Tysabri


Tysabri, also known as Natalizumab, is a once a month infusion for MS. It works differently than other MS meds by blocking white blood cells from entering the brain and spinal cord of individuals, or across the ‘blood brain barrier’. This is believed by many doctors to be a big factor in the damage caused by MS. Tysabri can cause many side effects, and for some they can be worse than for others. The common side effects are headache, fatigue, joint pain and depression. Often these can be mitigated by taking Tylenol prior to your infusion.
The history of Tysabri has been filled with controversy. After being approved for MS by the FDA, it had to be pulled due to patient deaths due to PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy ). PML is a very rare brain infection that usually leads to death or severe disability. Currently there is no treatment or cure for PML. PML has several risk factors including 1. Being positive for antibodies for the JC Virus 2. Prior use of immune-suppressants 3. Length of time taking Tysabri. The JC Virus is a common virus that many people have antibodies for (50-60% of people). But in individuals who have weakened immune systems, it can lead to PML. Many people still take Tysabri even if they are positive for JC Virus antibodies, that is a very individualized choice that each person has to make on their own. Due to the significant risk factor of PML, a database was created to follow every patient who is taking Tysabri called the TOUCH Program. Prior to a first infusion, an individual and their doctor must register with the program and will be contacted periodically to see how treatment is progressing. Because Tysabri has such a high risk, it was thought of for many years to be a drug that was used when others were not helpful, or as a last resort.
When I was presented with the idea of Tysabri several years ago, it initially scared the crap out of me. The idea that I had progressed to the next ‘level’ of meds, that my MS had become no longer able to be managed on other meds, that my doctor was calling it ‘aggressive’. But in reality it was aggressive. I had 3 relapses in a year and a half. When my doctor described the lesions of the last one he said they ‘aren’t subtle’. That really shook my husband and I. First, before any thoughts about the drug itself, I wanted to know if it was JC positive. That would direct my thoughts. Turns out I wasn’t, (but I keep getting tested every 6 months or so). What was I to do? I researched. A TON. And I found a very interesting trend. In the patient stories I found, they were literally back and forth, good to bad. One person said it was the worst experience of their life, then the next person said it saved their life. I discovered that it would be just like everything else, individualized. There would be no way of telling how I would react. My doctor was strongly recommending that I take it, he went so far as saying if it was his family, he’d feel comfortable telling them to take it.
In September of 2014 I started Tysabri. I can say it has been the best medication for MS I’ve done. The side effect I had most was fatigue. For the first 6-8 months, after the infusion I was EXHAUSTED. Just junk. But eventually that subsided. Now, I am able to have the infusion and go about my day. It is nice not having to think about medication daily. In terms of MS symptom management, I think it helped about 70-80%. I still was feeling pain, numbness and burning. But once I went strict AIP, everything went away 100%. I think Tysabri gave me a boost, then AIP took me the rest of the way.
Obviously there are many risks involved with Tysabri, that I still think about. I still continue to monitor my JC virus status, and if that changes someday then I’ll have to re-evaluate my status with Tysabri. I’m not sure if I’d continue with it if I was ever positive. I know many people do, but I don’t know if I would be comfortable with that. I guess I’ll have to cross that bridge if I ever get there.

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

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If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. 
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis. 

There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.

The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼

🥗Nutrition 
🏋🏻‍♀️Movement
🧘🏻‍♀️Stress management 

Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??

Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!

#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis.

There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.

The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼

🥗Nutrition
🏋🏻‍♀️Movement
🧘🏻‍♀️Stress management

Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??

Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!

#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
...

1 0
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes? 

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true? 

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
...

0 0
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes? 

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true? 

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain
...

10 5
It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel. 

Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Your possibilities are endless! 

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!

#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms

It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel.

Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻‍♀️

Your possibilities are endless!

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!

#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms
...

16 6
Take a time out for a literal minute.

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system. 

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation

Take a time out for a literal minute.

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system.

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation
...

13 1
First year flower garden needed a post. Already looking forward to next summer, maybe a little less yellow? Can’t wait for the zinnias to bloom!
😂🌼💛
What are you growing??

#lissms #cutflowergarden

First year flower garden needed a post. Already looking forward to next summer, maybe a little less yellow? Can’t wait for the zinnias to bloom!
😂🌼💛
What are you growing??

#lissms #cutflowergarden
...

17 0
Thankfully I haven’t heard any of these in a while.. maybe that means I’m getting my point across 🤷🏻‍♀️

But if you’re new here, I value holistic lifestyle medicine (snake oil 😂) but ALSO conventional medicine, I utilize it all after all. 

Yes, what we do as an individual matters for our health.
But so does the health systems we as individuals operate in.

Tomorrow is my MS-aversary, 16 years of having this disease. my newly diagnosed 24 year old self would be pretty shocked that I’m 40 (like in general lol) and also not in a wheelchair.

Here’s to many more years defying what I initially thought to be true about MS.

Comin with me? Hope so. 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #lifewithms

Thankfully I haven’t heard any of these in a while.. maybe that means I’m getting my point across 🤷🏻‍♀️

But if you’re new here, I value holistic lifestyle medicine (snake oil 😂) but ALSO conventional medicine, I utilize it all after all.

Yes, what we do as an individual matters for our health.
But so does the health systems we as individuals operate in.

Tomorrow is my MS-aversary, 16 years of having this disease. my newly diagnosed 24 year old self would be pretty shocked that I’m 40 (like in general lol) and also not in a wheelchair.

Here’s to many more years defying what I initially thought to be true about MS.

Comin with me? Hope so.

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #lifewithms
...

35 4
I’ve tripped a few times in the last few weeks.. nothing crazy, but I noticed.

And I noticed my thoughts… is this a “THING”??

Oh the constant wonderings of an MSer… 
is this a regular life occurrence?
Or is this a new symptom? 😂😂

When was the last time you had this thought process??

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior

I’ve tripped a few times in the last few weeks.. nothing crazy, but I noticed.

And I noticed my thoughts… is this a “THING”??

Oh the constant wonderings of an MSer…
is this a regular life occurrence?
Or is this a new symptom? 😂😂

When was the last time you had this thought process??

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior
...

53 3
When you’re living with MS, it’s not that you don’t want to feel better…

It’s just that life keeps interrupting the plan.
Stress, symptoms, fatigue — they throw you off track.

That’s where support, structure, and accountability change everything.

That’s exactly what my membership is for.
✔️ Evidence-based strategies for MS
✔️ Real community and support
✔️ Gentle consistency that actually works

Only the waitlist is getting access as a Founding Member.

Comment WAITLIST and I’ll send you the link to add your name 

#lissms #MultipleSclerosis #MSwarrior #MSsupport #ChronicIllnessHealing #MScommunity #HolisticHealing #NervousSystemHealing

When you’re living with MS, it’s not that you don’t want to feel better…

It’s just that life keeps interrupting the plan.
Stress, symptoms, fatigue — they throw you off track.

That’s where support, structure, and accountability change everything.

That’s exactly what my membership is for.
✔️ Evidence-based strategies for MS
✔️ Real community and support
✔️ Gentle consistency that actually works

Only the waitlist is getting access as a Founding Member.

Comment WAITLIST and I’ll send you the link to add your name

#lissms #MultipleSclerosis #MSwarrior #MSsupport #ChronicIllnessHealing #MScommunity #HolisticHealing #NervousSystemHealing
...

16 2
But seriously.. this isn’t too far off 😂

Life handed me a lemon that was a MS diagnosis at 24. 
Life handed me a lemon that was multiple relapses and MS progression by 30.

Then I snatched those lemons, made some healing lemonade, and feel night and day different than I did 10 years ago when my symptoms were at their worst. 

I could do it, my clients are doing it, I know you can too.

That’s why I’m so passionate about doing what I do. I know it’s possible for you to feel better in your body and be able to do the things you want to do. 

Like go for a walk or hike with your spouse, say yes to a spontaneous night out with friends or get up and down off the floor playing with your kids. 

That’s why I want to invite you to the waitlist for what I have coming.

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.

Comment WAITLIST below and ill send you the link to join the list 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior #becausems #thisisms #communityheals #mscommunity

But seriously.. this isn’t too far off 😂

Life handed me a lemon that was a MS diagnosis at 24.
Life handed me a lemon that was multiple relapses and MS progression by 30.

Then I snatched those lemons, made some healing lemonade, and feel night and day different than I did 10 years ago when my symptoms were at their worst.

I could do it, my clients are doing it, I know you can too.

That’s why I’m so passionate about doing what I do. I know it’s possible for you to feel better in your body and be able to do the things you want to do.

Like go for a walk or hike with your spouse, say yes to a spontaneous night out with friends or get up and down off the floor playing with your kids.

That’s why I want to invite you to the waitlist for what I have coming.

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.

Comment WAITLIST below and ill send you the link to join the list

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior #becausems #thisisms #communityheals #mscommunity
...

17 2
I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”

Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.

Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.

This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.

I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.

They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄

You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.

If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.. 

BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport

I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”

Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.

Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.

This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.

I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.

They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄

You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.

If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things..

BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport
...

14 3

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