Lemtrada it is!.... and now we wait....

Now, unlike other medications, you can't just say "Doc, hit me up with a script for Lemtrada, let's book me in and give me the dates - let's go!"... it's a far more agonising wait. First, I need to do blood tests to make sure my antibodies for things like Hep B and chicken pox are high enough and if you're like me, you forgot to do your booster shot for the Hep B & C shots you had 3 years ago. So, I am currently waiting, anxiously, to see if my antibodies are high enough. This means the difference between starting in a month or starting in 5 months. This is because if you need to be vaccinated and then have all the boosters you still need to wait the prescribed 6 weeks post immunisation to start - all up, about a 5 month process.

Secondly, there is this little matter of currently being in a clinical trial. I need to have my final visit in the coming weeks (provided my antibodies are high enough) to then stop taking BG-12 and prepare my body for Lemtrada.

Then, there is the matter of ordering it from overseas and starting the process of taking antivirals. I have also decided that I will go Paleo... yes, I am going to change the way I eat. Why you ask? Well, it would seem that those that are at their physical best (both inside and out) seem to not get "as sick" - noticed the italicised, bold typeface?, yes? - well it's because I will still get sick, very sick, post treatment, but not for as long and as severe, if my body is free of as many toxins as possible from food. I plan to be out of action for a couple of months post treatment, but if I can reduce this... then I will! If it means saying NO to gluten, dairy and sugar.... then I will. But, hey... that's another blog isn't it?

Those that know me, understand that my patience levels are fairly non-existent, so this time - of nothing happening - is not fun! It's weird isn't it? I am looking forward to having a treatment that will make me sick, my MS flare and be in different degrees of pain, all for that elusive promise of halting my MS and possibly (fingers crossed here) turning back the MS-clock a little.

Furthermore, I can't get sick (cold, flu's etc) either before (they won't give me the drug) or after (I will have no immune system to fight it). So what happens days after making this decision? Yep, my son gets bronchitis, this was a reminder that 1. I have to be vigilant with Vit C and hand washing (and prophylactic antibiotics, should some else in my family also needs antibiotics) and 2. If either of the kids gets sick afterwards, I can't be there to cuddle them and stroke their back as they try to get to sleep after they climb into bed with me as they had a coughing fit in the middle of the night. But, I try to keep reminding myself it's a short-term sacrifice for a long term gain of being a better involved mother and partner - and of course, potentially living MS free for sometime!