Tuesday 15 March 2016

A year passes quickly

Well a year has passed since I started my treatment on Alemtuzumab, its passed quickly, and today I started my final round of treatment. This time its three days of treatment rather than five, and I'm being treated as a day patient.

The year between treatment has be a varied one, but as far as the MS goes its been plain sailing. I have had no symptoms of MS and no side effects or complications due to the treatment. I did have a water infection,which is unusual at my age, so put down to the treatment. But it was merely a minor discomfort, treated with antibiotics and gone in about two days.

This year is going fine so far, had anti inflammatory steroids and antihistamines first, then the dose if Alemtuzumab. All delivered through a cannula. I have felt no discomfort nor ill effects, but I fully expect to have some insomnia from the steroids and a rash later in the week.



This morning started with a visit from a practitioner from Scotland, the hospital where she works is looking to start treatment of patients with Alemtuzumab soon. As a new drug in terms of MS treatment, she wanted to see the administering of the treatment and speak with some patients about how they have found the process. My nurse was very keen to help with spreading the good word of the treatment, and I'm more than happy to help. Alemtuzumab has been brilliant for me. I have had no negative effects from it, and a symptom free year since starting treatment. Although it has not reversed the damage of previous relapses, the lasting effects seem minor to me and there has been nothing new. This time last year I had difficulty walking, a fast walk was not possible and running was out of the question. After a year I can now run as fast as our five year old, as tested by trips to the toilet during a full day walking round Chester zoo. Why must kids always wait till the last minute? But being serious it was brilliant being able to run with him, and to be able to walk for that long. I might well have been capable without Alemtuzumab, but for how ling? When would the next relapse have come? The hope is now it wont ever, and although I will always have MS, is it really MS if I'm symptom free?

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