This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I have been on Copaxone for 2 and 1/2 months. Already I have felt some positive effect, and feel it is going to be the med for me. But I'm having a tough time waiting for the 6 to 9 months you'e supposed to wait for it to really take effect. I've been getting depressed thinking about the things I used to be able to do! It's been really tough

Consider yourself lucky! I'm at 6 months and haven't noticed any changes (except for less stinging!)...

_________________

RRMS dx 3/3/11; Copaxone since 12/1/11

I'm having a lot of trouble keeping my mood up. I am indeed fortunate, since there was a point where I couldn't walk and I was in severe pain. Now the pain is much better and I can walk, but only a little at a time. How do I keep my spirits up without anti-depressants? I always had trouble with anti-depressants in the past; I never was able to tolerate them. Before I got sick, I did lots of walking and THAT was my anti-depressant! I was doing a lot of reading, but I burned out with it. What are other people doing when they can't can't function up to snuff?

I hope by now things have gotten better. I used to get really really depressed too. Maybe try L-theanine if your into the homeopathic approach. It's a supplement you can get from a good health food store or order it online. It's like a natural anti-depressant and it's non-addictive. And it does a lot of other stuff too. Do some research on it. It really works for me. Also next time you get blood work done. ask you doctor about your potassium level. My was low and and low potassium can also cause depression. I just loaded up on foods with potassium and that really helped as well. Good luck

I have never heard of that for depression. I will certainly look into it. Since I wrote this I have increased my walking, and that has helped to lift some of the depression, but I definitely need something more. I've also never heard of potassium connected with depression. Thank you for letting me know this stuff!

Years ago, I used to take L-Tryptophan when I was low in spirits, along with a b-complex vitamin ( for the b-6) and it worked beautifully. Then they pulled Tryptophan off the market. Is it back on? I did try 5-HTP but it didn't work. I also tried St. John's Wort and it made made me as sick as the anti-depressants did. Over the years I have forgotten about trying natural remedies, probably in disappointment over the ones that didn't work. I got into doing lots of walking and that worked beautifully, until I came down with MS and lost my mobility. Now it's coming back, but I'm still limited.

My problem is, I've been on it for over a year. I've had a second MRI since then, and they say no change so the assumption is it is working.

However, I don't feel any better. Even a little worse. I can't even go to the gym for half an hour without getting the eye symptoms any more. I really don't know what to do here.