To continue on from my last post, I was given a choice in this mess of a health journey, and I will be beginning Ocrevus infusions January 22nd! To say that I am nervous is an understatement; for those unfamiliar with the process involved in these infusions, here is a brief synopsis:
The first dose will be split into 2 sessions, each about 2-4 hours long, to gauge how my body will respond to the medication. After year 1, the infusion will take roughly 6 hours in one sitting that I will receive once every 6 months. Now for the rest of the process:
- To begin, 30-60 minutes prior to receiving Ocrevus, I will be administered allergy medication via IV in order to (hopefully) reduce any infusion reactions. After this, I will be given Solu Medrol Steroids via IV to also assist in easing Ocrevus into my system (if you’re a long-time reader/follower, you know how much I love Solu Medrol *visible eyeroll here*).
- The infusion of Ocrevus will be administered between 2-4 hours; should an infusion reaction occur, this process could take longer to help mitigate any adverse effects.
- 1 hour post-infusion will be dedicated to monitoring me in case any infusion reactions do occur.
What is an infusion reaction?
Infusion reactions can vary from patient to patient, just the way an MS diagnosis does, but the infusion can cause similar feelings to anaphylactic shock, hence the incredibly in depth process to ensure I’m okay before being released.
I’ve undergone multiple days of Solu Medrol infusions over the last decade of my MS journey, so I’m optimistic this will be alright since I don’t need to leave the center with a port in my arm. Small wins!
Since my diagnosis in 2014, I have taken many different types of medications:
I was holding onto the oral pill route for as long as I could, but when the Mavenclad journey became more painful than it was worth, I felt it was time to jump into bigger and better options. Ocrevus is advertised as the “crem de la crem” of medications to calm an MS relapse, so here we are.
I was offered to participate in a clinical trial for a stem cell transplant, but given the potential adverse effects and where I am in life, I opted for the safer route. A 30 day hospital stay and going bald from Chemotherapy I could handle, but the risk of never being able to have children is what made that final decision – I’d like the option!
I’m ready to begin the year on a new, positive foot. I am ready to regain control of my symptoms and get back to the person I was at the beginning of 2024! The last 8 months of 2024 were tumultuous, challenging, a bit dangerous and highly offsetting to my norm. Lessons were learned, but I will carry some of the baggage from my experiences and choices for the remainder of my life.
In 2025, I vow to prioritize my health once again, update this blog for the folks who still read it, and continue to strive for better. I solemnly swear to remain authentic in this journey, and to cultivate a safe space for anyone dealing with a chronic illness (and frankly, anyone who isn’t and just needs a safe space to turn!).
Stay tuned for the next one where I discuss the ways I am preparing for this infusion, whether it be in picking up the right tools for infusion day, choosing a new book to bring, or just remaining as healthy and happy as I possibly can in the interim!
Stay tough readers, we are stronger together.
Chronically Joyful 
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