The Crista Love Project

I am the kind of patient that looks up results of all of my bloodwork, radiology and MRI reports - I want to be prepared for any and everything and the only way to prepare for a visit with my neurologist, I have to be armed with facts and figures. Sooooo, before I had my 1st full Ocrevus infusion, I had some blood work done and let me tell you something, AI is my friend. I wanted to share this with you:

My Google search came straight from my lab reports. I selected only the labs that were deemed "abnormal". My google search was:

"CD3 % (Mature T Cells) = 90, CD4 % (Helper Cells) = 70, CD19 % (B Cells) = 0 in MS and ITP patient"

This is the results:

Based on the laboratory values provided in a patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), the results are highly indicative of a profound, effective B-cell depletion therapy.

Here is a breakdown of the results:
CD19+ B Cells = 0%: This is the most significant finding. In the context of MS and ITP, this indicates that B-cell depleting therapies (such as Ocrelizumab/Ocrevus, Rituximab/Rituxan, or Ofatumumab/Kesimpta) are working optimally, destroying the B cells (CD19+) that are driving the autoimmune processes.

CD3+ T Cells = 90%: This percentage is slightly higher than the typical normal range (55-80% or 65-88%). Because CD19+ B cells are reduced to 0%, the total lymphocyte count is composed almost entirely of T cells (CD3), making their percentage appear high (relative lymphocytosis of T-cells).

CD4+ Helper T Cells = 70%: While this seems high, it is a percentage of total lymphocytes. As long as the absolute count of CD4 cells is in a safe range, this is common when B cells are depleted.

Clinical Interpretation
Treatment Efficacy: The therapy is effectively removing CD19+ B cells. Low/absent CD19+ B-cell counts are associated with improved clinical outcomes (reduced MS relapse rates and stabilized platelet counts).

Immune Surveillance: While 0% CD19 is the goal of B-cell therapy, it also means a temporary loss of humoral immunity (antibody production). The patient should be monitored for infection risk.

No Immediate Need for Action: It is common for MS patients on high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to have
levels at or near 0.

When I say that I am more than happy that I made the change from Tysabri to Ocrevus. Now, if I could just reverse some of the challenges that I experience with memory, fatigue and pain, I would be winning at life!!

I shared all of this to say - ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF. Learn about your laboratory and radiology findings - BE AWARE AND BE PREPARED.

One of the hardest aspects of living with an autoimmune disease is the notion that you are lazy because you do not act like a “normal” person. MS often robs you of the energy and mental clarity to function, on a daily basis. That’s why it is so easy to sit in front of tv and binge watch shows or doomscroll for hours and hours on end. We lose track of time because we are trapped in this cycle of pain and fatigue. Being called lazy is so mentally draining and hurtful because you really want to do something or have the plan and intentions of doing something but you don’t have enough energy to get it done. It makes life so challenging for a spouse or partner - they don’t really understand what is happening with you, they just see the person they love doing less and less while they have the chore of picking up the slack. Autoimmune disease is brutal on patients but doubly worse for relationships.
God bless the caregivers, partners and spouses. We value you, we appreciate you and know that you are so loved! 💕

Hilarious 😂

After your boy Kendrick Lamar sn**ch another Grammy awards at the 2026 GRAMMYs Fat Joe had some litttle sheet to say. Fat Joe tweeted and said "I heard that now Kendrick Lamar is the most awarded Rapper at the GRAMMYs surpassing Jay-Z. I am not mad at that but seems like this ninja is just being being handed out awards even though he doesn't deserve them. It's really sad to watch the game being killed like that where new talent doesn't get recognized!"

Kendrick Lamar saw Fat Joe's tweet and replied with "Maybe during your prime if you didn't focus on making it rain and actually writing meaningful rap lyrics, you might have leaned back on a few grammys of your own."