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Avatar universal

Start Betaseron monday and i am Freaking out

Hi all

I start my Betaseron on Monday when the Ms Nurse shows up between  9am and 11am and i am totally freaking out
today i have been throwing up and i know it is the thought of having to stick a needle in myself, i cannot eat and i have not stopped shaking since the call came,

I really do not think i can do this, my fear of needles is too great, is there any other treatment i can have without needles

I am making myself ill, and by Monday i just know i will have lost it totally

Thanks Tyler
12 Responses
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497015 tn?1209737845
I started taking Betaseron a month and half ago,
I use to take avonex. I never could give myself the avonex shot but
i have not had any trouble with the betaseron. It is a much smaller needle and you can hardly feel it.
So far my side effects have not been bad. a slight headache the morning after. My current concern is I think the meds make me feel blah. I cannot say depressed just not happy so watch for mood changes and tell your neuro.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

I too find it very hard to work a nine hour day, well about 11 counting the driving,

I come home so tired and basically eat and fall into bed for the rest of the night, no way to live, but right now i have no choice with my husbands work being so few and far between, probably like most households right now, i should be grateful i have work,

He hates that i have to work, and would rather i stayed home, but without work i would have no medical hence no treatment, and it would be a struggle with trying to live pay bills etc

I am now trying to stay positive not doing very well at it, but i will keep trying, I have been telling myself all day, you can do this, you can do this then my brain tends to shut down lol

Thanks for the advice
Tyler
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I do get flu like symptoms.  I do have severe fatigue and weakness from my MS though so it could be partly from that.  
I couldn't dream of working a 9 hour shift any day anymore, so you may handle it much better.  They recommend the acetomenaphin to help with symptoms.  

Try to take your mind off of it for now.  You won't know anything until Monday and I promise that if you worry about being sick...YOU WILL FEEL SICK!!  Focus on feeling fine and think positive.

Your attitude can make or break you with MS.  We are here to listen.

Best Wishes
Danielle

Helpful - 0
1045086 tn?1332126422
Just remember this.  It's the initial piercing of the skin that is most difficult.  That's where the nerve endings are.  The places you'll inject are not where there are high concentrations of sensory nerve endings.  This is why diabetics don't hesitate to inject insulin into their belly (after the first time) but hate to p.rick a fingertip to test their blood sugar.

The auto injector can work better because it doesn't hesitate and p rick the skin surface over and over.  

All that site icing and heating has to do with side effects, NOT the pain of the needle entering the skin.  The injection itself may be the easy part in the end.

Mary
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

Thanks very much for all the words of advise, It makes me feel better to know someone who is on the same shots,

My Nurse sounded very nice on the phone, but what she will be like when she gets here i don't know

I am so glad to hear i don't have to see the needle, that's what was basically freaking me out, but i am gonna take up Quix's suggestion and get help for the problem,

I called my Primary Doctor this morning and have made an appointment with her,
and she suggested that i wait till after Monday to see how i do with it, and then if i still cannot do it, she will get me into counseling to get me over my fear,

Do you have flu like symptoms after the shot, or does it just happen to some people,
I have read that some people do not suffer from it, but most do, that is something else i am dreading, or am i just totally over reacting

I work retail 6 days a week though this week and there after i am down to five and i cannot afford to be feeling terrible, plus i have a long drive to work, then work 9 hour days then the long drive back, that kinda worries me too
again probably over reacting,

why am I such a wimp, gees I know i have to do this,

hugs
Tyler
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am sorry you are having to go through this.  We all handle our dx differently but I don't think anyone has an "easy" time of it.

If it helps, I take Betaseron and i really like it.  I NEVER I repeat NEVER see the needle unless I look at the end of the injector after my shot.

It is a super tiny needle and I don't feel it.  I consider myself a shot wimp so that is saying something.  

I did not have the beta nurse come out as I was on Rebif originally and I had been through the injection process with their nurse.  I also have done IV therapy at home so the mixing part was a no brainer.
The nurses seem very nice and helpful on the phone so I am sure your home nurse will be wonderful.  They will give you some suggestions to relax and make yourself as comfortable as possible.  

Some suggestions are ice and acetomenaphin before the injection to handle side effects. Some people even set up candles and put on music before hand.
The shot mixing is fun for me but that may say something about my maturity level??

The needle is securely covered and hidden from view the entire time.  You mix, then drop the syringe into the auto injector.  There is an indicator on the injector so you know how long to inject, then it is done.  

They will give you a sharps container.  I just open my autoinjector and turn it upsidedown into the container. I never even look at the needle.  

One thing that is important to remember, you are doing a very brave thing to help keep you healthy and it is a very wise choice.  Great job having a caring friend to share it with.  

Let us know how it goes.
D
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks folks for the replies

Yes Quix i think you are right, i really need to get some help with this phobia, i have had it since i was a little girl, i remember at school it took three people to hold me down to have my childhood shots which made the situation even worse, and that could have aggravated the situation

The MS Nurse did tell me it would be an auto injector so i would not even see the needle
and she would take me through the fear that so many first timers had,

sure as heck does not make me feel any better though,

Quix that was a wonderful idea having my friend have a video camera, we can always look back on it one day and laugh and say gees was i really such a big baby (Just Kidding lol a camera would make me more a nervous wreck lol)

My boss has given me the day off on Monday so that i can relax and not worry so much whereas i would rather go into work afterward so that i can forget about it.

I will let u know how it goes, if i do not chicken out,

we have a real lousy storm going on here right now, we actually have hail stones coming down, pretty unusual, just right for making me jump every time there is another huge clap of thunder and lightning lol, talk about it never rains but it pours ha ha

thanks Quix and Udkas

Hugs
Tyler
Helpful - 0
429700 tn?1308007823
Keep yourself occupied until Monday.  You will find that it's not as bad as you thought.  I give myself injections every day, and I don't think any more of what I'm doing than if I was swallowing my pills.  I don't even notice the needle going in most of the time now.  It does get better.  Initially, you may think you may not be able to do this, but you will soon be an old pro before you know it.

Deb
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your whole life has changed in the split second of a diagnosis, you have so much to contend with and it's no surprise that it's all bit much to deal with at once, especially if you had no idea that this was coming.

Do you have a MS Society that you can join that can offer support, encouragement, advice etc., in Aussie, (well at least where I live), the nurses will come and do the needles for you until you get the hang of it.  It must be hard to suddenly have to take meds and have a disease that is not going to go away.  You have lots of support on this forum.  I guess the needles are a positive thing as they have proven that they can slow the progression of the disease down and that's what you want.. Think of it as a positive step forward.  

I am sure that in a few months time it will become second nature to do the needles, anything new is always scary, I am glad you have a friend to help you, it's ok to feel scared and tell the nurse that you are scared, they will give you extra support.

Goodluck,
I look forward to hearing how you get on and I hope it's a positive experience.. well as positive as it can be!

Hugs,
Udkas.
Helpful - 0
147426 tn?1317265632
Tyler, you'll be fine.  I'm glad you are bringing your friend to help out.  Perhaps she should bring a video camera along, so you know you;ll have to be cool. - really just kidding.  We have seen people as fearful as you do this.  Some actually make a family member do it, but they all eventually do it themselves.

Phobias are unreasonable.  If this continues you might do well to get some counseling and "Anti-Phobia" work.  You might pretend that what you are doing is saving someone's life - a child or a pet.  Depersonalize it.  I know with the Avonex, the anticipation was SO much worse than the shot itself.

Some needles are so tiny (like the 30gauge) that you cannot feel them enter the skin.  I feel a mosquito more than I feel those, lol.

We'll all be there with you.  The nurse will show you a bunch of ways to keep it from being a deal.

{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}

quix
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

I would go out and get myself so drunk on Monday if i drank alcohol i spoke with my best friend today and she is going to be here with me, basically  I chose here because i do not want to look like an idiot in front of her,

I think one major problem is the reality of being diagnosed has finally sunk in and the terror started,

Before i heard that the drugs were on the way, I got away with thinking, everything was going to be OK, and that the symptoms would just go away and that they would forget about me,

Thank goodness I will be working all weekend, less time to think about it, but right now i am a total basket case, it is like my mind refuses to believe that this is actually happening

I guess u are right i will get used to it, if i ever get the first done, i probably know my fear is unreasonable, but my brain wont have it,

Please god i hope u are right that it gets to the point i will do it

Thanks
Tyler
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there,
I am sure that the nurse will help you for a while, you will be surprised what you can do when you have to, I am sure there are many people on this forum who thought that they could never self inject and are happily doing so now.  

I am sure the nurse will give you lots of support.  Worrying will only make it worse, try to stay positive, getting all worked up will make the task harder, my friend who has diabetes said she couldn't and wouldn't do needles but she does and she has no problems with it now.. try to think about other things over the weekend, relax, have you got someone (a support person) close friend who can be with you or do something with you over the weekend so you don't think about it too much.

Thinking of you, I am not sure if there is anything else available (I am not diagnosed), but I am sure someone else can answer that question for you. Take care,
Udkas.
Helpful - 0
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