Hello,
I have just made an account and this is my first post. I shall try to be brief!
I was diagnosed with MS 14 years ago, just after getting married. It was tragic but my symptoms have only ever been mild, nothing to bother me or anyone else.
Since having COVID 3 times within a year, I had my first episode of optic neuritis, although thankfully that resolved itself.
A little while later I received a recommendation from my neurologist to commence a DMT, Tecfidera. Eventually - because things seems to take a criminally long time, even when it affects your daily life - I commenced this drug last November.
I had a winter virus around February but it wasn’t serious, it’s just that antibiotics didn’t shift it. Then, in March, GAME OVER. My vision went haywire and over the months since then I have been exhausted. I am signed off work, I have no appetite, housework is crippling.
I knew MS had the potential to do this but never imagined it would be so early (I am 41), so sudden and so instant - I imagined a far more gradual decline.
Does anyone have any insight they are able to share? I am finding it so difficult to cope with such sudden incapacity.
Thank you
Hi Vic . Have you told your MS Nurse. A lot, possibly all MS drugs can reduce white blood cell counts. I get a blood test every 6 months to check this - and other things. Low white cell count will make you more vulnerable to infections. Definitely tell your MS Nurse!
Thanks, Hank. Just before this relapse I had suffered from a viral infection. I posed to the nurse was this likely to be caused by vulnerability created by the DMT and they said no. So it’s interesting to have the theory corroborated, thank you. The question now is, can I ever hope to be rid of these new symptoms or is this what I can expect until the next downward step. So hard to stay positive 
Hi Vic. I’ve been on Tecfidera for well over 5 years. MS is such an individual condition that comparing like for like can be a fools errand. That said, 2 bouts of ON ultimately led to my diagnosis. The good news is that with the help of steroids my vision returned completely in one eye but not in the other.
Since being on Tec’ I’ve been relapse free with NEIDA in all my annual MRIs.
I feel for you as it took around 18 months for my vision to return to pre relapse levels.
You might need to re-visit your DMT options so speak to your MS Nurse.
12 week Lympho count blood tests would imply it can make some users vulnerable, but this has only been an issue with me once and they bounced back at next check up.
For me, Tec has been a great medication so hopefully everything works out positively for you.
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Thank you so much for this candid response. I completely understand it’s different for everyone but the fact that your vision did return after 18 months has given me hope that even though I’ve been living with reduced mobility for 3 months now it isn’t a foregone conclusion I’m now like this (or worse) forever x