---

I got my first infusion of Rituxan on May 29 and received the second September 16. Rituxan is technically not slated for MS as of yet however it’s counterpart Ocrelizumab is its sister that will be coming out in 2017. What this drug does is it knocks out all the B-cells one of your immune fighting cells. I’ve been on just about all of the MS therapy drugs at some point or other except for the newer ones that have come out in the last five years. I have been on Avonex, Beraseron, Rebif, Copaxone, Gilenya and Tysabri.  Each drug in some way some how affects your immune system. The newer drugs all have different but similar functions.Extavia another interferon injectable similar to Betaseron. Plegridy another injectable that works as a “plegylated” interferon but attaches to the molecules and lasts longer in the body reducing dosing frequency. Zinbryta which inhibits certain inflammatory functions of the T-cells and increasing important immune cells that help regulate the Immune system. Lemtrada and an oral drug Aubagio both inhibit the function of specific immune cells. Lemtrada removes the T-cells from the immune system completely. There is Tecfidera another oral also inhibiting the immune system. Finally there is Novantrone which has been around for some time for MS and also inhibits the immune system by suppressing the T-cells. See any pattern here?

I’ve been on these drugs for 18 years but don’t remember feeling like this yes I know Rituxan is more immune suppressant then let’s say Betaseron and probably even Tysabri but wow, this is just a teeny, tiny cold. I have a cold and I feel lethargic and heavy and overall knocked out. I didn’t even exercise today and for me that is something major. I honestly just feel lousy. I am not really sneezing or sniffling. I’m not even that stuffy but I feel like there is a large weight over every piece of my body. God help me if I get the flu. I was on tysabri for 18 months and I don’t recall feeling like this, Betaseron for 12 years and Gilenya for 3+. All I know is I’m happy I have the ability to be able to rest on my couch for the afternoon. I guess the lack of B-cells mean something. Maybe I feel like this because all the other immune fighting cells are working double hard to fight the cold, but wouldn’t it have been the same with tysabri and the T-cells? They all shores the immune system some way, right? I just looked up every drug.  Ok well I better start taking better care of myself and my immune system so this doesn’t happen to often. I feel like my ass got kicked. Ouch.

However on a happy and thankful note, my date last night took me out to get me soup.