I am newly diagnosed with ms. I am on no treatment right now. I have an appointment with my doctor on april 1st. he wants me to tell him what medicine i have decided on. i am so confused. I have heard alot of info on all of them. I have bee swaying toward Copaxone, but i hear it makes you haev chest tightness, among other things. I suffer from panic attacks also and i dont know if i could handle it. I also have 2 small children, so feeling like i have the flu would not be good . could anyone help me. thank you

This is a scary time...I had to go through choosing my own medications as well, about 2 years ago. I also have 2 small children, work, husband, activites, life is a hectic time, and people are giving you all sorts of advice which may or may not be helpful or accurate. How I made the choice was to carefully read every page of those drug binders, and mark positives and negatives down in a checklist. Then choose the one that would fit my life best. Several of my friends have chosen different paths, and some of them have taken several of the paths. (you can change your mind later if it isn't working for you.) Just get your most calm and analytical self out there, and weigh the options.

Hope this helps.

Sherry

Hi Amy - First of all Good Job reaching out and asking questions! That is the skill that will guide through the treatment decision making process. You will compare all the dlisease modifying medications available - comparison charts are available at the national ms society website - you will determine your priorities and what is most important to you and you will trust yourself to make this decision - you can do it! I can only share my priorities which lead me to choose Copaxone. I have a history of depression/anxiety so the interferons weren't my first choice. I didn't want to have to mix a solution in preparation for an injection; I wanted to do a sub-q shot rather than an muscle shot; a quick daily injection routine was best for my memory and schedule; I didn't want to have additional blood work monitoring liver/blood changes due to a treatment; I contacted Shared Solutions - Copaxone and spoke to a nurse; told my neurologist what I wanted and within 2 weeks a nurse came to my home, trained me on injections and 9 months later I continue to feel confident in my decisions. Continue to explore each type of treatment - trust you will feel right about one of them - give it a try - utilize all the support that's available through the ms society/drug company of your choice, your neurologist office... keep talking you'll do what's right for right now and if things change, you'll reassess and use those skills to change course... Think of all you've managed being a mother - you can do this!