3.16.2012

No longer a Gilenya virgin

So today I started a new once a day pill called Gilenya. An oral medication that the FDA approved in June of 2011. No more infusions for me!

If your interested in reading more about it, click HERE.

Well anyone who is on it knows you don't get the prescription at a local pharmacy, and you don't just get it in the mail and take one. Nope, you go through a 6 hour observation period at a doctors office or clinic. Why? Because it's supposed to lower your blood pressure after the first dose you take and if anything happens they want you to be right there for emergency care.
Well today started off well. The appointment was at 8am. The room wasn't very big to start off with. No TV, no couch's, no comfy chairs and no recliners. just these narrow tables and chairs.

There were  about 10 people in the room, half of which brought someone else with them.There were box's at each spot for each patient which included printed information on Gilenya and Multiple Sclerosis. It also contained  this lovely canvas tote bag!  If Im not mistaken the same bag can be bought at Home Depot and loaded with masonry tools. Mine, maybe I'll fill it with garden supplies or use it for shopping and cut down on the amount of plastic bags we get here.

After a short lesson on MS and how Gilenya works to block the T cells or what ever it does... Good thing Im not in medical school, I cant follow along with all the medical terminology..It was time to take the first dose. After that it was all just sitting around talking and watching the clock. Think about it as a glorified in-school Saturday suspension. Me, I just mainly played around on my lap top and texted with a few friends on my iphone.

No one had side adverse side effects, or seen colorful rainbows on the walls. There was alot of talking and laughing going on, but Im sure that wasn't from the Gilenya. 2:30pm was our release time and it seemed to come pretty quick. Now if you go 14 days with out a dose, you need to take this day again and start over. Trust me..I'm NOT going to miss 14 days and do this again.

Only time will tell now if I'll benefit from this new drug or not.



1 comment:

  1. I truly hope this drug works for you. I love the orange tote!!

    ReplyDelete