At the Weill Cornell MS Center, intravenous medications are administered Monday through Friday on varied schedules by a group of experienced and compassionate nurses: I am Oasia, one of the regulars. Welcome. I'll greet you when you arrive, tell you all about your day, and answer your questions (the more philosophical, the better). The Weill Cornell MS Center provides comprehensive care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), optic neuritis, and other autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system. The center delivers the latest diagnostic and therapeutic services, offering individualized care, including neurological consultations, on-site infusions, nursing care, and mental health support.
Time in “The Suite” is as short as one hour or as long as seven in one day. For some, it’s time to work, and for others, time to nap. I liken it to a layover: you eat your snacks, play with your phone, and peek out of the windows while in the company of strangers. The infusion room at the Weill Cornell MS Center is more than just a place for treatment; it's a community. Patients often share experiences, offer support, and exchange tips on managing their condition. The center also prioritizes mentorship and trains fellows, nurses, medical students, and graduate students for careers in research or clinical care and the ever important: the finding of The Vein.
What you will learn in this room is that MS is just a thing, and it can be managed. The diagnosis of MS is based on the McDonald criteria, relying on MRI detection of demyelinating lesions in the CNS, distributed in space and time.
Treatment for MS aims to slow the progression of the disease, manage symptoms, and improve the patient's quality of life. The Weill Cornell MS Center offers a range of treatments, including disease-modifying therapies, medications to manage specific symptoms, and rehabilitation services. Television and movies would have us believe that a diagnosis means one will immediately lose all mobility and end up in a wheelchair. Some people do end up in chairs; most people do not. People with MS do everything people without do, so have your glass of wine, take that vacation, read that book!
Living with MS involves managing symptoms and maintaining a good quality of life. The Weill Cornell MS Center emphasizes a holistic approach, addressing not only the physical but also the emotional and psychological aspects of the condition.
Strengthening the mind-body connection is crucial for people with MS. Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and maintaining a healthy diet can significantly improve mental and physical well-being. The Weill Cornell MS Center supports this holistic approach by integrating mental health support into its comprehensive care model.
The key is management, being consistent in your treatment and lifestyle. Most people will educate themselves on various forms of the mind/body connection and stress relief and introduce changes that are positive all around, in general but often after diagnosis. Managing MS symptoms daily involves several strategies, including making accommodations to reduce daily demands, balancing body temperature, engaging in light movement, and conserving energy. The center's approach includes providing patients with access to clinical trials that test drugs aimed at preventing inflammation and providing neuroprotection.
What I love most about the infusion room is that no matter what type of day anyone is having, or their personality type in general, everyone in the room remembers when they were new. They remember diagnosis, their first treatment. Whenever a new person is in, and in need, that person is ALWAYS embraced by the others, and it is wonderful to see.
Before Covid protocols were implemented, a guest could sit with a person being infused. Once, a patient ‘s VERY serious husband, in response to a newbie’s tears, softly began to sing a popular children’s song. Everyone in the room joined in and by the end, everyone was laughing, and the new patient was much less afraid.
The greatest part of being in the infusion room is the sense of community, the wealth of support and information exchanged (as well as recipes, travel tips and Netflix recommendations). One day you’ll come in, look across the aisle, and see someone who reminds you of you.
Again, Welcome.