After 4 years with the same Neuro I decided it was time for a change or at least a different look on things. So, I contacted the VA and I had a MRI the a scheduled appointment with a Neurologist at the VA Clinic in New Orleans.
The difference in the two Neuros was like night and day. My other Neuro was good and I liked him but learned just how little, or maybe shared with me, he knew about MS. For instance, we started talking about all the medications I have been on. Naturally it was question and answer session as to why I was on and off all these DMT's. Then came, what I feel, the bombshell. She, the new Neuro is going to start right back on Avonex, the very first DMT I was on. Why you may ask, because you can bet I did, I explained to her that I was taken off Avonex because I had a relapse while taking it. She asked, did you have an increased lesion load with he relapse? I had no idea. She said exactly.
She went on to explain that just because a patient has a relapse while taking a certain DMT doesn't mean that DMT is not working. Now an increased lesion load would mean the DMT is not working and it would time for a change. After she finished explaining her reasoning and we talked about all the other DMT's she laid out her plan. Plan? Did someone just say plan? I have never had a plan. I have just taken the medication prescribed like a good little boy and only hollered when something went wrong. MAN HAVE I BEEN NAIVE!! And I thought I was fairly well educated about MS. I have read, I have watched and I have listened yet still there is so much to learn even after 161/2 years, 12 years waiting for diagnosis and 4.5 years diagnosed.
The plan is I will start on Avonex, which the VA will supply, immediately. I will do blood work once a week for a month. She wants to monitor my WBC very closely since I have a major illness I am trying to recover from. Then I will have blood work once a month and all of this will last 6 months. At the end of the 6 months we will do another MRI and compare it to the one I had in August of this year. At that point we will assess things and make any adjustments if necessary.
I felt so good when me and my DW walked out of that office. My DW said she really liked the Neuro and was very comfortable with her and liked that she had a plan. I should have done this a long time ago but just couldn't pull the trigger. Now I am so happy I did. What a difference!!
I just had share my experience.
The difference in the two Neuros was like night and day. My other Neuro was good and I liked him but learned just how little, or maybe shared with me, he knew about MS. For instance, we started talking about all the medications I have been on. Naturally it was question and answer session as to why I was on and off all these DMT's. Then came, what I feel, the bombshell. She, the new Neuro is going to start right back on Avonex, the very first DMT I was on. Why you may ask, because you can bet I did, I explained to her that I was taken off Avonex because I had a relapse while taking it. She asked, did you have an increased lesion load with he relapse? I had no idea. She said exactly.
She went on to explain that just because a patient has a relapse while taking a certain DMT doesn't mean that DMT is not working. Now an increased lesion load would mean the DMT is not working and it would time for a change. After she finished explaining her reasoning and we talked about all the other DMT's she laid out her plan. Plan? Did someone just say plan? I have never had a plan. I have just taken the medication prescribed like a good little boy and only hollered when something went wrong. MAN HAVE I BEEN NAIVE!! And I thought I was fairly well educated about MS. I have read, I have watched and I have listened yet still there is so much to learn even after 161/2 years, 12 years waiting for diagnosis and 4.5 years diagnosed.
The plan is I will start on Avonex, which the VA will supply, immediately. I will do blood work once a week for a month. She wants to monitor my WBC very closely since I have a major illness I am trying to recover from. Then I will have blood work once a month and all of this will last 6 months. At the end of the 6 months we will do another MRI and compare it to the one I had in August of this year. At that point we will assess things and make any adjustments if necessary.
I felt so good when me and my DW walked out of that office. My DW said she really liked the Neuro and was very comfortable with her and liked that she had a plan. I should have done this a long time ago but just couldn't pull the trigger. Now I am so happy I did. What a difference!!
I just had share my experience.
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