after positive dx

[msleigh]

what happens after you are positively diagnosed? do they put you on meds?

[kitten o]

WHEN I WAS DX LAST MAY,
MY NEURO, GIVE DIFFERNT INFO.
ON THE DRUGS AND I CHOOSE COPAXONE.
BECAUSE THEY SAY NO SIDE AFFECTS.
TOOK IT EVERYDAY FOR 3 MONTH AND STOPPED.
HAD SIDE AFFECTS AND I TAKE NO SHOTS AT ALL.
I AM DOING WELL ACTUALLY, THANK GOD
YOU WILL FIND WHAT IS RITE FOR YOU.
STUDY YOUR OPTIONS. GOOD LUCK.
YOUR FRIEND  KITT

[young at heart]

AFTER I WAS DIAGNOSED, MY NEURO EXPLAINED ALL THE DISEASE MODIFYING MEDS,GAVE ME LITERATURE AND TOLD ME TO GET IMFORMED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2 WEEKS LATER.

AT THAT APPOINTMENT HE HAD ALREADY CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND REBIF WAS PRESCRIBED.

MY NEURO HAD DONE BLOOD TEST BEFORE I STARTED THE REBIF.ONCE THE BLOOD TEST CAME BACK ,I STARTED THE REBIF.THEY SENT OUT A NURSE TO EXPLAIN THE MED AND HOW TO DO THE INJECTIONS.

I HAVE BEEN ON REBIF FOR 14 MONTHS NOW AND THE MRI'S HAVE BEEN STABLE.

THE IMFORMATION I HAVE READ STATES THE EARLIER THE DISEASE MODIFYING MEDS THE BETTER.BUT EACH SPECIALIST HANDLES EACH PATIENT DIFFERENTLY.

I SEE MY NEURO ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS,FOR THE MS AND ANOTHER NERVE DISEASE.

T-LYNN

[doublevision1]

In my case, post dx of RRMS, I was immediately treated with a 5 day course of Solu-Medrol as I was experiencing a relapse with lots of symptoms.  

I then met with a MS specialist and was given information on the ABCR drugs.  I was told to bring it home and take my time to review the info, and call or return for another appt if I had questions.  After a further conversation with the clinic nurse, I settled on Rebif and started on it approx 3 months after my dx.  I was actually ready to start it within a month of my dx, but the MS clinic was putting off calling in my prescription because they wanted me to have full drug coverage in place before starting (through the provincial MS Drug Program in Alberta).  I already have 90% drug coverage through my employer and more than willing to pay the 10% difference until the other plan kicked in.  It took a few conversations and intervention by my family physician to get things moving, but finally they agreed to get me started.  I am still paying the 10% as it will take a couple more months for me to get accepted into that other program.  The sense that I got from all of this was that starting on a DMD was not urgent; the clinic seemed more concerned about my ability to pay (which fortunately for me is not an issue) than getting me on a drug ASAP.  This puzzled me a bit as everything I have read indicates that the sooner one starts treatment, the better; but, perhaps a few months makes little difference in the long run?

Once the prescription was called in, the drug company contacted me and sent a nurse to my home to teach me how to do the injections.  

Anyway I have now been on Rebif for 4 weeks and am scheduled for a follow up with my MS specialist in about a month.  I had another MRI at the start of my treatment (last MRI was in Sept 2007).  

After that, I was told that I would only need to see the MS specialist 1 or 2 times per year unless my condition changes significantly.

Oh, I should add that I was also given information on three different clinical trials I could have participated in.  Unfortunately I had to decline as my MS clinic is a 4 1/2 hour drive from my home and because of the distance, the monthly follow up visits would be difficult for me to manage.

db1