The lidocaine pop is when they inject a bleb of lidocaine under the skin where they do the IV. It stops the sting from the needle going in, it doesn't hurt when they go fishing and it stops that ache at the site when the IV is running. I tried it a few months ago and I swear by it now, since I always had that ache, sort of like you left ice on a sprain for too long.

The sore throat thing was after my first two or three infusions. It was like mild tonsillitis. I grew back part of my tonsils after removal when I was 4 or 5. I always had mild sore throats through the years when they would get inflamed during a cold or whatever. I got one after the first few infusions and I haven't had one since! Maybe Tysabri blocked the T cells there too!

I just spoke to my MS neuro and I'll be starting Copaxone again as soon as the insurance approval comes through and they send it out to me.

I did ok on it and I can take it until Cladribine is approved.

It wouldn't make sense to start Tysabri again for a short time then have to take a drug holiday before starting Cladribine.

I call tomorrow to get the shipments of Copaxone set up and ok'd with my insurance.

So, no more Tysabri for me and I think this is a good plan.

BTW, he thinks Cladribine will still be approved in 2010 but maybe not as soon as he had hoped.

Wishing you my best Wiz
Linda

Went for Ty #9 yesterday. Don't know if it was the med or sitting in a chair for two hours, but I was SO tired after it was hard to focus on driving home. I-94 thru Minneapolis is no place to drive sleepy!

Wiz,

I'm happy you have a plan for treatment that you are happy with.


More than anything else associated with this crap, we have to be comfortable with what's involved with the treatment or we don't stick with it, and you are on track already with your plan.


I've appreciated and enjoyed the support you have given me all the way through our journey together. You'll always be my Ty twin!

Glad to see you made it home ok!

The chair can lull me to sleep every time and ours are not even that comfortable!

Yay for #9!

Wiz, I know this is off topic but I just had to say Daisy the kitten looks absolutely precious.
I am an animal lover
Linda

Hi Wiz, good luck with the copaxone. Sounds like you have a plan.
Polar, congrats on #9. Sometimes I find the Tysabri makes me very very sleepy, even for several days afterward.

You too RW!

Thanks Linda, She is precious but such a livewire! Our three year old tabby Rocky is having an adjustment period.


Thanks Nat!

Polar,

There's no way I could drive myself home after my infusion. DH has had to usher me for all 31 trips, lol. I'm sure he's secretly happy he won't be making that monthly trip anymore, especially in the winter when the roads can be treacherous.

Well, it went great thanks to the person in chair next to me getting chemo from my home town. Side effects? well, today I feel like I have slight Rebif aches. I also was up later then usual last night since it was last night parents were here before flight home. Sleep + Advil should do it..hopefully.

ewiz - Copaxone worked wonders on me from 06 - early 09 then began nose dive. Rebif mid year didnt stop the decline. Returned to Copaxone 2 months back with numbness progressing on daily/weekly basis. Hoping Tysabri will do it without doing me in. We'll see. Yes I exercise. Testosterone helped big.