Avonexiversary
Tomorrow I have an all-day appt at UCSF MS Center, my M15 visit: 15 months as a participant in the study. As of Jan. 24, I will have been on Avonex for twelve months - 50 sticks as of last Friday (tomorrow will be 51), mostly in a thigh muscle (alternating left and right), though the first few months I wussed out and had the nurse up at the health center inject into the upper gluteus maximus (or the gluteus medius, depending on her aim). I have no feelings or opinions about the efficacy of the study drug (if indeed I am on it). I'm in it for the Avonex.
Tomorrow will suck, I predict. At the last visit, they neglected to do the multifocal electroretinography (ERG) test, in which they place a contact lens/electrode on your EYEBALL and compel you to stare at flashing checkerboard patters for upwards of thirty minutes per eye. I suspect that, though I'm scheduled to take only the multifocal visual evoked potentials (VEP) test tomorrow (much less invasive), they may cram in the ERG test as well. "As long your eyes are dilated, All, why not?" It's awful, such suffering!, it's torture, the angels weep, even if one does look like a steampunk dandy wearing an electrode monocle....
Afterward I plan to come home and drink wine while watching Brief Encounter and eating chocolate and madeleines. Oh and administering injection #51.
Tomorrow will suck, I predict. At the last visit, they neglected to do the multifocal electroretinography (ERG) test, in which they place a contact lens/electrode on your EYEBALL and compel you to stare at flashing checkerboard patters for upwards of thirty minutes per eye. I suspect that, though I'm scheduled to take only the multifocal visual evoked potentials (VEP) test tomorrow (much less invasive), they may cram in the ERG test as well. "As long your eyes are dilated, All, why not?" It's awful, such suffering!, it's torture, the angels weep, even if one does look like a steampunk dandy wearing an electrode monocle....
Afterward I plan to come home and drink wine while watching Brief Encounter and eating chocolate and madeleines. Oh and administering injection #51.