I'm new here

[kathy5500]

Hi! I'm new here. I am 60 years old and was diagnosed in 2010. I am currently taking Tecfidera. I struggle with balance issues, spasticity, weakness, arm tremor. I appreciate this opportunity.

[johnMSAA Partner]

Welcome to our ever-expanding My MSAA Community, kathy5500 ! Glad you're posting just as soon as you joined to get the conversation started! As you'll find, there are a number of posts and people talking about the things you're dealing with: MS treatments, balance, spasticity, etc.

Please take some time to search past topics or create new ones, thanks!

- John, MSAA

[PatMAZ]

Hey Kathy, welcome ! I take Gilenya myself but have a h/s buddy who was diagnosed years after me and she was on Rebif and other meds for a long time. She went on Tecfidera a few years back and sounds so much better when we talk. I'm so glad these things are available as I was really playing around w/the Avonex before and probably not getting major benefits from it. Take care and welcome again. - Pat

[kathy5500 in reply to PatMAZ]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the welcome! My MS has progressed so my doctors are suggesting I consider Ocrelizumab when it is available-probably sometime after the first of the year. Scary but I'm willing to do something to slow things down. Don't know enough about it though. Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to write. Thanks again! Kathy

[Fancy1959]

Kathy5500 it's Fancy1959 welcome you to this wonderful chat room. I'm close to your age at 57 and please remember you don't have to appreciate anything when you belong to a family. And you are now part of our family. Please feel free to post any questions or concerns you have in the wonderful chat room. As luck would have it I got off tecfidera about 8 months ago. I loved the therapy, it was easy to take and I had little or no side effects from it. However in the year-and-a-half I took it I silently progressed into SPMS. Just make sure your neurologist stays on top of your disease. That includes routine MRIs to make sure progression isn't seen. I have had to go back onto tysabri. I am waiting and praying that the new treatment/ therapy coming out the first of next year specifically dedicated to SPMS will be the therapy that helps put my disease into at least remission. I understand it is showing signs of regrowing mylan to some degree in some patients. Boy that would be a game changer. Please let me know what you do and how you progress. Remember together we are stronger. And I invite you to become an MS warrior with us. As an MS Warrior we never give in and we never give up we simply fight on!

[kathy5500]

Thanks! I went to my neurologist today and my white count was too low. He told me to hold the Tecfidera for a month and then I am to have another level drawn. Not sure what will come next. I too pray that the new med helps you. Thanks for the encouragement! You are right, I won't give up!

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi kathy5500 welcome to the best chat ever, for the monster they call MS anyway. I was dx last Mar and on copaxone which right now seems to be working. I hope the tecfidera is working for you. Feel free to jump in anytime as you can see we talk about pretty much anything and everything, but most of all support each other.