Day One

I had a great weekend and today was day 1 of the Ampyra.  I’ve been on the patientslikeme site and I’ve been reading other people’s experiences with it and most reports have been favourable, so only time will tell if I’ll be as lucky.  I’m hoping for good things!  I would say “GREAT” but I don’t want to get my hopes up too high.

so…funny story…

I had to go back to my neuro on Friday for them to read my TB test results.  I didn’t actually have to make an appt for that because quite frankly i swear anyone can read those results.  I could have called them and told them that I didn’t have TB.  Anyhoo, so i just had to go in and get it done.  Well long story short, I was running late…so I got to the doctor’s office with 5 mins to spare!!!  The office is up on the 5th floor of the building and luckily G was with me so I didn’t have to park.  I pulled up, got out of the car and G screamed, “5 minutes!  no pressha!!  but RUN!!!”  i think it took me the entire 5 minutes to get upstairs because naturally I tripped right by the door of the building – didn’t fall, but i had to steady myself before i could continue…
Never a dull moment with me…

Got Mail!

so i got the Ampyra yesterday…let’s see what this shit can do!  There’s been a slight change of plans…I’m going to start taking it on Monday.  I decided that since no one can tell me how it will react to alcohol (altho as i’ve said before, the medication fact sheet does not specifically state “do NOT drink alcohol while taking this medication!), I’m going to LIME HARD this weekend and start it on Monday…that’s my way of dealing.

This has nothing to do with the new treatment mentioned yesterday; i’ll be taking them together.  The Ampyra has been proven to specifically improve the walking disability in MS patients, the treatment is what you take to hopefully slow down the progression of the disease entirely.

On another note, I have bitten the bullet and bought a pill organizer *GASP*.  I don’t let this disease slow me down too much so i’m still limin as usual/doing my thing, but if i go somewhere, of course i have to walk with my medication (remember i’m on medication for the Spasticity too).  Now I’ll have another pill as well (the Ampyra is a pill- YEA), so i got a very cute organizer thing that i can actually discreetly place in my pockets if I’m out and about.

What the?!?!?  has it really come to this???

SUCKS to be sick!!!

More Results*sigh*

Did i ever mention on this site that I hate having this disease?  Well i do…i really do.

I went to my neuro yesterday to get the results of those 3 MRIs -brain, upper and lower spine.  Good news is that I have no additional scarring on my brain.  Bad news is that i have 3 lesions on my spine.  Now, in all fairness i can’t really classify that as total bad news.  It explains why I am having so much trouble walking i s’pose.  The unfortunate thing is that this is the first spinal MRI i’ve ever had so we have no baseline to measure against.  He is concerned because I have to admit that it has gotten progressively worse over time.  It used to be that i would have problems after walking or standing for a long time; now it’s almost always ALL the time regardless.  PT helps it does, but it doesn’t negate the fact that the walking problems have progressively gotten worse.  He is concerned (and he raises a good point) about what state i might be in in 6 months.  Anyone around me regularly can see how it’s gotten progressively worse.  So, where does that leave me?  he wants to change my meds…

Good news/bad news.  The good news is that i will no longer have to take a daily shot (YEAH BABY!!!).  The bad news is that the one he would prefer me to go on has a side effect of a brain infection – SHEEEEIT!!!!  It’s a much more aggressive medication than the one i’m currently on and i’ve heard great things about it but… really?  do they always have to have shit hanging over ur head like that?  can’t something just work FOR u without all the bloody side effects???  It’s also an IV infusion so I’ll have to go into his office once a month to get my infusion – HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!  The cost?  haven’t a clue but once again, I have to wait to be approved by the insurance company and everybody else in the world before i get started.

The brain infection is rare (thank God!) and it is more likely to occur in patients with a compromised immune system.  So they do extensive blood testing and TB testing before you are even considered as a good candidate for it.  I’ve done research and in this instance, i believe that the benefits outweigh the risks and I’m willing to give it a try.  He said that we can try it for 6 months and see how it’s going/how I feel and re-evaluate if necessary.

Did i ever mention that I really hate having this disease?  I know that it’s not the worse thing that can happen to me and for that I’m grateful, but i really do hate having it.

Got the Other Call

Just a quick update today…

It’s in the mail!  The medication is going to arrive on Wednesday…I will start taking it on Thursday.  OYE!  Hopefully I too will have good news to report after i start taking it.  I eh go lie, I’m a little scared…what with its being a new drug and the side effects and all, but it is what it is.

Research Continues…

so…i’ve posted the alcohol question on the website I mentioned before; www.patientslikeme.com.  It’s interesting to see the responses I’ve gotten so far.  They’ve been from people who were on the generic, 4-AP form of the drug for a while, people who’ve recently started and those who are actually taking Ampyra.  They’ve also copied and pasted links and excerpts from material to substantiate their responses.

It appears that there are no adverse effects of the 2 together BUT considering that dizziness and increased falling may be side effects, probably don’t want to have the 2 in the system at the same time.  I go back to my neuro on Tuesday; i’ll bring it up with him then…so we’ll see…more to come – maybe!

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