How long do the good times last?

[zoefromsussex]

Right guys, here's a question for you...for the first time in over 5 months I'm feeling totally 'normal' (apart from my lack of vision of course!) It's so nice to feel so good but I was just wondering this: do MS symptoms eg numbness & weakness reappear without warning and does it just come and go? Can you have Ms and feel really healthy, like I do? I sort of feel like I want to delay starting copaxone just in case the docs have got it wrong and I haven't got MS. Am I wishful thinking?!

[zoefromsussex]

Thank you for your comment's. I am due to meet the MS nurse in early April to discuss my treatment & I've got Copaxone in mind as my preferred drug. It seems that MS patient's are better informed in the USA. I have been given lots of stuff to read but my neuro gives me mixed info as he keeps saying stuff like "strictly speaking the two attacks of ON could be due to one single episode". It kind of leaves me wondering if I do have MS! The thought of silent damage is obviously scary so I will do what I can to stay well.

[DiannaKw]

"Can you have Ms and feel really healthy, like I do?"

YES!!!  Positively, absolutely. No one would ever guess that there was anything wrong by looking at me, or being around me. Hell, apart from the 3 relapses I've had, not even I would be aware.  My baseline is pretty much at 99-100% and I want to do everything I can to keep it that way... which is why I'm starting Copaxone in the very near future (early April)

I agree with TLC ...couldn't have said it better myself.

Dianna

[HVAC]

Progression in MS happens with or with out symptoms. There are two things in MS inflammation which can come and go and with it symptoms and there is nerve damage. Nerve damage is much more subtle. Once the myelin (nerve coating is stripped or the nerve is severed completely you are stuck with the symptom for life.

Doctors used to think you should wait for symptoms to take hold to put folks on medications to slow progression. Now they know these medicines work best if started at the beginning of relapsing remitting.

It is not like you can take the shots later and reverse the damage. They may slow further damage but not take you back to where you are now. What you have to ask yourself is if I do not take the drugs and end up not able to walk or whatever will I be happy with my decision not to take the drug. No drug can promise to stop progression but they may help.

Alex

[TLC_31]

It is so frustrating to have to take shots when you feel fine. But it’s not nearly as frustrating as going through a relapse and progressing. Please do not hesitate to attack this disease and work to make sure you still feel fine years from now.

I haven’t had a relapse for six years, and maybe I wouldn’t have anyway, but I like feeling fine and I’m not going to take the chance! I’ll willingly keep playing pincushion until an oral med comes along that works for me (Gilenya didn’t).

[Lulu54]

The name says it all ........... Relapsing and Remitting,.  It sounds like your MS is remitting right now but there is no guarantee that it will stay that way and the next relapse could happen next month, next year or next decade.  Do you really want to take the gamble and ignore the diagnosis until it acts up again?  Besides, it has affected your vision so it's a little hard to pretend that everything is ok, right?

Hang in there - do what you think is best for you and your future.
Lulu