Hi folks. Would appreciate any advice you can give me. I thought I was progressive and so DMDs not applicable. Last summer had a nasty relapse and since then have plateaued out rather than further progression after I recovered. Neuro on Friday said this means i should start a DMD like, Copaxone etc. This was a bit of a surprise. My gut feeling is to wait and see if I have more relapses and how bad they are before going down the DMD route. Neuro says better to start as both my relapses have involved swallowing and speech issues (not sure why that would make it more important to start) Anyway, I have to decide and would really appreciate any advice you may have. Many thanks! Dave
Hi Dave I agree with Val. Earlier you start the better. In some countries as soon as you are diagnosed you start DMD s. I think it is all down to cost why that doesn’t happen here. They wait for you to have 2 significant relapses before you can start. Why not immediately start DMDs and try to avoid those 2 significant relapses - money that’s why - my rebif costs £9,000 per year. Sorry rant over Hope you make the decision that is right for you Min xx
Thank you all for responding. Nice clear message I’m getting from you. I’ll stop dithering and get on with it 
Thanks again Dave
Darn, I didn’t get to put my two penn’orth in! Glad to see you followed the advice. I was going to say exactly the same thing!
Good luck
Tracey
I started DMDs the day after I was diagnosed. I was still very well but the neuro is of the belief that the sooner I started, the better it would be long term. I’m in Ireland though so I know that it’s different in the UK.
I was on Copaxone for 6 months but it didn’t work so now I’m on Gilenya.
As soon as I got my dx in nov I was put on betaferon, (started 3weeks ago) I am pretty mild rrms but neuro said you don’t know what the next relapse will bring? Good luck, Sue
Meme, I thought you couldn’t go from Copaxone to Gilenya, only from an interferon to Gilenya? And Dave, I’m with the others, go for it! I’ve recently been diagnosed after 3 relapses in 4 months and I’m waiting for my appointment to decide on the DMD.
The neuro didn’t mention anything about going from Copaxone to Gilenya. When the copaxone wasn’t working he told me there was no point going on an interferon but gave me the options of Gilenya or Tysabri. I went straight from Copaxone to Gilenya with no issues or time off DMDs etc.
Puddinglover - Meme did say that she is Ireland and things are a bit different here. It is NICE who make the guidelines that we are bound by here in the UK. It basically all comes down to cost …
Tracey x
Oops, Meme is IN Ireland - not IS Ireland. Sorry Meme, I made you a whole country 