Aa
Diagnoses is in... Avonex?
Hey guys. My neuro determined today with my spinal tap and MRI that I have MS. To be honest I am more relieved than anything, it has been a long nine months. I have been having pins in needle feelings in my arms and face. I will start MS injections next week, when the nurse comes to show me how. Has anyone tried this? Results? Thanks!
Sorry for your diagnoses too. I am still in shock I think.. I will do the advil before I take it too at night.
Well ... good bad news... I read about your abnormal LP and also hoped it was not ms abnormal ..... Another official welcome to the club from me.
I have been on the roller coaster with you and have followed some of your posts.
I was official in august this year. It is a wave of emotions and I can't say I am ok with it yet. I am on rebif like corrie ... I won't say all the same details as her again... But it is close to avonex. I still take advil the night of and acetaminophen the day after. I try to limit my Advil use for my stomach.
It has been going ok for me.. I am quite tired the next day and only one very bad night when I forgot the Advil. Otherwise very do-able :)
I have been on the roller coaster with you and have followed some of your posts.
I was official in august this year. It is a wave of emotions and I can't say I am ok with it yet. I am on rebif like corrie ... I won't say all the same details as her again... But it is close to avonex. I still take advil the night of and acetaminophen the day after. I try to limit my Advil use for my stomach.
It has been going ok for me.. I am quite tired the next day and only one very bad night when I forgot the Advil. Otherwise very do-able :)
Hi. It was both combined. I switched MS doctors due to my first one rescheduling every appointment. My MRI showed the lesions, but the new neuro said that I have a lesion on the top of my.. I forget.. maybe corpus collosum? I posted it in a previous post! :)
Anyway, I also had abnormal EEG. When I went to the new neuro he told me the first time looking at my MRI that it looked like MS, but he wanted to do all the testing I would need. So he scheduled the blood work and the spinal in the same day.
I was surprised that the spinal came back abnormal, but I think 90% or more people with MS have an abnormal spinal. I also have had symptoms. My memory has been not so good, not just forgetting, but its a little scary.
My face and body feels like pins and needles sometimes. My balance is off. I tripped today walking up the stairs, I accidentally run into stuff all the time, which I did not really relate to the MS until my neuro had me try to walk a straight line... I am also tired, especially in the afternoons.
I also have diabetes and someone made a good point that the diabetes and ms is probably making me feel worse than if I just had one...
My advice is if you feel like something is wrong find a doctor that will listen. For most, its a long road to diagnoses. The past nine months have been forever long for me. I drive over an hour to my new neuro and he is totally worth the drive and I would drive twice that, because he cares.
Its good that your neuro isn't jumping straight to MS. That means (hopefully) he will do more testing. Unfortunately, unless the lesions are 100% in the right area a spinal tap is necessary. I wish they would have done it a long time ago and got it over with, but everything takes time.
Do you have other symptoms? I assume something, since you had an MRI. Mine started with temple headaches, unlike any migraine that I had ever had for two months!
Prayers! I am sorry this road is forever long. But as I have been told, but my friends here, you have all of us to talk to!
~B
Anyway, I also had abnormal EEG. When I went to the new neuro he told me the first time looking at my MRI that it looked like MS, but he wanted to do all the testing I would need. So he scheduled the blood work and the spinal in the same day.
I was surprised that the spinal came back abnormal, but I think 90% or more people with MS have an abnormal spinal. I also have had symptoms. My memory has been not so good, not just forgetting, but its a little scary.
My face and body feels like pins and needles sometimes. My balance is off. I tripped today walking up the stairs, I accidentally run into stuff all the time, which I did not really relate to the MS until my neuro had me try to walk a straight line... I am also tired, especially in the afternoons.
I also have diabetes and someone made a good point that the diabetes and ms is probably making me feel worse than if I just had one...
My advice is if you feel like something is wrong find a doctor that will listen. For most, its a long road to diagnoses. The past nine months have been forever long for me. I drive over an hour to my new neuro and he is totally worth the drive and I would drive twice that, because he cares.
Its good that your neuro isn't jumping straight to MS. That means (hopefully) he will do more testing. Unfortunately, unless the lesions are 100% in the right area a spinal tap is necessary. I wish they would have done it a long time ago and got it over with, but everything takes time.
Do you have other symptoms? I assume something, since you had an MRI. Mine started with temple headaches, unlike any migraine that I had ever had for two months!
Prayers! I am sorry this road is forever long. But as I have been told, but my friends here, you have all of us to talk to!
~B
Question for you: did an mri find your MS or did it take all the way to a spinal tap to find out? I have hyperintensities in my brain but the doc will not say if it is or is not MS. Thought Id ask since its been about the same amount of time for me waiting and in etween appointments, its hard not to think about something they may have missed. Thanks for your help!
JB
JB
I haven't got my call yet... I called the drs office today and they said they sent everything over. lol my apt. was Friday.. I thought it would be ok when I got the dx, but I am not ok... I am angry, sad, and I don't know what....
I thought of the wknds being yucky... I might do it on Thursday and then all I would have to do is get through Friday.
So does the nurse come and give the shots for the first few wks?
Thanks,
~B
I thought of the wknds being yucky... I might do it on Thursday and then all I would have to do is get through Friday.
So does the nurse come and give the shots for the first few wks?
Thanks,
~B
Hi to you ~B
I am so glad that you have this site. You will find it an immense spot for education, but most of all, the crying that you are doing, well, need I say more.... we help, support and lift up all. So, I'm glad you have been added to our lovely list., though, I am so sorry for your dx ...
I too am afraid of the side effects,. I got my phone call today, and they will order the Avonex from the pharmacy and deliver to my home. To start apparently, they will give us a little at a time, to see how we handle it, for a month or so, then we will be giving our own shots once a week.
I am on disability now, so, I don't have a good day to start this injection. LOL , I think any day will be not a good one if we react, but , on saying that, some people just carry on normally, and maybe have a tender spot at the injection site, but other wise it is alright. So, let's hope this will happen to us.
It does sound like a plan for you to do it Friday night, and then be ok for Monday, but that part that is not good, is then your weekend might be yucky, but again, let's be positive and hope for the best.
So, will keep in touch, and you too, and we will see where this train goes.
Hop on, we can do this !!!
((HUGS))
Candy
I am so glad that you have this site. You will find it an immense spot for education, but most of all, the crying that you are doing, well, need I say more.... we help, support and lift up all. So, I'm glad you have been added to our lovely list., though, I am so sorry for your dx ...
I too am afraid of the side effects,. I got my phone call today, and they will order the Avonex from the pharmacy and deliver to my home. To start apparently, they will give us a little at a time, to see how we handle it, for a month or so, then we will be giving our own shots once a week.
I am on disability now, so, I don't have a good day to start this injection. LOL , I think any day will be not a good one if we react, but , on saying that, some people just carry on normally, and maybe have a tender spot at the injection site, but other wise it is alright. So, let's hope this will happen to us.
It does sound like a plan for you to do it Friday night, and then be ok for Monday, but that part that is not good, is then your weekend might be yucky, but again, let's be positive and hope for the best.
So, will keep in touch, and you too, and we will see where this train goes.
Hop on, we can do this !!!
((HUGS))
Candy
Hi Candy,
Thank you! The neuros office said the avonex nurse will call. Do you have the day you are going to inject on? It says that it can make you sick for 24 hrs... I was thinking Friday. I work Monday- Friday and its to hard to miss days.
I am afraid of all the side effects that the meds say they cause.. not the flu like symptoms, but the liver failure, heart failure etc. did you have any problems out of the Copanex? It has helped to be able to talk to people here. I don't feel so alone...
I am relieved, but have been emotional today and yesterday... I would love to help each other along. Thank you for your kindness. Just when I think I am cried out, I cry again, like now. :)
~B
Thank you! The neuros office said the avonex nurse will call. Do you have the day you are going to inject on? It says that it can make you sick for 24 hrs... I was thinking Friday. I work Monday- Friday and its to hard to miss days.
I am afraid of all the side effects that the meds say they cause.. not the flu like symptoms, but the liver failure, heart failure etc. did you have any problems out of the Copanex? It has helped to be able to talk to people here. I don't feel so alone...
I am relieved, but have been emotional today and yesterday... I would love to help each other along. Thank you for your kindness. Just when I think I am cried out, I cry again, like now. :)
~B
Hi, So sorry about your dx , but like you said somehow you feel relieved about it, and now you don't have to wonder anymore.
Like everyone has said, your emotions will go all over the place for the next while, and that is very normal, and we have all been through so much of this, you can chime in anytime, and rant, or just share, and we are all here for ya.
This is a fabulolus place to meet people, and get information. It is, was and will always be my place to go.
I will start Avonex this week too, I was on Copaxone for 1 1/2 years, and the neuro just wanted to try something else. So, we can do this "together" if you will.... LOL , and we can learn about it ....... and help each other along.
I know this is the place I want to be, and I hope that through your trials and things, this will be a place for you to call home too....
Be good to yourself, and take good care,
Candy
Like everyone has said, your emotions will go all over the place for the next while, and that is very normal, and we have all been through so much of this, you can chime in anytime, and rant, or just share, and we are all here for ya.
This is a fabulolus place to meet people, and get information. It is, was and will always be my place to go.
I will start Avonex this week too, I was on Copaxone for 1 1/2 years, and the neuro just wanted to try something else. So, we can do this "together" if you will.... LOL , and we can learn about it ....... and help each other along.
I know this is the place I want to be, and I hope that through your trials and things, this will be a place for you to call home too....
Be good to yourself, and take good care,
Candy
Thank you for your reply. Today has been one of those days, I could scream. Friday I didn't cry at all, yesterday quite a bit, now I am angry... aghhh lol whoever said it will be a roller coaster was right.
Its hard to loose weight when I do not have the energy level to exercise... I have cut back what I eat and try to pick healthier options, but the weight is sticking to me like glue.
I know my symptoms were confusing. In the spring and beginning of summer, was my first flare up. I got "better" for a while and then now am here again. I feel like I am falling apart. But I will get better. At least like you said with the Diabetes I can manage. If its the last thing I do, I will learn to control that and that will control (hopefully) some of the symptoms.
You would think I was a couple hundred pounds overweight, but I am 5'6 and a size 16. Yes overweight, but not that you would think it would cause this much problems! lol
Thanks again for caring enough to explain.
Its hard to loose weight when I do not have the energy level to exercise... I have cut back what I eat and try to pick healthier options, but the weight is sticking to me like glue.
I know my symptoms were confusing. In the spring and beginning of summer, was my first flare up. I got "better" for a while and then now am here again. I feel like I am falling apart. But I will get better. At least like you said with the Diabetes I can manage. If its the last thing I do, I will learn to control that and that will control (hopefully) some of the symptoms.
You would think I was a couple hundred pounds overweight, but I am 5'6 and a size 16. Yes overweight, but not that you would think it would cause this much problems! lol
Thanks again for caring enough to explain.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Absolutely as Alex said, we are here for you!
Off the top of my head so bare with me, you had mentioned a lot of sx's more consistent with diabetes than for someone 'first' presenting with 'only' MS, you had been dx with diabetes and had had whooping cough too and the additional dx's, tends to add more sx's than what's typical for presenting MS.
Honestly, before you mentioned your MRI with the specific location of one of the lesions (corpus collusm) I'd been going by what you'd said in your fatigue and pain post. The sx's you just mentioned in the fatigue and pain post, were not particularly specific or suggestive of MS. A lot of sx's in MS are common sx's associated with other conditions eg diabetes, Lupus, viral infections etc etc
They mimic sx's of MS and you'd already been recently dx with 2 potential mimics which made (from my perspective) the odds more likely what you'd been already dx with, than additionally having MS as well but as soon as you specified you had a CC lesion, that one piece of MRI evidence on its own put MS high on your list of possible causes of what was going on.
I knew that definitely put MS on your list too and I had my fingers crossed that your LP wouldn't come up with more supportive evidence of MS, that makes 3 dx this year for you, which it totally and utterly unfair!
I went through the more recent sx's you'd mentioned in some other posts, and there is a lot associated with both MS and diabetes.
Fatigue - huge issue
Head aches
bilateral ankle pain
feet hurt
UTI's - urinary frequentcy
cognitive issues - memory, concentration
face pain
numbness in limbs
arm and leg go numb
muscle twitches
blurred vision
body hurts
I don't even know how to fathom a guess on which sx's will completely go, (never to return) because (yay well done!) you win the weight battle and no longer have type 2 diabetes OR which sx's were caused by the MS, so 'could' remit (partially or completely). I have no doubt that if you didn't have diabetes, everything would not be 'as hard' as it is now, both complicates what your dealing with and everything would be a much harder battle than if you were dealing with either condition alone. HUGS!
Have a read of those MS health pages i listed because i think it might help to know some tips and understanding of fatigue, because you can 'not' push threw it, but you can limit its impact more, if you understand what its all about.
HUGS.............JJ
PS Seriously you need some TLC and a few epic but gentle hugs!
Off the top of my head so bare with me, you had mentioned a lot of sx's more consistent with diabetes than for someone 'first' presenting with 'only' MS, you had been dx with diabetes and had had whooping cough too and the additional dx's, tends to add more sx's than what's typical for presenting MS.
Honestly, before you mentioned your MRI with the specific location of one of the lesions (corpus collusm) I'd been going by what you'd said in your fatigue and pain post. The sx's you just mentioned in the fatigue and pain post, were not particularly specific or suggestive of MS. A lot of sx's in MS are common sx's associated with other conditions eg diabetes, Lupus, viral infections etc etc
They mimic sx's of MS and you'd already been recently dx with 2 potential mimics which made (from my perspective) the odds more likely what you'd been already dx with, than additionally having MS as well but as soon as you specified you had a CC lesion, that one piece of MRI evidence on its own put MS high on your list of possible causes of what was going on.
I knew that definitely put MS on your list too and I had my fingers crossed that your LP wouldn't come up with more supportive evidence of MS, that makes 3 dx this year for you, which it totally and utterly unfair!
I went through the more recent sx's you'd mentioned in some other posts, and there is a lot associated with both MS and diabetes.
Fatigue - huge issue
Head aches
bilateral ankle pain
feet hurt
UTI's - urinary frequentcy
cognitive issues - memory, concentration
face pain
numbness in limbs
arm and leg go numb
muscle twitches
blurred vision
body hurts
I don't even know how to fathom a guess on which sx's will completely go, (never to return) because (yay well done!) you win the weight battle and no longer have type 2 diabetes OR which sx's were caused by the MS, so 'could' remit (partially or completely). I have no doubt that if you didn't have diabetes, everything would not be 'as hard' as it is now, both complicates what your dealing with and everything would be a much harder battle than if you were dealing with either condition alone. HUGS!
Have a read of those MS health pages i listed because i think it might help to know some tips and understanding of fatigue, because you can 'not' push threw it, but you can limit its impact more, if you understand what its all about.
HUGS.............JJ
PS Seriously you need some TLC and a few epic but gentle hugs!
My ANA is negative, my vitamin D 25 is low, Protein high, my blood work csf IGG is High, The CSF Albumin is High, the IGG is High, the IGG synthesis rate is H. I have two or more oligonclonal bands.. it didn't say the exact amount.
Hi Alex,
Thanks for clearing up the questions for me. I wondered about Lupus, but my ANA was normal... I will be happy to feel somewhat normal again, if there will be such a thing. I am a mommy to three 12 and under... I would like to have the energy to be everything they need.
I am taking steps to loose weight for the Diabetes. I really don't want to start on insulin, especially with having the avonex injections... today I feel a little more worried than yesterday.. but God is greater. Thank you so much for your help.
~B
Hi Alex,
Thanks for clearing up the questions for me. I wondered about Lupus, but my ANA was normal... I will be happy to feel somewhat normal again, if there will be such a thing. I am a mommy to three 12 and under... I would like to have the energy to be everything they need.
I am taking steps to loose weight for the Diabetes. I really don't want to start on insulin, especially with having the avonex injections... today I feel a little more worried than yesterday.. but God is greater. Thank you so much for your help.
~B
Other illnesses can cause abnormal LPs. When I had 12 obands in the CSF only and not the blood serum the next step was blood work to rule out other illnesses. The main one was Lupus. They did an ANA test for Lupus and it came out high which really means I have a lot of inflammation which fit with 12 0bands. They then did an anti DNA test for Lupus.I had no lupus symptoms only MS symptoms plus the abnormal MRIs pointing to MS. The anti DNA test came out Negative so Lupus was off the table. They also tested me for Neurophyllis and HIV even though that was unlikely. These are routine. When all these were ruled out I was finally diagnosed with MS. It took six weeks and was an anxious time for me.
The thing is no test rules MS in or out they are all part of the puzzle. My first MRI showed classic MS lesions and 4 Neurologists said they thought I had MS from my MRI and Neurological Exam. I had five more abnormal MRIs and abnormal evoked potential tests and abnormal Neuro Opthomology tests but I was not diagnosed until the LP two years later. I was told by six Neurologists I would be diagnosed with MS at some point but none of them would diagnose it. I had my first Neurological hospitalization in 1965 when I was two years old. They now say that is when my MS started.
Alex
The thing is no test rules MS in or out they are all part of the puzzle. My first MRI showed classic MS lesions and 4 Neurologists said they thought I had MS from my MRI and Neurological Exam. I had five more abnormal MRIs and abnormal evoked potential tests and abnormal Neuro Opthomology tests but I was not diagnosed until the LP two years later. I was told by six Neurologists I would be diagnosed with MS at some point but none of them would diagnose it. I had my first Neurological hospitalization in 1965 when I was two years old. They now say that is when my MS started.
Alex
Hi JJ,
I posted some questions in a post to everyone, about the abnormal lumbar puncture and being confused..
Thanks for the encouragement!
~B
I posted some questions in a post to everyone, about the abnormal lumbar puncture and being confused..
Thanks for the encouragement!
~B
Hi Alex,
Thanks for the encouragement. "Not every symptom will happen to you" is a good point. It can be scary looking at the least to the worst possible symptom.
Then there are so many side effects to the medications... liver failure, heart failure, allergic reaction and may be death... that's a lot to take in!
~B
Thanks for the encouragement. "Not every symptom will happen to you" is a good point. It can be scary looking at the least to the worst possible symptom.
Then there are so many side effects to the medications... liver failure, heart failure, allergic reaction and may be death... that's a lot to take in!
~B
Thanks. My husband is awesome and will be here to help. The doctor actually told him that he would be the one to give me the injection! So he will be a really active part! ;)
Hi Corrie,Thanks for all the info and encouragement. I asked this in another post to everyone, but why would an abnormal lp be no ms? Just wondering. That confused me! lol They said I will have blood work every four months.
I am a little nervous about the injections. More about the flu like symptoms.. I work full time and don't have time to be sick.. sounds funny since that is what I am a lot, but I still work. I am thinking about trying it on Fridays, so I have Saturdays to recover... He also said I need to see my MD about my blood pressure, the bottom number was 144 so I guess that is high. It has been high lately, but I wrote it off to nerves.
I am 33 and just might be falling apart :) I know God has this and will help me through.
~B
I am a little nervous about the injections. More about the flu like symptoms.. I work full time and don't have time to be sick.. sounds funny since that is what I am a lot, but I still work. I am thinking about trying it on Fridays, so I have Saturdays to recover... He also said I need to see my MD about my blood pressure, the bottom number was 144 so I guess that is high. It has been high lately, but I wrote it off to nerves.
I am 33 and just might be falling apart :) I know God has this and will help me through.
~B
I agree about the analogy of running around a football field. I was so tired of not knowing! My neuro mentioned a research study, but from the way it sounded I could stay on the Avonex. How do you know if you are not developing new lesions or getting worse? Thank you for all the info! I really appreciate it!
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the comments. I have another question. Someone mentioned that I do not have typical symptoms. Is numbness, face pain, memory loss, lesions on the brain.. etc. typical. From what I have read it is typical.
Also, why would an abnormal lumbar puncture make some think no MS... I am confused, when I have researched abnormal would be having the oligoclonal bandings, high protein, and everything else that shows abnormal. So just wondering why a couple said that abnormal spinal meant no ms. From the research that I have done for the past nine months, 90% of people with MS have a abnormal spinal.
I appreciate the encouragement. I do not like needles, however, would rather get better than loose my memory. Thanks again.
Also, why would an abnormal lumbar puncture make some think no MS... I am confused, when I have researched abnormal would be having the oligoclonal bandings, high protein, and everything else that shows abnormal. So just wondering why a couple said that abnormal spinal meant no ms. From the research that I have done for the past nine months, 90% of people with MS have a abnormal spinal.
I appreciate the encouragement. I do not like needles, however, would rather get better than loose my memory. Thanks again.
Glad you finally got a diagnosis. The hard thing about the first injection is makes the whole thing real. Its emotional and that is what makes it hard. I did Copaxone and had no trouble injecting every day.
You will go all over the map the first year with your feelings. We call it the roller coaster. It takes a bit of getting used to having a chronic illness. I would wake up and think do I really have MS or is this a weird dream.
Luckily you can get used to anything. The most important thing to remember is every symptom of MS will not happen to you. I read through the list and people told me things would happen to me. At the beginning I was waiting for the other shoes to drop. MS is unpredictable but you can't live your life like that. Also no to cases are the same.
I have had MS for 48 years. I have never had ON and may never get it. I started riding horses after being diagnosed in 2009. I decided to do the things I always wanted to do and that was one of them.
I realized I am the same person with MS as I was before the diagnosis. In my case I had MS from the age of two I just did not have a label.
There will be hard times but they are doable. It is amazing what you can get through and still be happy.
Alex
You will go all over the map the first year with your feelings. We call it the roller coaster. It takes a bit of getting used to having a chronic illness. I would wake up and think do I really have MS or is this a weird dream.
Luckily you can get used to anything. The most important thing to remember is every symptom of MS will not happen to you. I read through the list and people told me things would happen to me. At the beginning I was waiting for the other shoes to drop. MS is unpredictable but you can't live your life like that. Also no to cases are the same.
I have had MS for 48 years. I have never had ON and may never get it. I started riding horses after being diagnosed in 2009. I decided to do the things I always wanted to do and that was one of them.
I realized I am the same person with MS as I was before the diagnosis. In my case I had MS from the age of two I just did not have a label.
There will be hard times but they are doable. It is amazing what you can get through and still be happy.
Alex
Darn, like others I was hoping the abnormal LP might not mean MS. I am sorry you have joined the club but relieved you know what you are fighting.
I take Rebif which is the same as Avonex but 3 times a week instead of once and it is subcutaneous instead of in the muscle.
Side effects are random for me. They gradually increased my dose over a month and the first full dose gave me really intense chills but other than that I can occasionally wake up with a mild fever or headache.
I do not know yet how well it is working because I have only been taking it 5 months.
They recommend taking a pain reliever (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) before the injection to help reduce the side effects and to do injections before bed so you sleep through most of them.
They will monitor your liver with blood tests periodcially to make sure it isn't causing you any harm. If you can get an auto injector then I highly recommend it. Much easier to tolerate the shots that way and not so much work to get the shot ready.
Remember that even though you were ready for answers and knew MS was possible that you will still have times when you feel shell shocked so be gentle with yourself. It is a lot to take in.
I was only six months in limbo myself and jumped into the dx with both feet so after a few months everything started to feel overwhelming. So many changes to my life and the medication schedule... It is important to have support even counselling if you can.
Best of luck with your journey,
Corrie
I take Rebif which is the same as Avonex but 3 times a week instead of once and it is subcutaneous instead of in the muscle.
Side effects are random for me. They gradually increased my dose over a month and the first full dose gave me really intense chills but other than that I can occasionally wake up with a mild fever or headache.
I do not know yet how well it is working because I have only been taking it 5 months.
They recommend taking a pain reliever (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) before the injection to help reduce the side effects and to do injections before bed so you sleep through most of them.
They will monitor your liver with blood tests periodcially to make sure it isn't causing you any harm. If you can get an auto injector then I highly recommend it. Much easier to tolerate the shots that way and not so much work to get the shot ready.
Remember that even though you were ready for answers and knew MS was possible that you will still have times when you feel shell shocked so be gentle with yourself. It is a lot to take in.
I was only six months in limbo myself and jumped into the dx with both feet so after a few months everything started to feel overwhelming. So many changes to my life and the medication schedule... It is important to have support even counselling if you can.
Best of luck with your journey,
Corrie
I think a lot of people on the site can absolutely understand meeting this diagnosis with relief. It's like after running around the field with nothing to do and getting trampled by linebackers someone's finally thrown you the ball and you know exactly where to go and what to do. The linebackers may still be after you, but at least your purpose is clear!
I'm on a drug study, so technically the "Avonex" I inject myself with weekly could be a placebo. *Or* the study drug they inject me with, sub-cutaneously every month at the hospital could be the placebo.
A weekly inter-muscular injection was the first treatment I ever gave myself and I would have gone with Avonex even if the study hadn't come through. Thinking of something once a week and no more has huge appeal for me.
Your training nurse may provide an Avoject (what I use, though that may be just a Europe thing) or the new Avonex pen. I trained doing it with nothing but the syringe, so it can definitely be done. In fact I did it that way for a few months until the Avoject came in.
The delightful surprise was that it doesn't hurt! Avonex is the only IM injection, so it has the most 'hard core' looking needle, but I can tell you I far prefer it to that little thing they stick in my belly!
Because I'm on a study, I'm not suppose to know what I'm on. They told me for the first six months to take acetaminophen per package instructions an hour before injecting and for the following 24 hours. This was to help combat any flu-like symptoms that might give the game away. I still don't know which drug I'm on, but I can report that I never felt any flu-like symptoms. If the thought of having those symptoms is a concern, perhaps mention to your nurse if she has any tips like that - something prophylactic.
I'm on a drug study, so technically the "Avonex" I inject myself with weekly could be a placebo. *Or* the study drug they inject me with, sub-cutaneously every month at the hospital could be the placebo.
A weekly inter-muscular injection was the first treatment I ever gave myself and I would have gone with Avonex even if the study hadn't come through. Thinking of something once a week and no more has huge appeal for me.
Your training nurse may provide an Avoject (what I use, though that may be just a Europe thing) or the new Avonex pen. I trained doing it with nothing but the syringe, so it can definitely be done. In fact I did it that way for a few months until the Avoject came in.
The delightful surprise was that it doesn't hurt! Avonex is the only IM injection, so it has the most 'hard core' looking needle, but I can tell you I far prefer it to that little thing they stick in my belly!
Because I'm on a study, I'm not suppose to know what I'm on. They told me for the first six months to take acetaminophen per package instructions an hour before injecting and for the following 24 hours. This was to help combat any flu-like symptoms that might give the game away. I still don't know which drug I'm on, but I can report that I never felt any flu-like symptoms. If the thought of having those symptoms is a concern, perhaps mention to your nurse if she has any tips like that - something prophylactic.
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