have been stable on beta for nearly four years. it's the first and only thing i have tried. i have heard of more people "going natural". i hope it works for anyone who makes that decision. since i still had a child in school, i wanted the drug intervention.