September means that it is time for my annual check up with the neurologist. The visits always follow the same format - he runs through all the things that I might be having trouble with (speech, swallowing, bladder, bowels)... we discuss any relapses (and associated courses of steroids in the last twelve months)... I complain about the things that are really bothering me - memory difficulties, numb hand, modafinil keeping me awake.
He suggested to me that on the topic of waking early in the morning that this could have other causes than the drugs... depression for example. I pointed out that I had suffered from depression, knew what it was like and categorically could confirm that wasn't currently one of my problems.
He also commented on my crutches (rather than the one stick) I told him it helped me balance better and meant I could get around faster - he did agree with this when I was leaving!
We then had the usual conversation where he tries to get me to take Tysabri and I refuse. I know heaps of people take it and it sometimes works for them but the one in however many thousand risk of the brain disease is too much for me to worry about. He then went on to suggest a different solution - a chemo drug I think it was which has a one in something hundred risk of causing leukaemia or heart disease. I did comment that this risks were even worse and that I'd stick with my Avonex for now.
I was a bit depressed at the end to hear that my EDSS score has gone up to 6.5 which is a half a point increase since this time last year.
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