Zero hour came and went

...With little pomp and circumstance. The nurse came at 7 this morning. We went over the instructions and such (just a formality really). The best part was having Julie right by my side the whole time. I couldn't ask for better support than that. The whole thing, while EXTREMELY nerve racking to poke myself with a needle, was really a non-event. It did not hurt hardly at all (much less than arm shots, taking blood, etc.) and certainly the actual medicine delivery did not feel like anything. I was expecting to feel some side-effects today, but with the ibuprofen I've taken, I have no real after-effects that I can tell. About an hour after I was feeling a little tired, but that could have been lack of coffee. My injection site is not sore or anything like that.

Biogen called today and had me call my insurance to verify they were 'moving me along' and they had faxed my Dr. about authorization for the prescription. I called Dr. W's office and they did get that fax so that should go back to the insurance carrier tomorrow. This may be less of a deal than I had expected (let's pray it is).

Anyway, so far so good. I'll inject again next Tuesday evening and then moving to Wednesday nights.

Tomorrow morning...

Well it is 11 and I'm nervous about tomorrow morning and the whole nurse / shot thing. Reality is closing in on me. Anyway, headed to bed, going to take some advil... will let you know how it goes.

The Avonex train is moving

I talked with Biogen (makers of Avonex) today and I will get my 1st shipment tomorrow. Monday the nurse will come to the house to show me how to do the injections. This first month will be a ramp-up to full doses (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, then full doses). I also got in my Vitamin D3 last night. I am starting that as well. So far, nothing noticeable.

New Week

Well my mind is reeling. There is so much I've been reading and talking to others about (as far as treatment). I talked with Kim (a PA friend of mine) yesterday about the solumedrol and he basically said there is little to worry about, certainly in the short run. Take the meds and see what it does for me. He certainly thinks the other can be done, but he explained the benefits of high dose steroids for inflammation and since we are not talking about a long term course, to do it. Anyway, I trust his opinion very much and I think his was the one that has really changed my thinking. His description of the side-effects and such were a great comfort (they aren't as terrible in all likelihood as I had imagined by others' descriptions). I'm going to call my neuro today and see if I can get in to talk to him about the specifics he had in mind.

Beyond that, I have been waking more often with the buzz / vibrations going on in my arms. This morning was no different if even a bit worse. I have no direct comparison to the feeling other than it is a very weak vibrating feel that you couldn't see I don't think if you were looking at the muscle, almost a tingle, but to me that implies a bit of prickly like the feeling when your foot or something is 'waking up' from 'being asleep' which we all have had. The best comparison is what is feels like if your cell phone is ringing (on vibrate) on the bed with you a few inches away. You can feel it, but it is very faint. This morning it was in both of my arms and hands. Very odd indeed.