To inject or not to inject.

[Aliveinme]

I started injecting copaxone on 4/3.  Had been under some stress and self injecting just added to that.  My vision was a little "off" the day of the 1st injection but I attributed it to the stress.  The injection was non eventful.  No injection site problems but a little stinging.  Not a problem.  I injected 7 additional times and during that time it seemed that my balance, strength and vision was deteriorating.  On the night of the 8th injection I woke up in the night with chills, nausea, stiffness and weakness.  I hunkered down and went back to sleep.  Morning came and I was still nautious, but now my vision was doubled and I was so weak that upon trying to get out of bed I just slid out onto the floor and stayed there until my husband scraped me up.  My strength gradually returned along with my other functions over the course of the next 2 days.  My dr. said skip a dose and resume.  I was too scared to try that again.  The MS itself has me fatigued, my walking is slow and awkward most of the time but I feel like the drug was worse than anything I've experienced with the MS.  I decided to give the copaxone another try.  Within 4-5 hrs after the injection I was in bed again.  This time was not as severe as the first episode but shut me down for the day anyway.  My question is, Do these side effects subside in time and are they worth enduring to stave off the disease or is this a case where the cure is worse than the curse?

[sllowe]

Hi Aliveinme,

Did the Dr. seem to think it was the Copax?  The symptoms scream typical flare to me but since you did see improvement with stopping the med, I can see where you and the Dr. are coming from and the dilemma.

It sure is hard to inject something that you fear and feel is making your worse.  It's why people stop therapy.

If it's any consolation I did find improvement with side affects from Rebif after 3 months.  I'll tell you though, truthfully, I did consider stopping at times, but felt I better give it it's fair shake.  I'm the type of person that does like to fully exhaust things though too (like bags of chips - ha/ha). Seriously I did it because all the literature speaks to a better course once DMDs are introduced.  Otherwise, I'd not have started the med.

I'm glad you've joined us Aliveinme.  This is a very, very good question and I'm glad you brought it up.  Some of us have switched meds too...

ttys,
shell