Rochelle
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Rochelle’s first symptom occurred in 2013 when she got out her car, slipped on the snow, and several days later her whole right side was not functioning and started tingling. After a hospital trip, numerous tests and scans, and medication, her symptoms disappeared. Five years later, Rochelle lost control of the left side of her body, stumbled into the wall, and had trouble writing. She was admitted to the hospital where she again underwent many tests but did not receive a diagnosis. Her symptom of walking at a slower pace stuck with her this time and she soon was diagnosed when she was 42 with multiple sclerosis by a specialist.
Rochelle had a good experience participating in a clinical study that aimed to assess the benefits of taking vitamins along with her treatment medication. Rochelle was asked to take one vitamin every day and go to a medical facility for blood work roughly every three months for a year. The researchers also performed some tests on Rochelle, such as sticking her with a safety pin to see if she felt it and assessing her walking and bodily movement. The clinical trial also gave Rochelle the opportunity to ask her doctor, who also ran the study, any questions that she had.
Rochelle’s primary motivation for participating in the study was to learn some more about multiple sclerosis, specifically what she can do, what she cannot do, and what she needs to do. While Rochelle never received information back regarding her individual health response to taking the vitamins, she did get individual test results back. At the end of the study, Rochelle went in to do blood work, an MRI, and a physical where she was asked to walk, jump, and do different obstacles on which she was graded. Rochelle feels that the study had a nice, problem-free ending which she is glad and thankful for. She hopes that her participation in this study benefits somebody. Rochelle feels like the vitamins were beneficial for her and plans on continuing to take the vitamins for the foreseeable future.
Rochelle explains why she started seeing a trial doctor for primary care.
Rochelle explains why she started seeing a trial doctor for primary care.
She's getting ready to be my primary care. Since the study is over, I'll be going to her for primary care now. And I didn't have a primary care. I went to [INSTITUTION]. I had a primary care over there. But now I'm just going to go straight to Dr. [NAME] now, starting in April.
And what led to that decision?
Just that I trust her more. She tells me more information that definitely benefits me and helps me. No matter what I ask her, she's always told me what I need to know. And she always lets me know what I need to know. Just to help me to go farther and do better. So, I just trust her, with my health and everything. So, I feel more comfortable going with her. I couldn't wait to ask her if I could continue to go with her—I mean, go to her. So now I'm glad I'm able to go to her full time.
Rochelle talks about her final clinical trial visit.
Rochelle talks about her final clinical trial visit.
Well, I came and did the blood—well, I had to do the blood work. I did an MRI, did the blood work. Then they just came in and I had to do a physical. It's like a physical where you walk, jump. And then you do different obstacles. And then they just grade you and everything. And then I talked to Dr. [NAME]. So, it was good. It was a nice ending. I didn't have problems at all. And I hope it benefits somebody. Hope it benefits everybody. Everything checked out for me, which I'm glad and thankful about.
Rochelle decided to continue seeing the doctor from the trial.
Rochelle decided to continue seeing the doctor from the trial.
So, who else is part of your care team now? So, you have Dr. [NAME], and then who else do you see that is taking care of you?
That's it. That's the only person. She's getting ready to be my primary care. Since the study is over, I'll be going to her for primary care now. And I didn't have a primary care. I went to [INSTITUTION]. I had a primary care over there. But now I'm just going to go straight to Dr. [NAME] now, starting in April.
And what led to that decision?
Just that I trust her more. She tells me more information that definitely benefits me and helps me. No matter what I ask her, she's always told me what I need to know. And she always lets me know what I need to know. Just to help me to go farther and do better. So, I just trust her, with my health and everything. So, I feel more comfortable going with her. I couldn't wait to ask her if I could continue to go with her—I mean, go to her. So now I'm glad I'm able to go to her full time.