From Stu's Views (Blog)

Please go here to read the full report
http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclero...s-show-promise

I was just at the Mellen Center at the Cleveland Clinic today. I have new active lesions and my doc is changing me from avonex to copaxone. She talked about the new pill which just came out, but did not want me on it yet. It is a pill that you take twice a day, but we will wait to study the side effects better.

I know I'm a grump, but BAHHH, more darn bandaides..

Did it ever occur to you, the reason for all these new and old DMDs working for only RRMS, is that RRMS is in itself self healing! When your disease graduates to SPMS, the exacerbations and the healings slow/stop.

So if you think your DMD is working...is it really or is it just the natural self healing that RRMS does between flares, anyway??

In fairness some DMDs may slow the process of moving from RRMS to SPMS??...although Avonex ans Copaxone did nothing to stop my graduation party..

In some ways, a DX of PPMS is a release. There are no answers or approved DMDs for it. So I don't have to worry, look for a treatment, stick needles in me or feel any guilt about not doing so. With my MS, sure I'm in a chair, but get little pain and unless I spin my chair around and around (OK, so I do once in awhile), have no dizziness anymore. I can self-toilet and rarely fall doing so. My devastating disease could be much worse. Isn't it sad I can write that about being handicapped!!? I just read a blog where a young and angry MSer equated being in a chair with a death sentence!! OMG, if I felt that way, I'd OD and drive into the pool right now. I'd drink down some Jack Daniels too (like that stuff - see, I do have a plan).

In the beginning I did Rebif, always wondering if I did do better, was it really the DMD? As I am PPMS the question never came up.

Orthogonal not orthopedic

Thanks Sal

As always, you are a wiser elder - I really appreciate your insight on this. I guess it is stating the obvious, but I think we get so wound up in treatments that the natural history of the disease is overlooked.

Thanks and love you much

Lyn