My first Avonex adventure....

[Fluffysmom]

Yesterday afternoon I took my first starter kit of Avonex to my MS nurse for instructions on its use, possible side effects and how to minimize them, to get questions answers, etc.  My roommate met me there and came along as an extra pair of ears and so she could learn to inject me if I have an "I just can't do it!" week.

My nurse was wonderful, informative, and the three of us laughed a lot.  Unfortunately, she kept sneezing and blowing her nose; said it had just started.  She used lots of hand sanitizer, so I wasn't too worried, though I haven't gotten either flu shot.  By the way, she said that I am now considered part of the second most urgent group to get the shots when they become available, below pregnant women etc.

I got to practice with a dummy kit, sticking the needle into a piece of styrofoam.

Let me tell you; 1 1/4 in needles look reallllllllly big!

Then I got to the point where I "dropped trou", cleaned my leg with alcohol, let it dry as I attached that needle to the syringe, calming myself with mindful breathing...

Her instructions were so calm and smooth that I did my first injection with no problem, very little pain.  I could hear my roommate breathing deeply for me; she told me after that I had stopped breathing when I inserted the needle.

They were talking and laughing, and I said "excuse me, excuse me" and when I caught their attention, I went "Whoo hoo!" with a fist pump and all.  Celebration!

I'll be following up with her in a month; I think monthly for a while, and check liver function and such.  Everyone at that office (that I've met so far) is so kind, supportive, and informative.  When we were finishing up with the door open, Dr.C. walked by and said hello to me, with a smile.

My roommate took me to Outback to celebrate my success; I was both high with adrenaline and relief, and exhausted from it all.  I took Advil before and after my injection, drank lots of water, and was so exhausted from the adrenaline and high of success and starting to fight this disease with medicine as well as my strong will, I didn't stay up very long once I got home.

I started aching around 10 pm, runny right nostril, then pretty intense aching around midnight woke me; I took more Advil, drank lots more water; drank 32 ounces through the night.  By morning the aching was calming some, but both nostrils runny/stuffy, feeling like I would sneeze.  Now I'm just really tired and kind of fuzzy headed and achy; close to normal for me right now, lol!  

I started at a half-dose, to ease me in, get me used to any possible side-effects.  So far, I'd say that this is something I can easily live with.  

One of the things that the nurse said that struck me as the most important, was "We're doing this so you can look the same as you do now in 30 years or so; to lessen the chance of your becoming disabled" or words to that effect.

I felt like an "amen" was in order.

Kathy

[opie74]

My goodness, After reading your posts, I am glad that Ichose Betaseron.  Same basic med, just under the skin instead of IM.  It is every other day....

I am happy that you are doing well with this whole thing.  Best wishes!
Ann

[shermay]

Hey Kathy,

Always in my thoughts, not much up to posting comments/replies at the moment but as the song goes  "Things Will Only Better"

We are Women we are STRONG:))))))

Hugs,

Debs xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Fluffysmom]

Well, Wobbly I did some resting, then on Wednesday I ran some errands, and by Wed. afternoon, the thigh that I gave myself the injection in was aching quite a bit, kind of like I'd been working out real hard.  Oh well, that will pass, too.

Debs, good to hear from you; I saw some of what your 2nd opinion neuro said; must look closer for more.  I was really wiped out for a while there, but I'll be just fine.

Cass, as for your question about how it's like to go from limboland to diagnosis to injectiions, it's both awesome and freaky.  My history + symptoms + brain lesions finally added up to an answers, and treatment, hoooray!  I'm also feeling like I went from middle school to high school, where so much is different.  No more fighting to pass the tests to get me here, just accepting where I am and doing what needs to be done to get by, to work towards slowing my progression and figuring out what I want to be when I grow up, lol!

There's a devil on one shoulder, telling me to contact those bad neuros and rub there noses in it, while the angel on my other shoulder just smiles, says we made it, lets go on from here.  The angel wins; I win.

Maggie, I always get the chicken on the barbie at Outback.  I'm not much of a red meat eater any more, but that fresh beef sounds pretty good.

hugs to you all,

Kathy

[LLWB]

Who Hoo to You!!! I'm jealous, haven't been to the Outback for quite awhile either. I usually hit Red (Dead) Lobster when I go to Tri-Cities. I got used to raising and eating my own beef, so most steaks don't taste as good to me as what I am used to. Can't do that anymore, so have to wait until I visit Florida in Feb, as my daughter & husband will be butchering right before I show up. Can't wait!! Glad things went well, hope you feel better tomorrow.

Maggie

[shermay]

Hi Kathy,

Sorry just found your post on page 2 - it's been a busy 48 hours here.

I am so pleased for you that your first injectiion went well, and you managed to cope with s/e.

Keep up the good work,

Hugs,

Debs xx

[cassrox]

Glad it went well. The needle doesn't sound so pleasant, but if it will help keep going, I'm sure it's well worth it.

At least they finally got you started on the meds. What is it like now, going from limboland to diagnosis and injections?

[Wobbly]

I'm glad you are finally getting some help with all your symptoms... all the best for the next time too..

rest up and take some time to adjust...OK

thinking of you
wobbly
dx

[Fluffysmom]

My nurse also said that the alcohol could cause reactions; that's why I had to wait until it was totally dry.  Makes me think that's why my allergy shots hurt more than they should have.  I'll either do my allergy shots fresh from the shower, or let the alcohol dry completely.

Yes, the needle feels big, too.  I was thinking they were big enough to use to stuff pastries, or inject vodka into oranges (something I've heard about but never tried, lol!).

Another use for those alcohol wipes; clean the blades of your windshield wipers on your car with them; it cleans off tree sap and road grime; helps so you see better without having to replace your wiper blades so often.

Still tired; Fluffy is very happy to have me lazing around with him.  

Kathy

[Mand125]

Good thinking, I will contact the district nurse and see if she can make use of them :)

Mand

[Erin0313]

Kathy,
  Congrats on your 1st injection! I'm so glad that your reaction wasn't awful. I started on 1/4 dose and worked my way up to a full dose. Those needles don't just look big they feel big, ouch.

I hope that it does a great job keeping you from progressing.

Hugs,
Erin :)

P.S. Maybe Mand can donate her swabs to a school nurse or like me I give them to the visiting nurse association to use for patients who don't get them with their meds.

[Mand125]

Hi Kathy

I'm glad it all went well. Just a point of interest, my MS nurse told me that here (UK) they no longer recommend using the alcohol wipe before the injection, it was thought to be helping to cause some site reactions, she said to use cotton pads and water, I use baby wipes, the fragrance free ones.

The thing is I get 2 of the little alcohol wipe sachets with each injection, as I have been on the Betaseron for 15 months and don't like to throw the wipes away I have hundreds! I wonder if there is anything they could be used for :)

Outback - I  haven't been there for many years, I can remember them serving massive steaks - that was long before my veggie days though.

Take care
Mand