Again, I choose no treatment!

[Auspiciousme]

Hello everyone.  I came here a while ago and asked what made you choose MS treatments.  You were all very kind and gave me your thoughts about MS treatments and meds.  I must say, I was leaning towards MS treatments after reading everyone's posts.  Since last week I am experiencing a mild attack (right leg hurting and all tightened up plus skin pain & dizziness).  On Thursday I saw my doctor for my annual check up.  He did the normal checks, walking on a line and touching this and that...,etc and everything was normal.  He asked me if I was feeling bad enough to get on steriods and I said no.  Then I discussed starting treatments with him and asked him my questions.  He said the meds are pretty much the same and I get to choose which one I want based on the amount of shots I am willing to take.  He said the studies have been only for two years on each person and the meds show reduction in the number of attacks MS patients get but they really haven't pooven that the meds would do anything as far as the course of MS goes.  I told him that since I was diagnosed two years ago, I haven't had any major symptoms and I really don't like taking harsh meds and he said that in that case, I shouldn't!  He said if my symptoms and attacks are not bad enough to interfere with my day to day life, then I shouldn't do the treatments.  I asked about natural treatments and he said there is no proof that natural treatments have been helpful.  That night, I attended a MS Society seminar called MS & Meds which was about MS and available treatments.  The speaker was a retired Nuro and he spoke about MS and it's effect on nerves and then all the available meds.  He didn't really explain, how the medication helps the process of MS.  He did say that it reduces the number of attacks.  He also said that they all have side effects but he really didn't get into it.  When I told him what my doctor had said about not getting treatment, he was surprised and said "he should get his head examined!!!"  He said it is essential for all MS patients to get treatment.  But the funny thing was that every time he said what MS does to you, he siad "well, whether you take meds or not, you will eventually do this or that and you lose this or that".  I think all the people that were there were on different treatments.  & I would say half were using some kind of assistance for walking.  The few that I talked to had major reactions to some meds.  A young man had brought an artical about a MS patient that just had died because of PMI and Tysabri and he said he was getting off all treatments.
So, I came out of the seminar with anxiety and fear.  I was feeling all kinds of things.  What should I do?  Meds or no meds?  I know MS patients that are on treatments and are doing poorly and I know MS patients that are not getting treatment and have altered their eating and excercise habits and are doing wonderfully.  The side effects seem endless when I read about each medication.  After taking years of these meds, what's left of your liver and kidneys and ...?  How do we know that some of the symptoms a lot of MS patients feel after years of using these drugs aren't because of these side effects? When you drink lots of alcohol, you throw up, right?  What does that mean? Doesn't that mean that you have intered "poison" into your body and your body is reacting?  So how come we don't think about how our body reacts when we enter all these chemicals in it?  
I want to say that I am not against meds at all.  I know that sometimes you have to take medications whether you like it or not regardless of what side-effects they have.  & I respect the decision that some of you have made to take meds.  I just feel like meds are not for everyone.  In my case, because I am not feeling so bad, I think I can try to create a healthy invironment in my body so my body can heal itself or at least not get worse.  For now...I am choosing no treatment and I am going to follow Ann Boroch's treatment and see what happens!
I think it's easier to choose medications rather than completely changing our life and that is one of the reasons we choose meds.  Our society prefers "easy" over "natural".  I am one of them...I know!  I much rather take a pill for my depression rather than excercise and avoid certain foods that would help me with depression, so I do!  But I've tried dieting before and I felt great (I am talking about Ann Boroch's MS diet not losing weight diet...(although god only knows how many times I've tried the losing weight one too!))..and it was too hard so I stopped and now I feel more symptoms.  I will try again.  If I get worse, then I will try meds...but somehow, my gut is not comfortable with meds right now...even if the healthy diet doesn't cure MS, at least my body will be healthier and if I have to start meds, I can at least tolerate them better, no?
Is anyone willing to try the diet with me?  Or do you all think I am nuts, in deneil or stupid?  Honestly, do you think eating right, excercising, meditating and taking vitamins could hurt your MS?...Would anyone be my partner to start this diet together?  (I am not asking anyone to stop treatment...at all.  That is something you & your doctor have to decide....I am just saying that could natural treatments work too?)  Anyone with me?
I am sorry, if I talked too much!  I could go and do my own thing and not bother writting here, but I feel like I should tell people about how I feel.  Maybe someone out there is feeling the same and is scared just like me and wants to explore something new?  Again, I respect everyone here and their decision whether to take treatment or not.  I am one of you...and I am afraid of what future will bring for us.  I do wish everyone the best...and I hope whatever treatment you choose really works for you.
I will keep you posted and if I am making a mistake now, I will admit it later, I promise!

[kwarendorf]

Hi Rassha - Welcome to our group.

I think you are making a smart choice. The drugs available today are the best way to help slow down the progression of MS, in my opinion. I was initially diagnosed with SPMS, and although there are not supposed to be any meds available to battle SPMS, I choose to get RItuxan treatments to try and low MS.

We all have to make our own decisions and I think your's is a good one!

Kyle

[Rassha26]

I read the comments and am forced to think about the choices I made. I was diagnosed with MS in 2012 and decided not to take any drug and manage the symtoms. I'm doing ok without it but have few symtoms like fatigue, numbness tingling very often. The left side of my body has become weak and I convinced myself that with exercise it will become better but by reading above feedback I am convinced to try the new drug Tecfidera recently suggested by my neurologist. I do have to take blood thinner warfarin for the other issues so injection becomes a big ordeal...Welcome any suggestions...

[HVAC]

Understand MS progresses without symptoms. So if you decide to start treating your MS when you are having bad symptoms it may be to late. I do not treat my MS because I have Primary Progressive MS and it does not do as well with the medications.

I am a non drinker, non smoker. I do not use recreational drugs. I have a great diet and exercise. I have had MS for over 40 years. A few years back I was eating lots of kale, spinach, you name it. I started throwing up all the time. I had stage 4 Cancer. I have Cancer in 15 places. Diet and exercise did not help. I have bad genetics. The same with MS. I think everyone should be healthy but sometimes diet and exercise are not the whole thing. Now I need chemo.

We all make our choices with health care make sure you know the truth. When you get to the wheelchair it may be too late for Tecfidera. You need to slow the progression in the beginning of MS.

Alex

[Omar0814]

Hi,


    I am 37 years old, I have MS which I was diagnosed in 2011. I don't take any meds, I just changed my diet and started taking vitamins and minerals. I don't really have any symptoms of the disease except for the heavy leg feeling every so often. I do exercise moderately and drink a lot of fresh juices. I feel that you don't/won't need the medication if you are treating your body right, and by that I mean stop eating sugar, dairy, soy, oats, white foods meaning enriched foods. I actually am trying the gluten free diet now, wish me luck. Much luck to you all as well. God bless

[JGODDESS]

Hello  im JGODDESS for short. i was given the  bad  news  of  having MS.Im  not  happy    at all just trying to adjust to all this madness. my face  numbness , being unbalance and  joints hurting as i go up and down stairs. what scares me more then anything , Lord  jesus is  the med my doctor  put me on.TECFIDERA. It cause u  to loose white blood cells, and hot flashes.i have MS but  at the rate  i will inturn get some form of lupus or infection with the  lowering  of my white blood  cells. My meds  are expected to reach me tuesday   and its like  im waiting  for  a skeleton head with cross bones....I want to just  go slow   and not take  no meds  but as i read  here  this ms  will get worser if not treated.the  doctor said ive had at least 10 years already. some words of incouragement  would  go a long way  right about now...SEEKING  some  words to  help me ....

[Lulu54]

Alex has given some good advice.  The one thing I would emphasize again   is perhaps you need to look at a different DMD.  The interferons have the problem with flu like symptoms and depression, and for many people the side effects are worse than the MS.  

Welcome to the group and I hope you stick around and share your experiences and add t o the conversations.
be well, L