Catch,
 

I'm glad you are going to be proactive... Though I'm sure you probably never used to put yourself first....but in this... It's got to be ALL ABOUT YOU... to some degree. Go the extra distance for yourself... I'll have to try to follow my own advice... :wink:
(Easier said than done...and all....) Good luck! :)

hello and nice to meet you.
it's a good idea to keep your dr informed.

i've been on copaxone almost 5 yrs.
my mri's have been stable altho my disease has very slowly progressed.

it can take up to 8 mos for the copaxone to start working in your CNS.
hate to tell you that but with time you might see improvement.
the DMD's are meant to help stop progression but may not do anything to help with sx's (symptoms).

that's why you should contact your dr.
please keep us posted.

Hi Catch, and welcome to the forum.

As far as all the symptoms you are now noticing, I think it's a bit like when you buy a new car . . . before you get it, you hardly see any, but once you get it, it seems they are everywhere.

The first year or so can be difficult, not only emotionally, but often with symptoms too. The inflammation can be the most aggressive in the beginning, then can let up for several months or years.

Everyone is different.

The CRABs work for some people and not as well for others. You really want to give them a year or so though, to "do their thing" unless you have bad side-effects. It doesn't sound like you've had any trouble adjusting though, so you should be fine.

The goal of these drugs though is not to help with symptoms, although some people do feel better because they may work to reduce attacks. They do not NECESSARILY reduce progression of the disease itself . . . but if they do work to reduce attacks, that MAY also have a positive impact on progression.

I had a hard first few years, then I did very well for the next 12. I wasn't without symptoms during that period, but they were one's that I learned to ignore after a while. You may always have some symptoms coming and going, but if they become really troublesome, that's more likely an attack.

An attack is defined as "new, or worsening of existing symptoms, lasting longer then 24 hrs". Usually it will be several things happening at once, and the symptoms are normally more difficult (not just bothersome).

Things can change from day to day, or year to year. Try not to get too discouraged if things linger too long for your liking, they could still improve. :)

Cherie

Catch,
One of the things my first neuro told me has stuck with me to this day; When we get the MS diagnosis, we tend to become "hyper-aware" of everything going on with our bodies.
My dx was similiar to yours. Once THE BIG ONE hit, it was only three months until it was official. Meanwhile, all my symptoms worsened and it felt like new ones cropping up, literally, every day.
I explained this to him and he assured me I wasn't dying.:rolleyes: But it did make me realize that some of it I wouldn't have given a second thought to had I not been recently labeled MS.
And like you, I can remember things from months and even years prior that may have been MS trying to expose itself.

I'm not trying to belittle your post, mind you. I just saw things in it that I went through. After the official dx and I started on Rebif and a BUNCH of pills, it still took another 6 weeks or more before I could see things improving/remission.

Hyper-aware. Yeah probably, but things have definately been worsening, particulary over the past three weeks. If an attack is new, or worsening of existing symptoms, lasting longer than 24 hrs; this seems to qualify.

Thanks for your input, everyone. I probably would've just continued to ignore all the Sx until things may have gotten really bad. Instead, I see the neuro on Tuesday.