Stuart’s First Tysabri Infusion – My MS Blog Posting

Of course there is concern (for me) of The PML, but of even greater concern is the loss of being independent or the need for a walker or wheelchair. This is what finally prompted me to say yes to Tysabri. Then having to convince my wife and informing the rest of my concerned family members.

Yesterday, the day finally arrived for my first infusion and it was a morning filled with worries. My stomach was turmoiled with the butterflies (as we say here in the USA) . was I doing the right thing? Maybe I have been mis-informed all these years. That I really don’t have MS, but rather one of those mimicking diseases. What if I was mis-diagnosed? — A Fantasy…

So many different things were going through my mind yesterday, that it didn’t seem like there was enough Alprazolam to help calm me. Yet knew that I needed to drive, so could not over-do, eating these pink tablets.

When I finally arrived for my infusion, my fears had lessened and I began to actually feel calm.

I sat in the chair and would not look as the Rn poked my skin with the little needle or whatever it’s actually called. I began to feel dizzy but learned that it was again just my nerves as I peeked and saw that I wasn’t yet receiving the IV … Then when I was finally attached to the IV line, I asked for a blanket that I saw nearby, be layed over my arm so that I did not have to look at this..

BIG Chicken,, YES — !! The women in the room commented, “just like a man”. Cluck-cluck…

After having seen my knee ripped open when I was 15 and having seen a benign tumor removed from the side of my leg when I was in my 20’s I had enough of seeing my own,, anything…. Could look at someone else having open heart surgery (as seen on the internet) but nothing more of any medical procedure being performed on myself.. So yes,, Call me a chicken and I will just CLUCK.

Anyway, the hour went by fast as I of course had much to talk about and as long as there are those to listen, I will talk. If not people, animals would suffice… The nurse left the IV line attached for another 20 minutes (give or take) in case I had a side effect.. I felt fine and within an hour of my IV being finished, I was allowed to leave.

I was fine on my ride home, yet a few hours after I got home, I think the adrenaline from the previous 48 hours began to hit and I started feeling dopey. Groggy, dopey, drugged. – Take your pick of applicable wording.

I obviously fell asleep early last night.. Whether from the come-down of the adrenaline rush or the Alprazolam, I was finished for the day. Dang, again, another night that I missed watching programs I wanted to see on TV. I awoke once and felt like I still felt like I had been drugged..

Finally when I knew it was time for me to arise somewhere around 5:30am ( a normal time for me), I went to stand and almost keeled over… Yes, still feeling drugged. Now I wondered if it were the Tysabri ? Nobody mentioned that I might feel like this.

A few hours passed before I got onto the internet and visited my facebook page to ask others. Was told yes, they too felt groggy for a few days after their initial infusions. I called my doctors office about an hour ago and I was told that it’s not the Tysabri. To go lay down for a little while. It may be my MS. I am prone to vertigo and imbalance.

Also to be known,I was off my previous medication for just over 5 weeks, maybe something was beginning to flare-up again? After all, we (many) know what happened to me, when I experimentally tried a hiatus a couple of years ago and what happened to me after just over 5 weeks of not using anything… Blah- blah- blah..

Well, I have not yet gone to lay down as I cannot do this in the mornings. Maybe in a little while, just not right now… Ok- So I do feel better that the doctor said it ( the grogginess) was not caused by the Tysabri and so, I am here now, typing this……..

Okay so maybe my nerves are still acting-up on me. What to do…?

Hmm – Alaprazolam time, and then get something to eat…

I haven’t had that burst of energy yet, that so many claim happen.. Maybe this will come soon…

Hey, thought you might want to see a couple of photos taken at yesterday session. Had someone snap two shots.

No comments please about the mid-line bulge. I do hope to get rid of this over the next few months and in the second photo, you will see the blanket covering my arm, keeping me from being squeamish (Cluck-cluck) .

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