Anniversary

[Howie]

Today marks 18 years with MS. I can hardly believe it. I took the antiviral Valtrex the first 2 years after DX. I thank Dr. Dobbins for believing in my theory about MS. After the two years, I never had another exacerbation, sending the virus into dormancy where it has stayed.

I can still walk, I can still drive, and will until things change, which I don't believe they will. I still carry a lack of balance, and iffy vision, but none has stopped me from living a fairly normal life.

I no longer work which I love. It's tough at times to make ends meet, but I always do. I have the support of my brother and sister, who have health issues of their own, but we all continue to live our lives as though nothing is wrong.

So if you have made me a little cake, Sam will be there to collect it, but don't let her talk you out of ice cream. I give it to her daily, the little sneak!

[agate]

So the secret is out and you've found the cure for MS. Why didn't you let the world know earlier so that others could have taken advantage of it?

Just kidding.

It sounds as if your theory is that MS is a virus, and if an antiviral is given soon enough, it will be stopped in its tracks?

Congratulations on your anniversary if it's something you're celebrating, and it sounds as if it is.

What kind of ice cream is being served?

I'll be back tomorrow to find out. I'm about to fall asleep just now. It's not the company--it's the hour.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

hmmmmmm,, should I say congrads ? naHH,, Just glad you have made it this far without serious relapses,,

mine is 30 years, and MS took over the last 11 years,, I keep reminding myself, things could be a heck of a lot worse, and deal with it , my husband has been there with me,, and the boys,, and Sam,, !!! she just took off with the ice cream cake !!!

[Catdancer]

33 years for me. Did ok for the first 25. There were no early treatments when I was diagnosed, just steroids for flares, which I had regularly for the first 15 years. Moved from wheelchair to walker to crutches then back again, through each flare. Got on Betaseron and flares stopped. Good for the next 10 years. No flares, oh a slow progression. Still could walk some with crutches, still drove, still worked part time. Then a stupid doctor suggested that because there had been no flares, I could probably stop the Betaseron. I stupidly decided to. Worst decision I've ever made. These last four years ....which I've shared most of here...have been terrible. I'm on tecfidera now, have no idea if it's working, but I'm not quitting it. The celebration here is that I'm still alive.

[Frog42]

Happy (?) Anniversary!

[Sunshine]

18 years for me from my first attack. Have been on Valtrex since then as well. Who knows if it helps some but not all? Nice post H.

[Jen's Solitude]

Hey Howie we share the same dx month. It was around the 3rd of July for me. Just reached 23 years, oh joy! LOL

[Howie]

Thanks everyone! I should have said I wouldn't expect the Valtrex to work for everyone, but seems to have worked for me. We all have to decide how we want to treat MS. That's a tough decision.

Agate, I only get chocolate ice cream. I know what I like, and the cats do too.

Vicky, that's a really nice looking cake, but there's a slice missing. Who....ah, never mind. SAM!!!

[agate]

It's possible that your MS would have behaved in exactly the same way if you hadn't been taking Valtrex, isn't it, Howie? And Cat Dancer's MS might have behaved the same way if she'd stayed on Betaseron?

There are so many things that might work but nobody knows for sure that they do. Betaseron and the other DMDs are known to work well--for some people and at some times.

It's been 36 years since I was diagnosed with MS. Did 3 years of Avonex and nearly 3 years of Copaxone help? I don't know. Is all of this vitamin D I've been taking in the last 5 years helping? Who knows?

I think I've been lucky. There were pretty bad years, especially at first. Falling down a lot and breaking bones--that's not my idea of fun. Lots of infections kept me needing antibiotics and doctors. But so far I can still walk, usually, and I managed to cut down on the infections and falls as time went by.

Or else I was just lucky. I do make an effort to stay out of MS danger zones.

--Nice to hear from you, Jen's Solitude (Dar).

[Howie]

Yes Agate, it's possible my MS would be what it is even if I had never taken Valtrex. That's why I added the disclaimer. Valtrex may be nothing but expensive to someone else. It was cheap when I first started it, and it was $8 per pill last time I looked.

I could get it now for nothing because I'm on Medicaid, but that would ruin my little experiment.

[Sunshine]

There is generic now H. I think I pay maybe ten dollars per month. Will check on that.

[agate]

Yes Agate, it's possible my MS would be what it is even if I had never taken Valtrex. That's why I added the disclaimer. Valtrex may be nothing but expensive to someone else. It was cheap when I first started it, and it was $8 per pill last time I looked.

I could get it now for nothing because I'm on Medicaid, but that would ruin my little experiment.

I guess I don't understand. If you can get this for nothing with Medicaid, why not do that? It's a costly enough drug, seems to me. I've missed the details on what the experiment is, maybe.

[Howie]

The experiment is: Can taking an antiviral that works on the virus that triggers my MS exacerbations, halt MS for me.

For me, it was HSV-1 that is the Herpes virus that causes cold sores. I would get them since I was a teen. I had one right before I was DXed with MS, I had one right before my worst exacerbation that put me on disability.

After Valtrex, I never had another exacerbation OR cold sore.

I could talk about the relationship between the Herpes Virus and MS, but won't type about it. My fingers would fall off.

[Sunshine]

Got my first HSV attack at the same time as my first major MS attack too Howie.

[Sunshine]

Just checked. I pay $15.86 monthly for Valtrex generic.