I just had my MS neurologist check up today and on the whole everything if fine. I have to have some blood work done to check on things like my liver. I am continuing on the steroid for another 3 months. The Solu-medrol will be administered as before, at the hospital by IV. It usually only takes about an hour or so. Not too long. I just don't like the after effects. I get very red, like I have a very bad sun burn, for a day and I can't sleep for 34 hours. I can a lot done if I have things to do.
I will be starting on a new medicine. It is called Ampyra, (pronounced amPEERah). It is the new drug that was developed for MS patients to help with their walking. I should start it in a couple of weeks. I hope that I won't have any problem with this drug but there are side effects. The biggest one is that it can cause seizures. I am not prone to seizures so I should be OK. Just the same, the doctor is being cautious. He is telling me that when I start, to only take one pill for a month and then if I do fine with it, then I can take the full dose of 2 pills a day, 12 hours apart. The things I have read online does sound pretty promising. Some people have improved walking along with some of their other symptoms. I am to have more endurance and more speed in my walking. Anything will be helpful.
So I stay on everything else. I had an increase in one of my other drugs for depression. I think that was caused for two reasons. One, because I had a flare-up, and Two, because of the flare-up, I started to fear that the MS was starting to take a turn for the worse again after being quiet for awhile. I still have that thought but I am trying to stay positive. I am just not happy about having to be on the steroids again. It did stop things the last time so maybe it will do it again.
