Atypical Multiple Sclerosis

Okay, so I thought I would go back to the last part 2006. Finally diagnosed in fall of 2006, and set for my first steroid (solu-medrol) in Ocotber 2006. That was a learning lesson. But how long would the effects of steroids last? I was hoping forever. 

Of course, we know that doesn’t happen. However, the docs, as usual, give you the pat answer, ‘Well everyone reacts differently’. Yes, but isn’t there some kind average, a typical time frame, something. No, not really or at least not that they were willing to utter. I guess that is for the best because sometimes if you give a person parameters (read boudaries) then that person conforms to that boundary. The proverbial self-fulfilling prophecy.

I really have learned to live each moment. In a part due to these wonderful docs of mine and in part due to slowing down in general. Learning to accept change (covered that yesterday, so I’ll stop there). Back to the story…

By the end of december of 2006 I began to slide downwards. Well, more like flying downhill on an icy slope with the new sled you just got on Christmas. So in Jan. 2007 (Hooray-its 2007) I saw docs who really pinned down exactly when I felt the slide. Which was about 8 weeks or so after the ‘roids. 

Another course of solu-medrol was ordered and administered in February 2007. Now by this time I had already seen a neuro-physiatrist to assess my walking and aid in whatever way possible. By Thanksgiving 2006 I had two AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics). Or as I lovingly refer to them as my legs. The physiatrist also gave me my beloved lofstrand crutches. Love really has nothing to do with it. I did notice a difference when using the braces and crutches. I certainly was not blazing any trails, but I was able to move around better, last a little longer. But, really it was the jolt of steroids that I had come to enjoy.

Solu-medrol (each time I had the steroids it was a five day course) really gave me a boost. I felt better, not great, but better. The only problem was that it didn’t last. Oh yeah, one other problem was that I took nose dives each time the stuff wore off. I mean it was like in a movie when the elevator is out of control and careening to the basement.

So by April 2007 with the steroids worn off, I was in pretty bad shape looking for another fix. Really, I felt like that. I wanted to feel good again; and couldn’t wait to see my docs so they would give me another course of Solu-medrol. 

My docs had a different idea, which they had alluded to the previous few visits. The idea was cytoxan-chemo. A year long treatment of monthly doses. As I previously shared, other family members have multiple sclerosis, have chronic or atypical progressive ms. So hearing ‘cytoxan’ was not completely new to me, to us (hubby with me every step of the way).

We sat and listened to their plan. Asked many questions. Finally, I asked “If this was your wife…”. Before I could finish the question, the doc said, “Yes, my wife, my mother, my sister, my daughter, my son, myself. This is the course of treatment I would insist they use.” WOW! He was straight forward and unwavering.

Now, I have to say that I have heard people with ms say before, “Seems the treatment is worse than the disease.”  I have never experienced that. I think that if this is your experience than perhaps you are not as bad off as you think. 

Even before we left the docs office that day we (hubby and I without even speaking) were eager to scream “YES! We’ll take the cytoxan”.  But being the docs they are, they did not want an answer then. They gave us info to take home and read over the weekend. I could not wait for monday to call them and get started.  

Why so excited about chemo?  Well because the treatment was not worse than the disease. Within two years of onset I was unabe to do much of anything besides sit on my couch. I have stairs to climb to get to my second floor bedroom. Without help from hubby and son I wouldn’t have made it at night. Hubby and I were getting ready to change our first floor living room into our bedroom. The only problem was my first floor didn’t have a full bathroom. I still needed to climb stairs to take a shower. 

We jumped at the chance to slow, halt, reverse some of this progression. I mean I should have been in a wheelchair, I was too stubborn. I’m too young for that, I thought. So we set out on a year long journey. This was a huge commitment by my whole family, but we stuck together.