I had smooth sailing on my Ocrevus infusion day

Where does the time go? Six months had passed since my last treatment, which meant it was time for another.

After my August 2022 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), I was given only one option for treatment: Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), which is a disease-modifying therapy that’s used to slow the progression of MS.

I recently had a blood test and an MRI scan. The bloodwork showed no significant issues, except that I have low vitamin D levels. I’ll need to take more supplements to correct them. The MRI results aren’t available yet, but I’m interested in seeing them because it’s the first scan I’ve had since starting treatment.

The day before my infusion appointment, I’d gone shopping for some snacks and drinks in preparation for what could be a long day. Treatment usually takes me about six hours.

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Treatment day

My day starts early when I’m being treated: I’m up at 6:45 a.m. and ready to leave the house by 7:30. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the hospital before my scheduled start time of 8:30.

After I was taken into the infusion room, members of my care team listened to my chest to ensure everything was OK to start. That’s when things got a little tense. I’ve had a lump on my back since I was a teenager, but the MS nurse noticed that it seemed to have grown a bit since my last visit, so they decided to call a doctor to check it. Better safe than sorry!

A doctor looked at the lump and was happy to find it didn’t seem serious. He sent a referral to a dermatologist to double-check his impressions, but at this point the nurse was given the green light to begin my treatment. After my team checked my blood pressure and inserted my cannula, it was time to start.

I’m lucky with my hospital here in the U.K. During the day, it makes sure coffee, tea, and biscuits are always available. The company is always good, and I enjoy chatting with the members of my infusion team, as well as other MS warriors who are there.

A rash appearing on my head was apparently a slight reaction to the infusion. The nurse monitored it, and thankfully, the rash dissipated quickly. After six hours, the treatment was finished, and it was time to head home.

In the evening, I had the giggles. It didn’t matter what anyone said, I simply couldn’t stop laughing at everything. Perhaps it was because I was tired, or maybe it was because of the steroids I was administered. My chortles must have been quite entertaining for those around me.

Going in for treatment always leaves me feeling optimistic for several reasons, with the biggest being hope. As much as I know that MS treatment isn’t a cure, I believe that the possibility of slowing the disease’s progression is a chance to continue living my life in my own way, without ceding control to MS.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.