I’m not a morning person by design, and on weekends, sleeping in is expected. But since I started my MS treatment, Saturdays are extra slow around here because it’s my day to recover from the side effects from the Avonex shot I gave myself on Friday night.
For those of you who don’t know, Avonex side effects are most commonly described as “flu-like symptoms.” Aches and pains, fatigue, fever and chills, etc., usually associated with the flu, all expected to wear off after about 24 hours. So, like most Avonex users, I take my shot before going to bed and try to sleep off the side effects.
Some Saturdays are easier for me than others–it depends on what else has been going on. How tired I am in general, what I’ve been eating, what time of the month it is (I really think PMS makes it worse), or if I have a cold, am hung over, etc.
The last couple weekends weren’t so bad–I went for walks and worked up a sweat at yoga–but today my energy level is way low and I’m achy, like I’ve been worked over with a rolling pin. My skin is prickly, especially on the tops of my forearms and hands. I can’t make a solid fist with my left hand–which isn’t something I can totally blame on the side effects, but I think it’s worse today than it was yesterday. It’s often hard to tell the difference between side effects and my regular MS symptoms until Sunday, when the effects are supposed to have worn off.
So, right now, I’m hoping that I feel better tomorrow. It often happens that way, where it’s like the clouds of my Saturday side effects part for clear skies on Sunday. But, as much as I try to predict it, I can’t.
Anyone else out there on Avonex or know somoene who is? I think my side effects are pretty typical and I’ve heard they can go away completely over time, but I’d like to hear others’ experiences.
