I started suffering from balance issues in approximately 2006 and a brief period of numbness in my face , this numbness eased off but returned around 6 months later , I attended the gp again and was told I probably had ms but an mri would be needed to confirm the diagnosis . 6 months later I underwent an mri with contrast and ms was confirmed. My mri lit up like a Christmas tree!!! I was immediately started on copaxone and returned to full time employment.I carried on for years on copaxone until I relapsed due to a urine infection and was switched to fingolimod oral , I never got my strength back or balance and inevitably in 2013 my employment was terminated due to ill health . I struggled on with fingolimod until during a routine appointment with my neurologist tecfidera was suggested.
I started on tecfidera in 2022 and am still on it now . Yes I have plateaued but not in a position I would want, my mobility is impacted to requiring one stick for walking , I drive using hand controls and need to lift my right leg into the car , I find stairs almost impossible and can only walk short distances but I can still do a little as hard as it may be so I guess I’m lucky in a strange kinda way !!
After the flu I had constant dizziness that would not allow me to go back to my IT job at a local hospital so I had to file for disability. I have been on Tecfidera (now the generic) for approx 5 years and I am doing good on it. My white cell numbers are on the low side and if they go any lower I will have to stop the drug and most likely switch to something else.
Living 2 years with MS
This is my first post
New to the community but not to MS
Mental health and MS
