Written July 18, 2010 – By: Cherie C. Binns RN BS MSCN
I have had MS since the early 1970s and was formally diagnosed in 1994. It was not, however, until 2001 when I was no longer able to walk without assistance and was legally blind, that any treatment for the disease was even suggested to me. Since that time, I have been treated with Interferons, steroids, IVIg (Intravenous Immunoglobulin) and Cytoxan. Copaxone was never used because I have allergies to certain dyes and preservatives and it was felt this drug, as entirely synthetic, might not be safe for me to take for that reason. My neurologist will not use Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) or Tysabri.
When a chronic urinary tract infection would not resolve with more than a year of antibiotic therapy, I was removed from my interferon. The thinking was that the interferon was suppressing the immune system so that I could not effectively fight the infection. This decision came about with the consultation of an immunologist working with my neuro and primary care doctor. Within a month of going off Rebif and being placed on IVIg weekly, the urine cultures came back clear and infection has only reoccurred once in the 16 months since then.
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