Jennie's MS Journey

I was given a few options for treatment but the most efficacious drug was called Tysabri. It is a once a month infusion. It has done amazing things for those with MS even restoring mobility in certain individuals who had lost it. I opted for this drug. I was warned though. There is a blackbox warming for a risk of a fatal brain infection called PML. The risk is under 1 percent if you are negative for the John Cunningham Virus. This virus exists in a large percentage of the population, maybe up to 80 percent. When you take immune modulating drugs this virus is more prevalent, and the virus seems to be an indicator of PML. So every 2-3 months you are blood tested and every 6 months MRI’s are given to try and detect PML before symptoms present. If you become positive then the risk goes up. Many people on this drug eventually turn positive. After 2 years your risk factor also goes up. These are all risks that I took because the alternative was just as scary. Never fun making any choice like this especially when considering I have three young girls counting on me. I figured the risk was relatively small and the doctors told us the risk of getting another lesion in the spine causing irreversible damage was relatively high.