How one woman has embraced her life after relapsing multiple sclerosis diagnosis

(BPT) - When Vivian Wexler first began experiencing fatigue, weakness, and numbness in her legs and tremors in her hands, she attributed it to stress. Why wouldn’t it be stress-related? At the time, she was a corporate attorney at a large law firm—a position that came with 18-hour days and a demanding work load. Though her gut told her that something more serious was going on—she even researched the possibility of multiple sclerosis (MS)—she ignored her symptoms, delayed doctors’ visits and testing, and prioritized her work meetings. Vivian was too busy and too stressed out for it to be anything more.

“I cancelled three MRIs for work despite what was happening with my body,” Vivian says. “I consistently made excuses for my symptoms. When I had problems balancing on my ankles and collapsed while walking with my husband and friends, I blamed it on my lack of physical activity. After all, work had consumed my life so I hadn’t been able to exercise. When I had vision issues in my left eye, I assumed it was a migraine.”

After finally going to the doctor and having an MRI, Vivian was diagnosed with relapsing MS and became one of the estimated 2.3 million people worldwide living with the disease—a chronic, often disabling condition affecting the central nervous system.Approximately 85 percent of people are initially diagnosed with relapsing MS, which is the most common form of the disease. Over the past 50 years, the incidence of MS in women, just like Vivian, has steadily increased, and today women are two to three times more likely to develop MS than men.Symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe, ranging from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision.

Vivian experienced many of these symptoms. After her relapsing MS diagnosis at age 31, she realized it was time for her to reevaluate her life and put her health on the front burner. “I felt like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I knew I would be better for all of the lifestyle changes I had decided to make,” says Vivian. As a first step, Vivian shifted her career path and took a job as a counselor at a prestigious law school. Her new lease on life has empowered her to share her vast career experiences with the next generation of lawyers following in her footsteps.

Today, Vivian mentors those who have been recently diagnosed with relapsing MS. Through her large network of colleagues, friends, and family members, she is regularly connected with new members of the MS community to serve as a point of contact for anyone who is living with the disease. Vivian is embracing her new lifestyle by spreading positive energy to those around her.

To others living with relapsing MS, Vivian says, “You are the architect of your own experience with the disease. MS is not an ‘oh’ moment, it is an ‘okay I will deal with this’ moment. It’s not a label, it’s a circumstance.”

Vivian lives in the suburbs of Boston with her husband and twin girls. She is currently being treated with TYSABRI^® (natalizumab). TYSABRI is a prescription medication used to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS. TYSABRI can slow the worsening of symptoms common in people with MS and can decrease the number of relapses. TYSABRI increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Vivian continues to work with her doctor to evaluate whether the benefits of TYSABRI outweigh the risks. Vivian is a spokesperson for Biogen.

Individual results with TYSABRI will vary. Talk to your doctor, or visit www.TYSABRI.com to learn more.

Indication

TYSABRI® (natalizumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to slow the worsening of symptoms common in people with MS and to decrease the number of flare-ups (relapses). TYSABRI increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). When starting and continuing treatment with TYSABRI, it is important to discuss with your doctor whether the expected benefit of TYSABRI is enough to outweigh this risk.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

TYSABRI increases your risk of getting a rare brain infection—called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)—that usually leads to death or severe disability.

There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML.

You should not take certain medicines that weaken your immune system at the same time you are taking TYSABRI. Even if you use TYSABRI alone to treat your MS, you can still get PML.

Your risk of getting PML is higher if you:

have received TYSABRI for a long time, especially for longer than 2 years

have received certain medicines that can weaken your immune system before you start receiving TYSABRI

have been infected by the John Cunningham Virus (JCV). Before or while you receive TYSABRI, your doctor may do a blood test to check if you have been infected by JCV. JCV is a common virus that can cause PML in people who have weakened immune systems, such as people taking TYSABRI.

Your risk of getting PML is greatest if you have all 3 risk factors listed above. There may be other risk factors that have not yet been identified.

Patients who are anti-JCV antibody negative are still at the risk for the development of PML due to the potential for a new JCV infection or a false negative test result. Therefore, patients with a negative test result should be retested periodically.

While you receive TYSABRI, and for 6 months after you stop receiving TYSABRI, it is important that you call your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening medical problems (such as problems with your thinking, eyesight, balance, or strength; weakness on 1 side of your body; and using your arms and legs) that have lasted several days. Tell all of your doctors that you are getting treatment with TYSABRI.

Because of your risk of getting PML while you receive TYSABRI, TYSABRI is available only through a restricted distribution program called the TOUCH® Prescribing Program.

If you have PML or are allergic to TYSABRI or any of its ingredients, you should not receive TYSABRI.

Before receiving TYSABRI, it is important to tell your doctor:

If you have a medical condition that can weaken your immune system, such as HIV infection or AIDS, leukemia or lymphoma, organ transplant, or others, or if you have any new or worsening medical problems that have lasted several days.

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TYSABRI can harm your unborn baby or if the TYSABRI that passes into your breast milk can harm your baby.

About all of the medicines and supplements you take, especially medicines that can weaken your immune system. If you are not sure, ask your doctor.

TYSABRI can cause serious side effects. If you have any of the symptoms listed below, call your doctor right away:

Infection of the brain or the covering of your brain and spinal cord (encephalitis or meningitis) caused by herpes viruses that may lead to death. Symptoms include sudden fever, severe headache, or confusion.

Liver damage Symptoms of liver damage include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), unusual darkening of the urine, nausea, feeling tired or weak, or vomiting.

Allergic reactions (e, hives, itching, trouble breathing, chest pain, dizziness, wheezing, chills, rash, nausea, flushing of skin, low blood pressure), including serious allergic reactions (eg, anaphylaxis). Serious allergic reactions usually happen within 2 hours of the start of the infusion, but they can happen any time after receiving TYSABRI.

Weakened immune system. TYSABRI may increase your risk of getting an unusual or serious infection.

The most common side effects of TYSABRI are:

Headache, urinary tract infection, lung infection, pain in your arms and legs, vaginitis, stomach- area pain, feeling tired, joint pain, depression, diarrhea, rash, and nausea. If you experience any side effect that bothers you or does not go away, tell your doctor.

These are not all of the possible side effects of TYSABRI. For more information, ask your doctor. To report side effects to FDA, please call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, and Patient Medication Guide at www.tysabri.com or call 1-800-456-2255. Vivian is a patient spokesperson for Biogen.