Feeling ill, Copaxone or MS related ??

HI All

I have not been feeling up to par the last three days.
I started copaxone 9 days ago. and three days ago
after my injections I have started to get the big red raise
welts spots at my injection sites. (at least 3 to 4 inch diameters in size)  
they are staying swollen, sore  and red for about three days at a time.then
go away slowly.
For the first 6 days I had no problems with them.

For the last three days tho I have been having and upset
stomach, a slight head ache up the back of my head and in temples
and a shaky feeling from waist up to chest. and just generally feeling
ill Been having slight eye pain and light sensitivity. very tired too.
also getting slight dizzy sensasion if turnning my head just right.

No fever, still have appetite, no vomiting, no diareah.

Im concerned, as to weather I may be having a reaction to copaxone
OR  if my above symptoms could be a MS flare starting up.

I know some of you may reacall that I am newly dx'd only about 6 weeks
now. and  Im still having a hard time figuring out what is what.
I would sure feel better if I could hear you thoughts on this.

I would call the copaxone nurses again but they keep telling me things like
change you needle level setting, use a warm compact, or ice after ect.
kind of avoided an answer to my question, on the upset stomach.

Waitting to hear ya's                                            Gollie

[jensequitur]

Copaxone didn't cause those kinds of symptoms with me.  You might be coming down with something - check to be sure you don't have a UTI, or the flu.  Or it might be a mini-flare coming on.  I haven't stopped having flares, but so far they've been less severe.

[Heather3418]

As far as your welts and redness...I can assure you, that these will be less and less as time goes by.  My "welts" are now tiny, do not get red or feel "feverish," and the burning upon injection has all but disappeared.

As to your other question, this warrants a call to your doctor and soon.  While I do not believe it's from the Copaxone, I am not a doctor.  I do think you have a virus though.  BUT, you must call your doctor and report what you are feeling.

I will write more later...Just wanted to get this typed to you right away...

Heather

[essdipity]

I agree with the others. What you describe is not likely to be from Copaxone, except for injection site reactions, of course. Mine get less and less (worst in thighs). There are several bugs going around and you may have one of them.

You could be having a flare, though I doubt it. Even if you are, though, the Copaxone hasn't had time to start doing its thing. Take care of yourself and hang in there.

ess

[Heather3418]

One thing I just thought of...make SURE your injector is still set at the same depth as when you FIRST started injecting.  I have mine set on 6.

And as Jen says, you may be having a slight flair-up of the MS.  I still wouldn't take any chances and place a call to your doctor.  Better safe than sorry.

Hope you feel better soon,
Heather

[Deb61]

I just started my injections on Friday.  I've been having huge injection site reactions, which the visiting nurse saw, and says are pretty normal.  She told me (like the others Ess and Heather said) that these will get better.  

I've not had the nausea or dizziness (or headache).  I've also not been taking it as long as you yet, though.  I can tell you that I feel "different".  It's not a bad "different" but one that causes a little anxiety.  I noticed that I'm breathing harder than I was before, because of the slight anxiety--especially right after a shot.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

Deb

[gollie]

Hi All

Thank you all so much for getting back with me so soon

I sure hope it not the copaxone, I really like the ease of its use.

I guess its just making me abit nervous, because the welts are
also warm to touch.
I noticed somthing yesterday tho. when I was done injecting
Held the injector to the light and the needle looke alittle crooked.
which dosnt seem right to me, because the nurse taught me to
make sure needle goes straight in.

Heather, if you are using the auto injector can you check your after
your injection and see if you needle looks abit crooked.??
Im assuming that it should not look like that. And I know that
I am not using alot of pressure. like I said the first six days were
fine.   I have to use a 4 on arms,  5 on belly and hips and  4 on
thighs.  so the nurse said lol.  

If I am still feeling this yuky tomorrow I will call the Doc, but Which
one should I call the neuro or my Pcp.

OH ps I will request a urine test for UTI as well, as I am haveing MS
related problems in that area. I am getting worked up by the uro.

Thank You guys   I so good to know your all here.

                               Gollie

[gollie]

Please Please Pardon my typos.

[Deb61]

I just took my shot, it's warm to the touch, too.  My husband is doing them now without the injector.  I do better when I don't hear that bang before the needle goes in.

I've had 3 UTI's since August, 2007.  Pretty common in MS, I understand.  I wonder if that's the culprit for your other symptoms . . .

Deb

[essdipity]

I use the autoinjector and haven't noticed that the needle looks crooked afterwards. But I haven't looked carefully either. I think you should concentrate on getting over whatever bug you have, and also use heat or cold or whatever the Shared Solutions people recommend for the site reactions. If you want to call a doctor, the neuro would know more, but I'm betting he'll say to wait and see, that you probably have something else going on. Please don't worry too much. Things will calm down soon and you'll be fine.

ess

[gollie]

ok I just did my injection, upper left arm. I check the needle
while it was still in the auto injector (after injection).
it looked like it was crooked again, not centered in the injector.

so I took the syringe out of the injector and looked at the needle
that way and it looks fine. I am now curios if my syringe is not
centerd properly in the auto injector.
Just curios, maybe anyone who uses copaxone auto injector could
add to this thread after their injection.

I am not giving up on the copaxone. I do feel better
after all  your comments. Thank you for that.

I probably do have a virus or a uti setting in. I will have it checked.

Thanks sooo much, and dont forget to check those injectors for me lol
I hope I didn get a defective injector lol
                                                                   Gollie

[jensequitur]

Naw, don't worry about the needle being crooked.  It's always a little off kilter when I push it in the injector, and it looks more crooked after the spring has sprung.  

I've been on Copaxone for nine months now, and my injection site reactions have gotten a lot better.  The areas that I inject regularly hardly welt up at all, now.  I've started injecting some new areas since my old spots are lumpy and bruised, and those new areas react just the same way the old ones did.  I always use an ice pack, because I have a really hard time injecting myself.  If I can't feel the pain, it's much easier for me to push the button.

[gollie]

Jen:

Thanks for that.  So I guess I will have to wait it out for a bit lol

Thanks again All                     Gollie