Well .. . . I'm still here!

After my wife locating another person with MS who also has a blog 'BBHwithMS' , a very positive young mother with four children from Seattle, Washington, whose journey with MS has paralleled mine very closely, including the use of the Segway as a mobility device, I sent her an inquiry which she answered very quickly. Also like me, she has a particular bent toward helping others with MS. She has been used as a motivational speaker on several occasions. Her blog, which she, unlike me, has kept up on a very regular basis. It bears being checked out.

As for me, it has inspired me to post again.

Needless to say, a lot has happened since my last post which I will not try to update all at once, but a little at a time. As I reviewed my earlier posts, I noticed that there were several points in time in which I wrote about 'being in a holding pattern' while waiting to begin a new medication routine. Interesting because it seem that here I go once more. My MS began many years ago as the Relapsing - Remmiting Form where there would be a period of worsening symptoms followed by a remission where my symptoms would come back to a point where they left off, but not all of the way. Over time that form of MS has morphed into one called Primary Progressive, which is self explainatory. Since I began my very first medication regime in the mid 90's, I progressed through several medications as each newer on became available. As my MS worsened, each of the medications became less effective. Of the total MS population, those with Primary Progressive make up only about 15% of the population. Of the different types of MS, this one is considered to be the worst one, with no treatment options. Until now, that is. MS research has had several breakthroughs over the past 15-20 years. Prior to the mid 90's the only available treatment for MS symptoms was steroids, which had their own negative side effects. Since then to today there are over a dozen different treatments on the market.

Back to the new medication Ocrelizuma, which treats MS by depleting the immune cells that produce antibodies to attack the myelin. 

It was expected to be approved by the FDA in Mid-January, but the decision has been reset for March 28. In anticipation there are still a few hurdles to be jumped over such as availability and insurance approval. So once again there is hope!