In October 2010 I first learned that Gilenya had been approved by the FDA. The first oral treatment for Multiple Sclerosis! So exciting – but I didn’t dare to really believe that I would be switched to it. I knew that insurance would never cover it as long as I was able to use interferon instead, and I had been using Rebif for awhile.
Author: sara
Technical Difficulties – Please Stand By
We’re working to restore service…
We know it’s been a long time since there has been new content and that the site has been largely unmaintained, with the exception of regular WordPress updates. The good news is the site will be getting some love shortly. Real life has been happening over the last few years, and it caught up with us.
All I Want For Christmas Is You: A Very Multiple Sclerosis Christmas
Ah, the holidays. When everyone is relaxed as sparklingly clean homes are aglow with candlelight reflected in bright smiles at gifts left by Santa, toasting glasses, shiny giftwrap ribbons and bows…
Let’s be honest – in many ways the holidays suck.
PML And The JC Virus
Tysabri is a dream come true for many individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. Personally, I have opted to take Gilenya (for now), but Tysabri was very tempting when I considered my options after it became apparent that Rebif would not work out for me any longer. However, along with Tysabri’s side effects comes one very sinister danger: PML. One patient on Gilenya has been diagnosed with PML, and it can happen to anyone whether or not they have MS. Knowing that medication (especially newer medications) may bring a risk of PML has frightened us all.
Living With Multiple Sclerosis – Four Years
“They” say that you are considered newly diagnosed for the first 2 1/2 to 3 years after your Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. It seems like only yesterday that I posted my “Year One” article. It seems like only yesterday that I was diagnosed! Somehow, enough time has passed that I find myself at a point where I have been living with Multiple Sclerosis for four years.
Pursuing Education With MS
For almost a week I have returned to the status of “college girl.” No, I have not been downing jello shots or going to keg parties. While I have known for most of my life that a college degree is necessary for most careers, until recently I did not have the opportunity to truly consider completing my degree. After my diagnosis I was certain that it would never happen – I could barely type, stay awake, or have coherent thoughts. Time has passed – I now find myself enrolled in college again. In hindsight I see signs that I already had Multiple Sclerosis in college, but certainly not as advanced as it now is. Pursuing education with MS is intimidating.
Multiple Sclerosis With Brain Fog
Cog Fog probably started sneaking up on you years before your MS diagnosis. Multiple Sclerosis alone is challenging, but Multiple Sclerosis with Brain Fog involves a totally different set of problems.
“Brain Fog” is a term generally used to describe the confusion, disorientation, general grogginess, and other issues resulting from cognitive dysfunction which commonly occurs with MS.
A Reader’s Story – MS & Phoebe
The article below is a reader’s story sent to me by friend and author Phoebe Leggett (http://www.phoebe-leggett.com) who blogs regularly on faith, grief, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Simplify Your Life – Part 4 – Profit
This is the last in a series of posts based on my personal experience on how to simplify your life. If you have followed this blog for long, you’ll know that I have had Multiple Sclerosis for about 4 years and have been trying to play catchup and pull my life together since the diagnosis. While my husband and I are not really minimalists or zen gurus, we have found our lives improving one step at a time by simplifying as much as possible.
Simplify Your Life – Part 3 – Sell
You have worked diligently to simply your life – decluttering, taking things to garbage and making donations. Now you’re left with a pile of things you hope are worth a little money. Or maybe you’re still working on sorting out your finances and know that selling a few things will give your savings or debt-elimination efforts a boost (medical bills are painful).
Feel overwhelmed yet?
It’s alright, just take it one step at a time.
Diagnosis MS 