Today is the day I start taking my new medication. In fact, I just took it. I am now officially on Fingolimod or Gilenya as it's now known.
I have got to stay in hospital for 6 hours after my fist dose - that's 5 o'clock tonight. It's a precautionary measure, they need to do an ECG before I go.
I suppose I had better introduce myself on the off chance anyone is interested in what this drug does to you.
My name is Dan Cooper. I am a 38 year old man who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December 2005. At first this wretched illness that us MSers have to live with was invisible to others, but over the years my illness has progressed. I have lost the ability to work full time; I cannot walk unaided - I use crutches or a mobility scooter for longer journeys and I now empty my bladder by way of intermittent self-catheterisation. I also have (what is seemingly compulsory) pins and needles in various extremities around my body. I have mild neuropathic pain, which I manage to control with 30mgs of Amiteiptyline at night.
Other medication I take are: Bsclofen - 40 mgs; Oxybutynin - 20mgs; Trimethoprim - 100mgs and Cialis - 5 Mgs. All those doses are daily.
I also take 5000iu vitamin D3 daily.
When I first got diagnosed, I chose to take Rebif as my disease modifying therapy. I was on it for just over 2 years before I came off it and started taking Tysabri. Again, I came off it after 2 and a bit years. I'm hoping it's third time lucky with Fingolimod.
Well that's about me, my illness and my meds all done, so I'm off.
Kind regards,
Dan
Testing
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