I can't decide to medicate or not

[AshNight]

Ashnight,

I have had MS for 20 years, I was 24 when I was dx'd. Thankfully, my course has been a slow one.

In the last two years I have had new symptoms, left leg weakness and foot drop and a consistent numbness in my left hand, I have always experienced weird numbness throughout out my body, MS hug and ON.

I recently went to see an MS specialist (hadn't seen a neuro in many years, feel like they all say the same thing) and had a blood draw to see if I test positive for the JCV. Considering Tysabri, but probably won't do it.

Honestly, I have an issue on how these meds affect other organs in my body and the side effects of "flu like" symptoms seem pretty hard to deal with.

I have been doing a lot of research on diet and autoimmune and that is the direction I am going in, in hopes that I will see improvement. I am also interested in learning more about LDN and Prokarin.

Good luck to you in what you decide.

Nice. It's amazing how your course has stayed mild for this long. Maybe it has to do with your lifestyle? Are you generally a happy person? Active?

As far as diet goes I have read that the Paleo diet works well for this. What do these autoimmune diets usually consist of?

Has your neuro never recommended you go on medication?

I know these are a lot of questions but I was just recently diagnosed and had a lot of questions.

[Sequoia]

As far as diet goes I have read that the Paleo diet works well for this. What do these autoimmune diets usually consist of?

The main MS diets are as follows:

Paleo Diet (not really developed for MS, but some MSers swear by it)

Best Bet Diet (similar to Paleo in many ways)

MS Recovery Diet (Americanized version of BBD)

Overcoming MS Diet (George Jelinek, MD)

Plus, any good anti-inflammatory diet stands a good chance of helping, at least with symptoms. Here's one:

Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Diet

You can Google any of these for more information.

Plus, there's lots of info on diet and MS here on MSWorld. You can find it in the Tara's Nutrition & Supplement forum.

[AshNight]

The main MS diets are as follows:

Paleo Diet (not really developed for MS, but some MSers swear by it)

Best Bet Diet (similar to Paleo in many ways)

MS Recovery Diet (Americanized version of BBD)

Overcoming MS Diet (George Jelinek, MD)

Plus, any good anti-inflammatory diet stands a good chance of helping, at least with symptoms. Here's one:

Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Diet

You can Google any of these for more information.

Plus, there's lots of info on diet and MS here on MSWorld. You can find it in the Tara's Nutrition & Supplement forum.

Have you ever tried any of these diets? Any success?

[opiegirl]

Nice. It's amazing how your course has stayed mild for this long. Maybe it has to do with your lifestyle? Are you generally a happy person? Active?

As far as diet goes I have read that the Paleo diet works well for this. What do these autoimmune diets usually consist of?

Has your neuro never recommended you go on medication?

I know these are a lot of questions but I was just recently diagnosed and had a lot of questions.

I know how anxious you must feel...I am so sorry that you have to deal with this, sorry that any of us have to deal with this.

20 years ago I had just graduated college and was moving to the mountains in Colorado to be a ski bum...I didn't know what MS was and wasn't going to let it ruin my life.

I gave this disease to God and have never claimed it. I don't call it "my MS" it's just the MS.

The Paleo diet is an anti-inflammatory diet. I eat no grains, not just gluten free. This was recommended to me by my PT and chiropractor.

Every Neuro I've ever seen, about six, has wanted me to starts one of the DMD's because that is all they have to offer. In 2004 my lesions had shrunk and I had no new ones, I said to my Dr., if I was taking DMD's you'd tell me they were working, we both new that wasn't the case.

I don't know why this road hasn't been as bad for me as others. For that I am grateful and thank God. I do have a positive outlook on life and believe everything happens for a reason. This is not to say my life has been a bed of roses. My mom died when I was 17 and my dad was an alcoholic my whole life and died 11 years ago.

For me this is the way I've chosen to treat this disease. We don't know what causes it and there is no cure. So I have to control what I can, which isn't much but my attitude, my outlook, what I put in my mouth and taking care of my body by exercising.

Many will and have called me foolish for not taking DMD, but this is the decision I've made for me.

My suggestion to you is research every angle of treatment, meds,(not just drug co's websites) diet, alternative, talk with your Dr. and family and pray that God will give you the guidance for what is right for you.

.

[cosake]

Very difficult decision to make. Because I am only diagnosed MS-CIS, and my symptoms are very mild, and only have 4 lesions, I was given two choices, start a DMD, or go on 6-month MRI schedule with close watch on symptoms. Neuro recommended the DMD.

I decided to give it a try and I really didn't care for it -- the injections themselves, or the side effects. I was on Betaseron. I learned to inject myself and it wasn't as difficult as I expected. It wasn't until I stopped taking the Beta that I realized how awful I was really feeling -- but it had become my new "normal". The final side effect was heart palpitations, but others included bad site reactions, even when the NP administered it; sleep problems, headaches and generally not feeling like myself.

The MS NP said I gave it a good try and she wouldn't recommend starting on anything else until we see more lesions or I have more symptoms/flare. So, for now I am monitoring things closely and have another MRI in June.

Good luck with your decision. Remember that you can always change your mind -- your decision is not carved in granite. Also keep in mind that every MS patient is unique and some treatments are better for some MS patients than for others. There is no magic answer.

[Look2theStars]

I have been kinda struggling with this myself.

I think going on the meds will help in the long run. They make these meds for a reason. Good luck to you.

[jlas01]

I feel like kind of a hypocrite joining in on this conversation, namely because my first shot wasn't even 24 full hours ago. But it shouldn't have been that way. I was actually prescribed my copaxone back in december. But I felt smarter than everyone else, especially since I had Dr. Google on my side. I ignored my doc's rec and kept going like nothing was wrong. then my body decided to relapse in Jan. I was so embarrassed when I ended up back in the hospital and the doc was wondering why I hadn't taken my shots. So he sent in some other docs to talk to me. They all had very compelling arguments and helped me understand the importance of at least trying the dmd. and so here we are