I started my Betaseron treatment about two weeks ago and I have to say I am very pleased about the way it's going so far.
I'm only up to the .5 dose so far but the side effects are much easier to deal with than I expected. Hopefully this will be true when I get up to the full dose.
Also the needles are so small I hardly feel the injections. The worrying leading up to the start of treatment was way worse than the actual treatment itself.
I hope I don't sound like a commercial for betaseron but maybe this will help someone trying to decide on treatment.

My question is what do I do now?
I was just diagnosed a few months ago. For those taking medication, how long until you noticed results?
How often do you get MRI's, every 6 months, once a year?
Are there any websites I should check out for alternative treatments?


Any info is very much appreciated.

Klos, congratulations for tkaing the first step in controlling your MS. Each doctor is going to tell you slightly differnt info on how often you should be seen/ MRI'ed etc. But for the most part, I would say that your doctor wil probably want an MRI 6 months after you started the medicine...please keep in mind, Interfereon's can take up to 6 months to really start to work in your system, so although you feel good, and thats GREAT, you might not be doing much at only week 2 and on such a low dose...usually, until you hit full dose, the symtoms DO NOT Kick in. When, or IF they do, youll know it!!

6 months after you start the medicine, he will proablay want an MRI and then to see you to discuss how things are going. Personally, I had 3 relapses in a row my first 2 months on my medicine, however, when it came MRI time, I had excellent results...it just took alittle longer for me to really have it start working. Youll have another MRI at 6 more months, and then more than likely go to once a year, unless you have a significant change in the middle.

You dont want to be playing with alternative treatments, now that you have made the Betaseron committment. STay on your meds for 6 months and evaluate how it is working for you..then, if you are really unhappy, talk to your doctor about alternative routes or getting off the Beta and onto something else. There are other, approved meds which you have not been on. ALternative is great to use if you dont go traditional....but you already did, so give it a chance.

You might really read carefully the threads in here about supplements, and diet. I think that adding anti-inflamatory supplements and increasing your fish oil and Omega 3s is always a heart healthy thing to do and will not affect your Betaseron. Just be careful not to fall prey to any of the quackier diets you can find online....remember if there was a cure, there wouldnt be 400,000 of us walking around with this disease!
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