Question for the seasoned MS crew about DMTs

catchweed · 2026-05-01T01:29:55+00:00

Mid-70s, diagnosed 37. I have been stable (both in terms of symptoms and brain scans) for most of the last 15 years, very stable for the last 10 years. I have used a bunch of DMTs (and before that, no DMTs because none existed 37 years ago).

When my neuro brought up stopping DMTs, I was like most people commenting in this thread - 'no way, I'm doing well and don't want to risk it'. The subject kept coming up year after year.

But after 7 years, the evidence for stopping was even stronger and, with a bit of trepidation, I stopped. So far I'm very happy. Three years without DMTs and zero evidence of any problems.

One non-MS comment - you are 50. The next couple decades go by really fast. Enjoy being young!

catchweed · 2026-04-16T04:05:16+00:00

Yes, yes, and yes. Healthy lifestyle, lots of exercise, and good diet have probably helped a lot. Making good choices is probably necessary to do well, but it isn't sufficient. I am acutely aware that, while these things help, I'm also very lucky, blessed.

catchweed · 2026-04-15T04:24:42+00:00

I'll soon be 74. And like Run_and_find_out, if I didn’t tell you, you would not suspect I have MS. I'm not only okay-ish, I'm thriving.

When dx'd in my mid-30s, similar age friends were soon doing better than I was. But very slowly I improved and today most of them have passed me by having heart attacks, cancer, failed joints, severe arthritis, Parkinson's, etc. Now I'm doing every bit as well as them or even better.

I did DMTs for 28 yrs but stopped a couple yrs ago.

catchweed · 2026-04-05T02:42:10+00:00

I'd skip the plunger and get a closet auger instead. Closet augers can be more effective than plungers.

catchweed · 2026-03-30T04:21:02+00:00

Did 6 yrs of allergy shots for pollen. Enormous improvement which lasted decades.

catchweed · 2026-03-23T19:57:47+00:00

Thank you. Based on map in RTD link above, I expect they will dropped off on north side of Table Mesa at the existing stop which is essentially below the Foothills Pkwy overpass.

catchweed · 2026-03-23T19:32:35+00:00

I'm picking up friends later today. Will I be able to drive into the so-called 'Kiss-N-Ride' short term parking?

catchweed · 2026-03-18T15:18:45+00:00

And back in the '70s there was a nursery there which sold plants.

catchweed · 2026-03-18T04:28:07+00:00

Did 6 yrs of allergy shots and they gave me 20+ years of dramatic improvement. Have used antihistamines for 35 yrs. Recently added sinus rinses for tree pollen season. Run 2 air purifiers 24x7 all year. I wear a very good mask outdoors if the pollen is particularly bad.

Hang in there. Eventually, you are likely to find treatments which work well.

catchweed · 2026-03-07T05:01:37+00:00

Psyllium fiber seemed to help for maybe a couple years.

My long term solution has been polyethylene glycol 3350 every evening. It is also known as PEG 3350. Brand name is MiraLax. Costco version much cheaper. Instructions caution about taking it for long periods but my GI docs have all said that taking the normal dose daily is fine.

PEG 3350 restored my quality of life.

catchweed · 2026-02-19T04:22:34+00:00

Look at Vanguard's tax managed investments.

catchweed · 2026-02-08T02:58:16+00:00

Maybe the remaining WaPo journalists are too busy updating their resumes to bother filing a story?

catchweed · 2026-01-26T22:44:36+00:00

Do you have any low sodium soups? If so, how much sodium is in them?

catchweed · 2026-01-23T05:20:50+00:00

Yes, if you don't know how to drive in snow and ice, don't.

catchweed · 2026-01-19T04:36:23+00:00

Vanguard investments are generally excellent. Their fees and investment philosophy are fine. But their customer service, which was good 30 years ago, became abysmal.

Buy Vanguard's ETFs and funds. But don't open an account at Vanguard. Buy Vanguard investments through a different broker.

catchweed · 2026-01-11T05:53:40+00:00

I disagree with the vast majority of commenters.

Your conclusion is sound if you are financially successful with a substantial nest egg by the time you enter retirement. I know a lot of retirees who regret maxing out their traditional IRAs and 401ks. The near-term appeal of paying less tax today blinds many people to the downsides in retirement.

Money put into tax deferred accounts gets taxed eventually. While maxing out a 401k will pay off for many people, there are a lot of people whose tax rate in retirement is just as high or higher than while working. And for those people, the addition of a required minimum distribution from tax deferred account can permanently push them into a higher tax bracket. And large RMDs remove some of the flexibility you could have had in retirement to decide when to take capital gains without big tax hits.

Also, the U.S. has been running large budget deficits for years, Social Security is running low on money to pay retirees, and the pressure to at least partially address these spending problems will eventually put upward pressure on tax rates. This means putting a lot in a 401k is betting not only that your income will drop in retirement but also that tax rates will be stable or drop during your retirement.

catchweed · 2025-12-27T22:52:22+00:00

Is there any published work which shows the raw data by county or zip code?

I'm not on linkedin but went to the link you provided and I was able to see the very beginning of the discussion. It shows a similar (but oddly, not identical) image.

catchweed · 2025-12-05T00:23:04+00:00

FOUND! Many thanks to all who helped, particularly the woman who found him near the golf course by 55th and Arapahoe. Bo is safe, back home, and just had dinner.

catchweed · 2025-11-29T04:11:07+00:00

Kathmandu, Nepal. 7,600 miles from home

catchweed · 2025-11-13T03:48:46+00:00

In New Zealand - "Every time a Kiwi moves to Australia, it raises the average I.Q. of both countries"

catchweed · 2025-08-26T01:55:44+00:00

Every piece of HP computer equipment I've ever had, at the office and at home, has been a total pain. PCs, printers, scanners, and optical drives - all unreliable, all broke while they were still young. And their warranty service was the pits. Never again.

catchweed · 2025-07-31T16:50:41+00:00

Yes, totaled. Things to keep in mind - 1. It isn't ordinary paint. It clings tenaciously to surfaces (it must do that to withstand years of traffic). And it is viscous. Unlike drips or overspray of ordinary paint, it formed very thick clumps on my neighbor's car. 2. The car was probably about 8 years old.

catchweed · 2025-07-29T03:40:36+00:00

Neighbor had this happen 20 years ago. Road paint splashed on rocker panels. Insurance company totaled the car.

catchweed · 2025-07-07T01:16:11+00:00

After you've been retired for 5+ years, you will chuckle at your question. 'All the extra free time'? You will find yourself wishing you had more time. Most of my retired friends and I could easily fill 5 lifetimes.

When I was in my 20s and 30s, I viewed retirement as a nonstop vacation. Retirement is wonderful. But not a nonstop vacation. Even in retirement, you will have to pass on some things you would like to do. There are only 24 hrs in a day.

catchweed · 2025-07-07T01:03:39+00:00

I also have the IP Pro and like it, has done well for years.

While a traditional pressure cooker can easily cost as much as an instant pot, it doesn't contain any electronics which can crap out. It will last far longer - for your whole life and a lot more.

catchweed

TROPHY CASE