This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

For those that don't hang out on the stem cell board, I have been trying for a couple weeks to get approved for Dr. Burt's Mist stem cell treatment for my newly diagnosed MS.
I had several discussions today with the folks in charge of the study. The bottom line is that they told me to come get checked out, and then told me that they wouldn't take me for 6months. I must be on an interferon or copaxone for at least 6 months and get worse prior to qualifying. As I was wrongly diagnosed for the last almost 7 years, I haven't been on anything. It looks like interferons and copaxone are the only things that count, so I need to pick one and get over my fear of needles pretty quickly I guess. I am leaning towards avonex, as they all seem to have the same efficacy in the numbers, but this one only needs a once weekly injection. At least it would give me six months to get into some fundraising. Who knows, maybe it will work fine and I'll never get any worse. I am still really looking at this procedure, and hope it will get fast tracked between then and now. They did tell me that some of the insurance companies involved do cover a portion, but not all, of the costs. They wouldn't tell me if BCBS (mine) was one of them.
My problem is that I am both afraid of needles and a bit of a drinker. I hear further that avonex is tough on the liver.
Can I be a bit of a drinker and still take this? Which one would fit my criteria, or do I need to give the sauce? Aside from hunting, fishing, and yelling at a jury, it is my solace. I am interested in any advice I can get.

Thanks

shucks

hey shucks,

i'm on bcbs and they are covering my avonex at 100%. granted there a multiple different plans within bcbc, so you'll have to see what they say. they only cover 30 days at a time so i need to reorder each month. it is seem a little odd, but the pharmacy contacts me to keep it simple.

i drink also, but i am going to cut back to special events only. it's just not worth the risk imo.

i look at this process as a short term 'solution' anyway as i am definitely going to get the stem cell treatment at some point in the future.

I am leaning towards copaxone, since it seems to have fewer side effects. The down side is that it is an every day injection. It doesn't seem to have as many side effects, and the Doc says they are all pretty much equally effective.
Anyone think it's a bad deal?

my friend is on copaxone and has been for about a year now. the daily shots are definitely a pain but he has not suffered any flu like symptoms. his only issues seem to be temperature control. he is either hot or cold randomly. he is also on an antidepressant...but that may be due to multiple reasons since diagnosis.

my thought process is this...

once a week shot with hopefully no side affects. (i have not started treatments yet...tuesday i go for 'shot training') if i do have side affects i will switch to copaxone. it took me several weeks to come to this conclusion, but this is where i am today. i am extremely active whether it is skiing, mtn biking, running, climbing, surfing, golf, etc and i cannot give up a day each week to feeling like crap.