Thanks for the input and advice everyone! I have not been assessed for sleep apnoea as it has never seemed like a possible culprit, it is something i can talk to the mo about next time.
I had an MRI ( HEad only-spine is being done soon) it was the 1st check scan since the original in 2004 when i was diagnosed- at dx i already had what was described as moderate disease with multiple lesions. this scan reported only mild progression considering the original number of lesions but then the neurologis reminded me that only about 1/6 th of the disease activity actualy shows on the scans so they are only a rough guide. He thinks that it is too early to say that the betaferon has stopped working considering the fact i have been on it since early 2005 and have had mainly niggling problems until now. I had a period of illness like this about a year before i was diagnosed, it lasted a bit over 6 months and then stopped- at that stage they had no idea i had MS, they considered chronic infection from an implant i have, lymphoma, viral illness etc and they have retested all that now to see if there is anything that is aggrevating the MS and have found nothing. I even question him about whether it is changing to a more progressive form and he says there is no indication that is the case. He just thinks its a really bad flare up and that i just need to be patient at the moment- he basing this on the previous similar episode pre official dx. I just thought that it was worth checking with you guys to see if any of you had experienced similar kinds of periods. the part the seems odd to me is that there is no clear beginning and end to each of the separate flares, they seem to overlap a bit.
as for DMD's i have been on capaxone but had an anaphylactic reaction after about 5 months or so, thats when i went on betaferon. He has mentioned Ty but feels i don;t meet the criteria at the moment- i must admit that after reading some of the literature i am a bit scared of it at the moment! having said that, if this pattern of flares continues for another coupple of months etc i would probably say it was worth the small risk.
I guess i am frustrated with all this as i had an ideal job for 2 shifts per week that paid penalty rates so i got nearly 4 days wage and could manage comfortably but i am about to lose my job as my health has meant i am not meeting my contract requirements- as i was only on probation after starting there in August they can dismiss me. They are sympathetic but just can;t afford to cover my shifts anymore-life sucks at times! It has been suggested that it may be a good thing, that maybe i need to re assess as i have other disabikitues besides the MS and have been finding things harder to balance/manage anyway.