Well, my first year of my new MS treatment is officially done. This is far from the first time I have changed medications, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Such is the nature of this disease – new developments and better medication means people living with MS, especially active MS, have new options every few years. It’s a great example of the progress being made and it’s promising that we are moving in the right direction of more effective treatment, but can be challenging to always feel like a decision about new treatment is temporary because there will inevitably be something newer, better, more effective.
This particular treatment change came after a difficult summer of new symptoms and overwhelming disease progression after pregnancy and breastfeeding. I knew it was more than just a possibility, but it was still…a bummer. I had come off of the “my body can do anything” high of growing and feeding a baby straight into the “just a friendly reminder, this thing is still very real” snap back to reality. But, despite my initial overwhelm, I think the decision to move this treatment was a good one.
My initial symptoms were very minimal. I was encouraged by how well I felt after the first few days of treatment. The hesitation I felt about the drug itself, the warning labels, and immunosuppression, seemed to pale in comparison to the lack of flu-like symptoms, exhaustion, and injection site bruises. The cumulative effect of the week-long treatments definitely took their toll, and I was tired by the end of each of the two weeks, but it didn’t last nearly as long as the effects of some of the other treatments I’ve been on in the past.
The biggest positive about this new treatment regimen is that, if all goes according to plan, I won’t have to do another week of treatment until next Fall. That’s a whole year of not having to explain “Mama’s medicine is working extra hard today”, and that is more relief than I’ve felt in a long time about this disease. The effects of this medication are long-term, which means my immune system will continue to be compromised for the next few months, but hopefully this is the first time my plan feels a little less temporary. Thank you all, as always, for all of your love and support as this journey of mine continues to change.
xo,
Stephanie
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