A question about relapse rate

[bubbles_04]

Hi All,

I have been thinking alot about relapse rate lately and if every person has a relapse rate. For example do you normally have two attacks per year or one everyother year? or is it totally unpredicable. Do you have one relapse, then 5 years nothing followed by three in one year? I hear the time between relapses gets smaller with time (progression). What do you all think? I'm just wondering this as I had one attack 3 years ago and one attack other this past xmas. Both around the same time of year. Is there a pattern? or do I just forget looking for patterns?? I mean how will I know if the DMD is working if there is no pattern.... I think I hate MS..... So unpredicable, you can't even tell if the drug is helping or not.

Sorry turned into a rant, but I just wanted to know if anyone has noticed a pattern with their relapses :)

[jumpinjiminy]

I wish I could get a break from the darned things. Mine are frequent, except for last summer after tapering off the steroids when I got a long luxious 4-month reprieve, they come on practically every month. Sometimes I get lucky and skip a month.

After two years of being aware of this, I know the triggers well. Unfortunately, it's hard to control the triggers. I feel if I could just get a break from the flare ups, I might actually have a chance to get better. That's not going to happen anytime soon, from what I gather. Next followup in 6 months.

[doublevision1]

For me, no patttern.  I've had flares in all four seasons.  Totally unpredictable.   Frequency reduced significantly after starting Copaxone.  It's been nearly a year since my last flare, and the previous one was 2.5 years before that.

[bubbles_04]

Thanks sidesteps! So it does seem though like each person has a baseline? Like their own personal relapse rate? You are prob right about the time, sorry I think I got confused! Maybe they get worse over time! I really hope the DMD works for you :)

[Sidesteps]

It depends on the person. We are all different. I am having frequent flares --- they are averaging about once every two/three months. I sometimes do not feel like I got over the last one and another hits.

I am honestly not sure what my baseline is. I felt REALLY good for about 6 weeks after my 5 day IVSM but have reverted back to up/down and another relapse.

My Neuro did say that my DMD should bring the flares down and if I continue to flare every few months then we will be switching. She like to see no flares but even one flare a year would be awesome for me.

I don't think the time between relapses get smaller with time. Lord, I hope not. Once you enter SPMS the damage doesn't heal as easily so the flares are less noticeable. (Kinda like I feel now nearly always healing or flaring) then it becomes more of a gradual progression is my understanding.