its been three months now since I quit cold turkey taking my copaxone. I have had several ask me if I notice a change. Lets review shall we. I was on Copaxone for 3 years after failing off betaseron after 3 month and a huge increase in Liver Studies. 3 years is a long time to stick yourself with needles.

On C I had bouts of pancreatitis, gastroparesis, severe constipation, severly dry eyes (had punctal plugs), fatigue and cog fog so bad most days I was out of bed by 9 and back in my PJs by noon. excema, psoraisis, nausea, severe anxiety, chest pressure, racy heart, cog fog so bad I was not able to drive, and many other things. This is just the highlight reel.

3 months out. I am up at 7am and stay up most days till 7pm. I occasionally lay down to watch TV for an hour or so mid afternoon. My skin has cleared up. my chest pressure is gone. my anxiety is back to my normal levels. I have enough moisture to blink my eyes. I dont require tablets to keep my mouth moist. I have not had a bout of pancreatitis since. I am driving! I am not perfect everyday, and I am certainly not where I was pre MS, but I am MUCH MUCH better without Copaxone in my life. I truly feel I was having horrible side effects to this med, and the MS center worked really hard to keep me on this med because I failed off the rest.

I am NOT Reccomending this for everyone. I am just so happy that after more than a year of research, trial error, and sickness that I laid down the needles. it has made a dramatic difference in my life. Yes, I worry about not having anything to fight this with, but for decades folks went without and faced it just fine. I would rather be in a wheelchair with my wits about me, than sitting in a kitchen chair and not be able to be part of my own life.

The dents remain. I massive dents in my thighs, arms, bum, and tummy. Those will never be fixed without plastic surgery. I still have some constipation but not on the same level as before. I still have some right sided rib pain, but 1/10 of what it was before. The night sweats remained, but a bit of estrogen seems to have fixed me right up.

Thank you for all the support you guys gave while I was riding that fence, trying to chose what to do. My DH was terrified, and i was a bit more than worried, but so far, its the best thing I have done since being dx with MS. I also will not be taking the new pill thats out. I will not be taking TY or LDN (would have to give up my MS contin) for now...im bareback.

I dont miss that daily dred that led up to being poked. I used to get massive anxiety attacks after each injection. Racy heart, sweaty, chest pressure, and burning. it was awful. I think I am ready to throw out the remains that are in my fridge. I just wish I knew someone who needed it. 6k worth of drugs down the drain doesnt make me happy.