My daughter has been on Gilenya for almost month and half now..the daily copaxone needles had built up so much scar tissue damage that she wasn doing the daily dose for yrs...only doing about 3 times wkly, so was having more and more relapses.

There is a lot to know about these drugs before beginning on them, that is for sure, and while there are now 3 different pill form treatments* that i'm aware of, Gilenya is the oldest now..I think about 3 or so yrs....and so from reviewing, we found it to have the least amount of side effects, etc....

U have to get bloodtests, eyetests, ECG, etc...to begine it, and go to a medical centre where they start U on this, as they have to monitor U(heart rate, etc. for about 6 1/2 hrs. and ecg at beginning and end of session..this is only for the very 1st pill..as it can raise your heart rate, etc...)  but all went fine.

for the first whole month my daughter(34) had some nauseous side effects...and losing abit of hair(but had the hair loss with the copaxone too)...after that..the nauseaousness is gone.

 Have to have 3 month bloodwork checkup...for liver etc...and another eye checkup....and monthly blood pressure taking for first 3 months.

We are praying that this drug will work..and do what is it supposed to, without anymore side effects...so that she will have barely any if any relapses...She was in hospital last 3 winters with MS flareups...BAD.

My daughter had the CCSVI procedure 3 yrs ago and it totally changed her life...going from sheelchair, scooter...almost blind, and so much hair loss...to being able to dance...walk and run...see things clearly and the colors...breath deeper, etc...but now needs it again, as they say the veins close again a lot of times and U may need a 2nd procedure to help stay open., the problem is the great expense of having it done.  We're hoping to have a fundraiser so she can again experience what every normal person takes for granted....and have her life back...and any expert advice on having a fundraiser would be greatly appreciated...so much.  we live in Calgary, Alberta.

Again, it is not fair for our Canadian Govt not to approve this veinography if the patient has MS...we know so many MSers who have had the operation...and some a second time..including a brother of mine...and their outcomes were great!...Good luck to U all out there....and if U can't do the needles anymore...the Gilenya is worth trying...definitely....as long as U have the support of a doc and MS nurses.