To soon to switch?

[burbanchick]

Hello All...

I'm turning to you all for some advices!  Burbandude started another flair-up this Monday.  He has blurred vision and balance issues.  We raced off to see his neuro who was not pleased that he was having another attack only 6 months after beginning treatment with Avonex.  His recent MRI from last week showed "significant improvement" lots of the lesions he had were not visible and the ones that are were much lighter than his first MRI. And he only had 1 new very small enhancing lesion...

His neuro told us he would like us to consider switching to Tysabri!  Switching already?  Is it too soon?  Have we not given Avonex a fair shake?  From what I have read Tysabri seems to be the "big guns" or "last ditch effort."  It makes me nervous to switch to that already...MS is still so new.

I have speculations that I am not sure are valid.  After all I was absent from school the day they passed out medical degrees...

His MS was found at 29, accidentally...and he had SEVERAL (10+) lesions at that time...MS had been mucking up his brain from several years already...is it possible that it's taking some extra time for the Avonex to work?  It's slowed it down well enough for several of the lesions to have time to heal and only allow one tiny one to break through...is this a valid thought or am I just ridiculous for thinking this is how it works?

Need some thoughts...a little WWYD (what would you do)?  Stick with Avonex for a bit longer or jump on the Tysabri bandwagon?

Thanks for your wisdom!
~BurbanC

[sllowe]

Well!!!!

What's going on?

How you 2 making out?

-SL

[Momzilla]

Oh, no!

I'm so sorry Dude's not doing well.  Poor guy.  I just wanted to add my hugs and prayers.

Hang in there, and let us know how you two are doing, and what you decide.

(I would try to give it a chance a while longer, if you can.  Just my uneducated feeling.  Less is more if you can get away with it...)

Love,

Zilla*

[Quixotic1]

My neuro, who does a wartload of research on AVonex and Tysabri, told me that Avonex "hits its full effect around 6 months,"  and when I was having symptoms at that time (actaully for me it was 7 to 8 months) did not feel that Avonex had been given a full chance.

I think 6 months is jumping the gun a little, just based on the words of one of the major researchers, but I can't tell you that I really know.

Quix

[Heather3418]

I have to totally agree with SL on this one.  I think she is right.  I don't really see the need to switching to Tysabri, which comes along with greater side effects.  The Interferon seems to be doing a good job, especially after so little time on the drug.

If it were ME, I would stick with Avonex then I had to go to anything different, I would switch to Rebif.  Hope Dude is keeping up with his liver enzyme checks, due to taking Avonex.

Good to see you again girl.  Say hi to the Dude for me.

Hugs,
Heather

[sllowe]

Hey Chicky Poo!

Well, if it were me, I wouldn't do it.  But, like you said, this is the Dr bringing this option to you.  Did he/she mention anything about Rebif? It's double the Avonex dose - just a thought.  He did have a small enhancing lesion you mention.  Still some crossing over going on then it seems.

Gosh, girl I just don't know.  I do think Tysabri is "the big gun" so of course I'm fearful of it.  Key is, you don't want him to have further damage, and you don't know if the Avonex has kept things well since it's not been very long.  

If it were me, I'd ask the Dr about the Rebif.  I'd also ask him if he thought Dude was getting worse based on this recent attack.  Attacks are something that are a given, so I'm not so sure why it is suggested to switch already.  Maybe the Dr sees some other things that make him suggest this.  I'd get that criteria from him, then weight it out again w/Dude.  

As you know, the rest of the fam will chime in. . .Nice to see you Gal.  Hope all is well otherwise,

-SL