Cure for MS?

[FamilyGal]

I hooked back up with a friend from junior high on MySpace and come to find out, she has MS as well. She just sent me a message saying that a friend of hers is going to do trial study Tovaxin. Apparently, it could be a CURE for MS! :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovaxin

(My luck it won't work and will just make me gain weight, lol...)

[Sysgoddess]

That would be awesome but I know what you mean. Right now, the only thing keeping me at my current weight is the steroids and I'm still managing to lose a pound or slightly more each week. I never thought keeping weight ON or eating would be a problem for me. Oh the irony!

[Wilson]

I really don't know anything about it, but the Wiki page sounds promising. I do hope it helps people lead more active and normal lives.

[FamilyGal]

I'm not going to get my hopes up (well, not TOO much). I have been doing well lately, after a terrible few months, so I am just really happy for that right now.

The new treatment I take is an IV treatment once a month, rather than the weekly shots I was taking that had terrible side effects.

[cgwoolf]

I'm not positive...but pretty sure that my friend who has MS took part in a study like that with that drug and it did not help him. But I will also add that he apparently has the really progressive kind of MS where not much of anything has helped him and his decline has been very rapid. I have had 2 or 3 other friends in the past with MS and none of them had this progressive type.

[FamilyGal]

There are five types of MS. I have been told I have the Relapsing-Remitting type. It sounds like your friend has Primary Progressive.

Relapsing-Remitting MS
In this form of MS there are unpredictable relapses (exacerbations, attacks) during which new symptoms appear or existing symptoms become more severe. This can last for varying periods (days or months) and there is partial or total remission (recovery). Frequency - approx 25%

Benign MS

After one or two attacks with complete recovery, this form of MS does not worsen with time and there is no permanent disability. Benign MS can only be identified when there is minimal disability 10-15 years after onset and initially would have been categorised as relapsing-remitting MS. Benign MS tends to be associated with less severe symptoms at onset (e.g. sensory). Frequency - approx 20%

Secondary Progressive MS
For some individuals who initially have relapsing-remitting MS, there is the development of progressive disability later in the course of the disease often with superimposed relapses. Frequency - approx 40%

Primary Progressive MS

This form of MS is characterised by a lack of distinct attacks, but with slow onset and steadily worsening symptoms. There is an accumulation of deficits and disability which may level off at some point or continue over months and years. Frequency - approx 15%

[Sysgoddess]

The new treatment I take is an IV treatment once a month, rather than the weekly shots I was taking that had terrible side effects.

Are you on Remicade infusions or one of the immunoglobulin infusions (IgA or IgB I think)?
I'm trying to remember for certain but don't they utilise some forms of immunosuppresant therapy for MS also? Whatever it is, as long as it works!

Fortunately, all of my meds are still available in oral formulations, the only concern is when I'm ill enough that I can't eat or having trouble keeping things down it becomes difficult to take them. I'd almost just as soon inject myself sometimes.