Hi Ellie
As Carole said, it’s a huge shock to the system. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had symptoms, what tests you’ve had or how much you thought you were prepared for it. It’s a great big slap in the face to hear the words, ‘you have MS’. Don’t expect to get used to the idea overnight, or to ‘accept’ it. It can take years (or never) to accept MS. So feel free to be furiously angry with it for derailing your life. To shout at it, even just in your head. To whinge and moan. But don’t forget, it’s not just you who’s been diagnosed with MS, your husband has too. In the sense that it is likely to affect his life too. And a good husband needs to know that you are still you, in spite of the F’ing awful disease.
With regard to DMDs, I’m a bit surprised you weren’t offered Tecfidera as an option (or in fact any otherdrugs). It has a better average relapse reduction rate than Copaxone and it’s an oral therapy rather than injectable. Plus, Tecfidera apparently works best when it’s the first DMD. Is it too late for you to question the drug you’ll be taking? Often people complain that they’re given a list of drugs and told to pick one. In your case it seems you’ve got no choice, your decision has been made for you. Then again Tecfidera does take some getting used to, with stomach issues particularly. You have to pack in food either side of the drug, so if you want to eat a low fat diet, Tecfidera isn’t the best drug!
I took Copaxone for 5 years and had absolutely no side effects, so in terms of side effects, it’s a pretty good drug. Some people get a bit of flushing (is super hot face) in the early days, I had it once. And during the time I took it, it worked pretty well for me, it was only towards the end that it stopped being as effective. So if you are going to be on Copaxone, I think it’s the least likely to impact on your life.
As far as injecting goes, it is far, far easier than you think. You either use an autoject device, where you press a button and the needle goes in automatically, or you just stick the needle in. That was my choice, and it seems that it’s actually better for your skin to just use the needle, you can end up bruised by the autoject. You stick the needle in the fattest parts of your body. On most women, that’s the thighs, the bum, stomach and maybe upper arm. Although my arms were always a bit skinny. And Carole will tell you, it’s better to use a plumper part. So don’t get too skinny. And above all, rotate your injection sites. Don’t get in the habit of using just one site, it’s very bad for your skin. So for me, I was thin when I was on Copaxone, but I always had a butt. So I injected my bum and my thighs most often (both sides and in different places), my stomach now and then and my arms rarely.
The needle is a few millimetres long. And very thin. Once you’ve done it a couple of times, it will be easy. The worst time will be the first, your brain tells your hand to just do it, but your hand just doesn’t want to. So you have to make it. Or even start off with getting your husband to stick you, then when you realise you can hardly feel it, start doing it yourself.
Best of luck with it. Don’t forget, there are plenty of people on this forum and Everyday Living who will listen to you when you get pissed off with MS. And people who will give you advice, or just empathy, if and when you need it.
Sue
I wish you a merry Christmas and hope you get some relaxing time.