Cheaper Than Therapy...

Those hazy, lazy days of summer are upon us and, as for me, I've been laying low.

I've recovered from my bout with optic neuritis but as a result of that flare-up my doc decided it was time for a change in therapy. Bye-bye Avonex. Hello Rebif.

Life with Avonex was really pretty simple. A single injection given once a week by The Señor. It rarely hurt.

Rebif on the other hand seems to be a whole 'nutha animal. Three injections per week given by the Señor if he is available and by moi if he is traveling. Oh, and this stuff hurts-like-the-dickens every single time. After a little research I learned that the hurts-like-the-dickens part is just part of life with Rebif and that I can expect it from now on.

Subjecting myself to extreme pain three times a week is not/nor has ever been on my bucket list. For the record, I don't see me learning to like it. With that said, I am thankful to have access to the drug & thankful that it has proven to be very effective. I also know there are others who experience much worst pain on a daily basis every day of their life. I know I am very blessed.

However, those things said, I still don't have to like it.

So, dear reader, thanks for "listening" to my little pity party. I actually feel much better putting these thoughts in to words.

Writing...it's so much cheaper than therapy.

It Doesn't Have Me...

I am one of the approximately 400,000 people in the United States and 2.5 million people world-wide who have been diagnosed by a doctor to have Multiple Sclerosis.

This elite club is not one I ever wished to join but, like it or not, I am now a lifetime member.

I must say that I am one of the club's most fortunate. I live in the United States and therefore have access to fabulous health care. I have a top-notch Neurologist who actually hears what I say. I am able to have an MRI when there are questions about the progress of my disease. I have access to a disease modifying drug that works for me and the most fabulous husband a girl could ever wish for who injects that medication in to my leg every week whether I'm overjoyed by the idea or not.

My MS has been quite for the past three years. Oh sure, on occasion it reminds me that its there with its buzzing and tingling and numbness and burning-pain but I have experienced no blurred or double vision, no blindness, no paralysis or spasticity, no loss of memory or speech issues. If there is such a thing as a blessed MS patient then I'm your girl.

For a few weeks now I have experienced some symptoms that made the doctor question the progress of my illness. He ordered MRI's and within five days I was lying in the tube. (Without getting on my political soap box I will tell you that this would not be an option if I lived in a country where there is socialized medicine.)

As the time for the MRI approached I tried to prepare myself for the results. After all, the likelihood of no new lesions over a three year period seemed pretty remote. I admit that even with my little internal pep talks I was still quiet apprehensive to get the results.

But guess what?

To quote one of my favorite sayings,

"I Have MS - It Doesn't Have Me".

The MRI's show no new lesions on either my brain or my spine and the existing lesions are much improved since the last MRI's.

Thank you Lord! Thank you Avonex! Thank you Senor!

We are fighting the good fight - and we are winning!