copaxone yes/no

[Guest guest]

Hi there~ looking for opinions about my meds. Ultimately I have to make the

decision but am interested in any thoughts from you guys as it appears most if

not all of you have ms to a much more serious degree. I've been taking copaxone

now for 2.5 months, not long. Hate the sites left by the shots but not much of

an issue really at this point...ask me in about a year when I've run out of

tissue to poke without a lump~ ugh. My issue is how it sets my system off to

feeling " run down " like with lymph nodes in my neck near the ears, bubble once

or twice a week on my tongue, and afternoon/early evening nausea though only

slight. I don't want to feel crappy all the time, like I'm " coming down with a

virus " or something. Granted it is much less intrusive than the Avonex was, as

it made me feel like I was aging intensely by the day, with my quality of life

suffering terribly.

My quandary comes in the form of the fact that I am not disabled by my ms, not

even sure if it is effecting anything at this point; I am not convinced that my

pain episode and symmetrical tendon issues are a result of the ms (thinking

poly-myalgia); there is a possibility that I may not have any more ms episodes

(only one o-band and a C7 lesion, possible small brain lesions at one time). Is

it really worth the symptoms of the medications? that is what I am struggling

with because it is a quality of life issue that is different from what many of

you are facing and have discussed. For many it would be an improvement to take

the meds and their side effects...for me it is a matter of possible prevention

and not " improvement " . Again, any helpful thoughts would be appreciated as I am

pretty self-absorbed with my crappy feeling issues and may not be seeing things

clearly.

thanks so much

Dee