another confused MS sufferer
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:17 pm
Hello everyone,
How wonderful it is to have found this board! Loads of useful info for someone so desperate for it. ARGH... why is it so hard to find interesting, reliable, and truly useful info out there? Anyhow, no point complaining!! I will first apologize in advance for my 'incorrect' English. French is my mother tongue.
I will introduce myself. I am a 48 yo woman and have not been diagnosed with MS, but sure am wondering what they are still debating! I had first symptoms sept 2010. They were mainly sensitory, numbness in legs and poor balance. MRI showed 3 lesions on the dorsal portion of my spine, apparently in locations consistent with the symptoms I was experiencing. Nothing on my brain then. Was treated with steroids and doc wanted to wait for any type of DMD, thinking more of CIS. No relapse so far. MRI 1 yr later shows 2 new lesions on my brain, but 2 docs (neuros) say to still wait and not worry. Still dont recommend DMD's. One seems to think that more effective drugs are no more than 1-2 years away, and given the low effectiveness of the current ones (40%) , it's not worth the bother considering the slow changes I am experiencing I guess.
At the same appointment, when I complained of difficulties with my vision, funny, weird feeling. As if it was hard to 'merge' into one the images from both my eyes. The neuro examined my pupils reaction to light and says: damage to optic nerve. Nothing more. I fell soooo stupid today for just leaving left the office without asking again what his opinion about the whole thing was at that point.
A week later, as I started thinking about the VERY real possibility that the 1-2 years before new drugs he's hoping for could easily turn into 4-5 yrs, panic set in and I decided to start taking Copaxone. The neuro obliged and seems to think it was his idea !!! That was only 2 weeks ago, but I am already having second toughts. Must be related to how much fun it is!!
No point loosing one's sense of humor!
Does anyone feel like commenting. I would very much value your input.
Also, is there any book you would warmly recommend reading to better understand MS. I mean, beyong the usual: MS is a degenerative neurological ..... bla, bla, bla, 10 lines.
Thank you in advance.
Sophie
How wonderful it is to have found this board! Loads of useful info for someone so desperate for it. ARGH... why is it so hard to find interesting, reliable, and truly useful info out there? Anyhow, no point complaining!! I will first apologize in advance for my 'incorrect' English. French is my mother tongue.
I will introduce myself. I am a 48 yo woman and have not been diagnosed with MS, but sure am wondering what they are still debating! I had first symptoms sept 2010. They were mainly sensitory, numbness in legs and poor balance. MRI showed 3 lesions on the dorsal portion of my spine, apparently in locations consistent with the symptoms I was experiencing. Nothing on my brain then. Was treated with steroids and doc wanted to wait for any type of DMD, thinking more of CIS. No relapse so far. MRI 1 yr later shows 2 new lesions on my brain, but 2 docs (neuros) say to still wait and not worry. Still dont recommend DMD's. One seems to think that more effective drugs are no more than 1-2 years away, and given the low effectiveness of the current ones (40%) , it's not worth the bother considering the slow changes I am experiencing I guess.
At the same appointment, when I complained of difficulties with my vision, funny, weird feeling. As if it was hard to 'merge' into one the images from both my eyes. The neuro examined my pupils reaction to light and says: damage to optic nerve. Nothing more. I fell soooo stupid today for just leaving left the office without asking again what his opinion about the whole thing was at that point.
A week later, as I started thinking about the VERY real possibility that the 1-2 years before new drugs he's hoping for could easily turn into 4-5 yrs, panic set in and I decided to start taking Copaxone. The neuro obliged and seems to think it was his idea !!! That was only 2 weeks ago, but I am already having second toughts. Must be related to how much fun it is!!
No point loosing one's sense of humor!
Does anyone feel like commenting. I would very much value your input.
Also, is there any book you would warmly recommend reading to better understand MS. I mean, beyong the usual: MS is a degenerative neurological ..... bla, bla, bla, 10 lines.
Thank you in advance.
Sophie