My hubby, the Dish, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in May 1999. I remember the month because it was a few weeks before our wedding. The Dish was having really bad vertigo and other symptoms like twitching, numbness and tingling in his fingers and legs for about a week. After a few trips to the doctor, an MRI confirmed that he had spots (plaque) on his brain. The neurologist came in the exam room and coldly said, "you have MS, start taking this injection once a week and just live your life." While I'm sure there is no easy way for any doctor to deliver bad news, I found it cold. We were both in shock with visions of wheelchairs in our heads. He told me that if I wanted to back out of the wedding, he would understand. I punched him in the arm.
The medication,
Avonex, is a weekly injection that is supposed to slow down the progression of the MS. It seemed easy enough but side effects are horrible. It's like having the flu...shakes, muscle aches, fatigue...just feeling like shit. And he would feel like shit for three days a week. He would take it in Friday night so he wouldn't miss work and suffer all weekend. The symptoms were supposed to get better over time but they barely did. It sucked. We (I) fired three neurologist just because they were big jerks and were closed-minded on exploring
complementary treatments like nutrition and acupuncture. I finally found one willing to listen...even though the Dish still had to take the
Avonex. The Dish had a few
relapses...
steroid treatments and more
meds.
Fast forward to 2004 when we moved to the suburbs and one day my husband forgot to refill his medication and sort of forgot to refill it for 4 years....he just stopped taking it. He actually felt better and not one relapse. It had been a while since he had a physical so I found a primary doctor for him and he got check-up. His new doctor urged him to connect with a neurologist because of the MS so we found one and the first thing the doc asked was
why the Dish was not on any
meds for the MS. He had another MRI which showed a few new spots which is a panic that it's getting worse. So they put him back on the
Avonex and he returned to suffering on the weekends.
Anyone who knows me, knows my interest and
fascination with integrative medicine...holistic, natural, contemporary...you name it. I do believe that the
body had the ability to heal itself if given the chance and some assistance. I have little trust in modern medicine...some, not all. There are some great medical advanced today BUT we still have more cancer and heart disease and auto immune disease in this country than in any other nation.
While perusing through Dr.
Mercola's website, I can across
this article about
LDN or low dose
naltrexone therapy. I also went to
The doctor says it might not work for everyone but most of his MS patients are doing well with no symptoms, no
relapses and improved energy, mobility and health. (I'll talk about why more doctors are NOT jumping to this therapy at another post)
We will get the
prescription by mail through a
compounding pharmacy and he will start it right away...no more
Avonex. He'll see this new doctor in a month for a follow-up. From all that I've read, I am excited for him and for us. I think it will be good.