This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

There are tons of articles on it in major journals. I have spoken to 3 people who had less than stellar results. Sella had a bad infection during treatment in Britain, Lisa from Lisa's hope had to go back for some more chemo after a few years(and is now stable again), and asher failed to have any reduction in symptoms or cessation. Go to George goss' website and he has many articles there.

Asher, please keep us posted on your progress.

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"A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that." -- Shane

Who is John Galt?

Sure will Shucks, I expect MSC's will be ready for transplantation in Feb. next year. Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you, Asher

Asher,

Best of luck with MSC transplant. I'm following closely as my HSCT with Burt in May doesn't appear to have worked for me. Symptoms worsening and new ones as well. Burt was hesitant to treat me as he was doubtful of efficacy due to my diagnosis 10 years ago and scant proof of inflammatory disease.

It appears myelin regeneration is your and my only hope at this point. Please keep us posted. Have you heard of the Myelin Repair Foundation out of CA? www.myelinrepair.org Interesting group founded by a successful entrepreneur diagnosed with MS 25 years ago. Mission is to bridge gap between academia and pharma to provide funding for emerging therapies. Their goal is to submit their first myelin regeneration therapy to FDA by 2014 and to get it approved and to market by 2019.

Happy Holidays to you and family!!

Kevin

kevin,

i too have been following the myelin repair foundation publishings...i even sent them a few bucks. excellent work they are doing and probably the only thing that might help my wife who is 63 and ppms. msct sounds promising....i think i even read one of george's posts where he said he might be a candidate now that his ms progression has been halted. there is currently a msct clinical trial being run by dr. cohen @ cleveland clinic. also, you might want to google "anti-lingo"....it's a myelin repair drug by biogen that is currently in clinical trial and showing some promise...probably 5 years away however. lots of good things happening out there!

asher....i hope & pray your msct has some positive results for you.

merry christmas....

brad in sarasota

Hi Kevin,

Interesting, I too was diagnosed 10 years ago with no apparent evidence of inflammatory disease. I agree that at this stage of the disease, and in the failure of HSCT to arrest progression, regenerative medicine may be the only game in town for us

Kevin and Brad, Believe it or not, I'm as curious as you are as to the efficacy of MSC's therapy. Hopefully my MSC's will be ready for transplantation in Feb. '13. I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Yours, Asher

Colony expansion of my MSC's by CTCI was completed successfully and reinfusion in Switzerland has been set for February 19, 2013.

february in switzerland....should be lovely. the 19th is very close now...best of luck with the infusion!!!

brad in sarasota

Thanks, truly appreciate it

Asher,
good luck with the infusion! Is it allowed to take any drugs or steroids before infusion?

No Liberation, you're expected to be 'clean'. I took Tysabry and quit 4 years ago.

Thanks Asher. I keep my fingers crossed for you.

Hi Asher,
how are you? I hope your infusion went well.
You mentioned that you have to be drug-free before the infusion. Is that apply for the after-infusion period? How long? Does it apply only for the immune modulatory drugs or some others as well?

The MSC's have successfully been administered in a clinic in Montreux Switzerland on Feb. 19, 1-1.5 million cells per kg body mass, 50% intravenous and 50% injected into the brain fluid via the spinal cord. The whole procedure lasted 20 minutes and is relatively benign. I was brought to my room where I would spent the next 2 nights. I was asked to remain horizontal in bed for 10 hours following the procedure. I fell asleep and woke up 3 hours later feeling fine. It was only in the evening that pain kicked in. It felt like an iron rode was shoved up my $$$ sending pain all the way thru my back to my head. Pain killers helped me through the first 48 hours and 2 days later I could forget it ever happened. Has it worked? Still early days and I will have to come back to you on this question in say 8 to 10 weeks. Only thing I notice at this stage is an improved ability to focus my sight and some extra vitality. Is it real? Has it got anything to do with the MSC's or is it a coincidence, or maybe placebo? Your guess is as good as mine.

Will keep you informed, Asher

P.s.

This what I wrote someone, only reflecting my humble opinion formed by what I read, experienced and heared from professionals: "SPMS is a turning point where MS turns into a different disease. Chances HSCT will make a difference in a disease with no inflammation are slim. Specifically, HSCT has proven most effective in stopping and to an extent reversing MS for people with active and aggressive MS. If you have active MS and I were you, I would waste no time and do HSCT while bearing in mind there are no guarantees, always hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

HSCT is thus a means to halt an active disease. Potential reversal of symptoms is a secondary benefit as your nerves are no longer under constant barrage allowing for autonomous recovery. If you want to engage in damage repair Msc's is the best game in town, again no guarantees.

So, the right sequence for you would be first HSCT, followed by Msc's. I any event, always seek treatment from reputable experts. You wouldn't buy a car from a non certified dealer would you? Lo and behold when it comes to treating your MS. Prof. Slavin in Tel Aviv is one of the, if not the best in his field.

that's great news asher!!! successful infusion...sorry about the pain part but as you said, you've forgotten about it already. i hope & pray that you see some symptom improvement in the coming weeks and months. i look forward to following your posts. good luck!!!

brad

Hi Asher,
it is good to hear that everything went well. I hope you will show some real improvements in the following weeks and months. Do you know anything how the improvements usually occur? Do people experience significant improvements in weeks or just in months if the treatment is succesful?

Did the professor said anything about interference with drugs or other procedures? If yes, then how long should you stay away from them after infusion?

Lib