At a cross roads and need advice/opinions.
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 7:29 am
I’m a snow bird in the US. I have two neurologists; one up north and one down south. The southern neurologist wants to ship me to a clinic in Houston this fall to get one of the newer medications. The northern neurologist wants me to go to zero medication due to my age. What’s a guy to do???
I’m 66. First diagnosed for my 59th birthday. For 12 months leading up to dx, I saw my doctor for some symptoms. Then we figured it out, got MRIs showing two lesions in brain and one in spine Off to the neurologist. Official dx after spinal tap.
I have been on Dimethyl fumerate ever since. We “caught it early” per my doctor. I have tingling in my feet, fatigue, heat sensitivity, and reduced balance. But I do not have any disability. My cognition is probably average for an aging Boomer. I still can and do fell trees, cut them up, and split logs for firewood for up north. I also walk the dog three miles most days.
In the time since I have been diagnosed, I have had only one relapse caused by a very stressful event. The prednisolone, a gram a day for three days, pulled me right out of relapse. No new symptoms. Old symptoms, at most, very slightly worse if at all.
The fatigue is my biggest quality of life issue. I used Modafinil for a few years. It helps, but it causes other issues. So I quit it a few months ago. I keep it available if I need it.
Both doctors are in their late 50’s and have lots of experience with MS. Northern doctor says my immune system should be slowing down. But I still have a touch of eczema and osteoarthritis.
What’s a guy to do? Sometimes I thing I should compromise a just take one dimethyl fumarate a day.
I’m 66. First diagnosed for my 59th birthday. For 12 months leading up to dx, I saw my doctor for some symptoms. Then we figured it out, got MRIs showing two lesions in brain and one in spine Off to the neurologist. Official dx after spinal tap.
I have been on Dimethyl fumerate ever since. We “caught it early” per my doctor. I have tingling in my feet, fatigue, heat sensitivity, and reduced balance. But I do not have any disability. My cognition is probably average for an aging Boomer. I still can and do fell trees, cut them up, and split logs for firewood for up north. I also walk the dog three miles most days.
In the time since I have been diagnosed, I have had only one relapse caused by a very stressful event. The prednisolone, a gram a day for three days, pulled me right out of relapse. No new symptoms. Old symptoms, at most, very slightly worse if at all.
The fatigue is my biggest quality of life issue. I used Modafinil for a few years. It helps, but it causes other issues. So I quit it a few months ago. I keep it available if I need it.
Both doctors are in their late 50’s and have lots of experience with MS. Northern doctor says my immune system should be slowing down. But I still have a touch of eczema and osteoarthritis.
What’s a guy to do? Sometimes I thing I should compromise a just take one dimethyl fumarate a day.
