purple2067

My neurologist had said that there isn't a problem transitioning from Interferons like Rebif to Tysabri. They would just have to give it enough time to make sure that the Interferon is out of your system before giving you the Tysabri.

I have the port because I have terrible veins. It is almost impossible to start an IV on me. It is a small catheter that is in my chest, below my clavicle. It is totally under the skin, and not visible but for a small bump. (and a huge scar where my surgeon cut me!) I have had it in since February. I was supposed to start the Tysabri in January. I was going to be one of the first patients in my doctor's office to get it. What a blessing that I didn't get it, because he was going to allow me to continue using my Avonex (I have since switched to Rebif) along with the Tysabri. Nobody knew any better. I went to the doctor's office in January to get my first Tysabri infusion and they could NOT get an IV started on me. Three different nurses tried. I have very very very deep, thin, squiggly veins. They ALWAYS have major problems starting IVs on me. In fact, when I was in the hospital last year for my first ever round of steroid treatment, they had to start a central line in my neck. So, the nure in the doctor's office said that the only way I could get the Tysabri was to have a port put in. So I decided that I really wanted the Tysabri, and I had the surgeon who took out my gallbladder insert a port-a-cath, as they are sometimes called, in my chest. I was all excited that in a few weeks, after I healed, I would be able to start Tysabri. Then, exactly two days after my surgery they pulled Tysabri from the market. I cried hysterically. I thought I had gone through this surgery for nothing. My surgeon said he absolutely would not even consider removing it, because it was too much of a problem to put in, and what if I ever needed some other kind of IV medication? Well, he was right. It came in VERY handy when I needed IV solu-medrol treatment in May.

So basically, Wobbley, a port is just a way to get instant access to my veins without having to stick me a billion times. It is a small catheter that is basically creating a pathyway to my jugular vein. They use a special needle and the medicine goes into me through the port in my chest rather than an IV in my arm.