Yesterday I was officially diagnosed with MS. My MRI showed 3 lesions on my brain and one on my spine. I’m a bit shocked and scared but also relieved to know what’s happening to my once able body. It’s scary not knowing what will happen and how my body will react.

She wants me to start therapy (injections) and has given me literature on several medications. She wants me to read up on the treatment and have input as to what we decide. She feels that Copaxone is a good choice to start with because the side effects seem to be minimal compared to others. And she said it is very possible that I will be feeling pretty good by Christmas.

I'm leaning towards Copaxone, although I dread having to do 365 shots and more and I don’t think I can stick myself with a needle. I can’t even stand letting someone else do it let alone myself.

I’m going to have a ton of questions so please bear with me. I know nothing about MS or it’s treatments or strange nuances. I have to do my homework this weekend and read the literature my doctor gave me.

I think I do have some situational depression right now. And the possibility that I may progress into a more disabling state is daunting. My doctor thinks I should start on an antidepressant. I was against that at first as I always have been one to just stay strong and upbeat. But I think it may help at this point, at least for the short term anyhow. Then I can re-evaluate. I also am concerned about depression as a side effect. Any more and it will be too much for me to handle, I'm afraid. So it might be best to start treatment for that as well. Nip it in the bud so to speak.

Right now I keep telling myself………I MAYHAVE MS BUT MS DOESN’T HAVE ME!!

And in retrospect, thank goodness the default font is so big

Thumper sorry, but also glad you got a DX and a direction to go in now. Its a double edged sword, that's for sure. The Copaxone has an auto injector its actually easy for me to use, I am not a huge fan of needles.

just take it one day at a time, keep writing down SX and med reactions and so forth...

now you know what you are facing and can adjust adapt and figure out what is what,

again sorry for the DX, but am glad you have answers

Thumper It's never easy to hear that you have a disease. But, if you've been in limbo at least you know what it is and you can deal with that.

I am the world's biggest needle weenie and I was really nervous about having to give myself shots everyday. I started out on Copaxone, too. A nurse comes to your home and teaches you how to do it and it's amazingly easy. The needle is so tiny that I didn't even feel it the first time I did it (with the auto inject). I had to check and make sure I had done it correctly! So don't stress over that...it's very easy to learn. I did have to deal with some injection site reactions (welts and bumps) but the nurse can tell you how to treat that if you do happen to have them.

You can be proactive about this now and that's a huge plus. I was dx pretty quickly after I went to the doctor so I didn't have to spend alot of time in limbo. But not knowing what's wrong is still scary nonetheless.

You'll do fine....sounds like you have a good Neuro on your side. Don't worry about what hasn't happened yet. Concentrate on the here and now and I'm sure you will feel much better by Christmas!

Thumper...I'm sorry and glad for you at the same time. All of us with a diagnosis have been there...it is a relief and that very uncertainty of the future all in one.

I remember when my neuro at the time told me...then he said, you will probably be in a wheelchair within x amount of years. I said, not without kicking, clawing, screaming and digging in with both heels. I've stuck to that...yes, my MS has gotten worse over time, but I still do walk...not as sexy or elegantly as I once did. lol

Oh yeah and the kicking clawing thing...I've been doing that since the age of two.

I thought of it this way...getting the dx did not make a difference in what I was feeling or how I felt. I had two choices to accept it and live my life or give up...I accepted it, I live my life the best I can on any given day...and I'm thankful for each day.

Some days I do remember things I once did that has nothing to do with the age I am now...its the MS saying...your brain says ok, lets do this...but the body says...oh yeah silly, watch me do this!! lol

sorry thumper.
i was dx'd in '03 and i've been on copaxone ever since.
i'm an RN and have given about a million shots. but giving it to ME was very scary.

i use the autoject and after a few wks i got the hang of it.
you get used to it, really. and then it becomes a routine part of your day.

i chose copaxone because i didn't want to deal with the interferon side effects.
i also had a hx of depression and interferons can make that worse. for me it was a good fit.

you can expect some site reactions but with practice and time they will diminish greatly.

you might want to consider some short term counseling to deal with the emotions of your dx. it's normal to feel in shock and afraid.
getting educated about MS will give you power and decrease your fears. at least it did for me. you might want to consider the therapy before you start AD's. it's something to just think about.

please feel free to pm me if you want to talk.

Hey Thumper. Hang in there, a lot of support around these parts.

Hi Thumper!

Welcome to the group. Lots of us here and out there in the world.

Ask questions and don't be afraid.

Cheers!

Niko

dx'd 2000

Betaseron since 2002

Now you can tell people that it WAS all in your head (and spine) just not the way THEY thought it was. (did your doctors look at you like you a looney hypochondriac...a few of mine did!)


As for the shots,, if you pick Copaxone, I really recommend that you learn how to do it manually and with the autoject. Manual shots are a lot easier to do, and doesnt give you too big of a post injection hive as the autoject does sometimes.

Learn how to do both and then figure out which one is the best way for you to do the daily "stick". I did the autoject for probably just under 6 months before I got tired of the ritual of loading the autoject and having to figure out what setting to put it on for certain parts of my body. Just using the plain needle is easier to deal with for me. Plus, I think manual shots, if you can do them yourself, are much easier to control that the autoject is.

It's really not as horrible as some of us sometimes make it out to be. It's just...kind of tiring at times to have to give yourself a shot every day. I usually take a couple of days off during a month, just so I can pretend to be normal for a day or two, and allow any redness from the shots to heal a bit if I have any.

What's weird is, that I can give myself a shot every day, can look at the needle while I'm injecting and everything, but if someone else is going to give me a shot, I still cant watch them give me shot. It's weird.

Hi Thumper, and welcome to NT. You came to a good place.

Good luck with whichever therapy you choose. Before going on Betaseron, I was first on Avonex and then on Copaxone. I learned to do the injections manually, Beta was the first one I used an Autoject with.

Personally I like the Autoject, especially for my arms and hips. Places where it was hard to reach and sometimes impossible to see while doing an injection.

Thumper....sorry you had to join us for such a horrible reason - but let me tell you - this is a great place to be - especially early on in this new journey you are beginning (well an "official" beginning anyhow). This site and the people here helped me through some extremely difficult times - even if it was just me reading back through hundreds of posts. Not to mention - I've found a lot of knowledgeable people here, too! Great wonderful people!!

Hang in there....

~Keri