Side effects or getting sick?

[opie74]

I started Betaseron just over a week ago.  My husband and 21mo old have a cough.  I feel dreadful.  Aching back, neck and a little sinus.  Am I gettign ill, or is it just the meds?  It is tough hoisting 2 children up when I feel so bad.

[sllowe]

Hi Mand!

Oh, the pics are way off Mand!  Thankfully, my nurse tipped me off to that one - she's been teaching for a long while.  She was so right.

So, USE those love handles baby - they are right up there w/the stomach.  Only once an awhile does it hurt, and even that is short lived.

Let us know how it goes.
ttys,
Shell

[opie74]

Shell,I used the Love handle,  it is nice!  Mand, as far as the picture, i figure that if I were in that good of shape, the area they show would be the love handle.  I mean the guy on the betaseron maps is perfect. :-)  

Thanks!
Oh yea, and no spot on the hiney!  

[Mand125]

Hey shell that "other spot" you describe, sounds good but I thought I had to stick pretty exactly to the pics on the instructions, do you reckon it would be ok for me to use that spot? I am on betaseron.

Thanks
Mand

[sllowe]

Do tell me how it works out - but, NO pinching.  Again, just pull up a hunk of the skin.  

Oh, and that "other" spot - wanna know about it? Aw, heck, I'll tell you anyway.

Put your hand on the right cheek of your fanny, now slide it straight up and then over toward the right - toward your outer hip, or "love handles."  It's a terrific spot, and rarely hurts.  

I only inject straight up - no auto, and my husband does that spot for me.  Give it a shot - ha/ha...

Stay cool Mississippi, let me know how this one works for you.

ttys,
Shell

[opie74]

Thanks for the tips.  I havenot been pinching up skin on my thighs.  I am going to try this.  I do have  quarter like spots.  some of them are warm and some arenot.  They are sore like a bruise, but red, not purple and yellow.  They aree finally getting smaller.  The last injection on Wednesday did not leave a mark on my upper arm.  Maybe there is hope for the summer after all.  

It is brutally hot here in the summer.  I live in Mississippi.  The boys and I go to the waterpark to cool off.  I will be self-conscious this summer.  I am a big girl and that gets looks.  Now I will be a big spotted girl!  LOL.  Oh well, the boys are cute.  I will just have to tell myself that they are who everyone is looking at. :-)

[sllowe]

Hi Opie,

Your spots sound like mine.  Are they warm too - moreseo quarter dollar sized? Sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller?

I won't do arms either, but I'm thinking about it.  

I found that straight up is not harsh like the autoinjectors are.  I use Rebif, but I think your dosing is similiar to mine - approx. about every other day.

It won't go too deep.  Don't pinch a small amount of skin.  Actually go about 2-3 inches wide and pull up some skin, then slide the needle in w/out pushing the med out, let go of the skin, then slowly push the meds in.  

I rub the skin prior to and after just to disperse the med a bit.  Seems to work best for me.

The pics are a bit off as to where to inject w/Rebif.  I've got a good upper butt, hip area too if you are interesting in hearing - actually as easy as the stomach is (I have the stretchy stuff too from childbearing).

See you around!
Shell

[opie74]

How deep do they really need to go?  If I use the injector in the top of my thigh, it goes into the muscle.   I am a big girl, but my legs are solid.  Can I do it manually, just not verry deep in my thigh?  That would allow me to do it higher.  There is a little more fat up high to the outside.

[Mand125]

Yes the shots in my backside and my belly does not seem to leave those red marks. The ones on my arms and thighs are bad enough that sleevsless shirts and shorts would be out of the question. Do take care however if you leave these sites out, it will not leave you enough areas that you can rotate the shots as much as you should. Maybe others can advise better that me on this.

mand

[opie74]

Thanks!  I live so far south thta this summer, There will be no shots in the arm or lower thighs, I guess.  Shorts and sleveless shirts are a requirement!  The spots are quarter sized.  The injetor left a bruise on my belly, but not the red circle.  After having 2 babies, I have a lot of wiggly gigley territory to use on my belly.   I gues that I will do it by hand so that I won't get the bruise.

[Mand125]

Hi opie, I have been taking Betaseron for some months now. I was lucky and didn't get the flu like symptoms, just headaches, I did however get the red circles, slightly raised - about the size of a quarter - but not really sore. When I showed the MS nurse she asked if I was massaging the area after injecting - oops I wasn't and do now. I still get a  slight red mark but nothing like before. I think if one of them is really sore you should maybe get it looked at.

Take care
Mand

[Lulu54]

Hi ladies,
I'm on copax so I can't offer personal experience with this.  But I remember others here talking about taking Advil or other such pain relievers before their injections.  Perhaps someone else out there will speak up and help you out with the side effects questions.

Lu

[opie74]

The spots show up a while after the injection, 12 -24 hours.  One of them is really sore, but the other two are just red.  I am upping my dose on Sunday!  Yippie!  I did not take Advil until 30 minutes after the shot last night, maybe that did it.  

Bye for now.

[risnerrose]

I hate that you're having side effects, but I'm glad you're feeling better.  Hopefully the side effects will be short lived.  My nurse mentioned that each time we up the dose . . . we might experience the flu symptoms again.  YeeHaw!!  I'll be increasing on Saturday.

I have noticed that the spots (about quarter size) are showing up several days after the injections.  Are your spots tender, or just red?

I've been very tired and am experiencing some vertigo.  Could these also be side effects?  

Sherry

[opie74]

It was just a sideeffect!  I am feeling better now.  I have also started having large red circles around the last two injection sights.   They are on my thighs.  I have quite muscular legs, so they are to the inside, where the fat is.  I guess that i was just suprised that the reaction is getting stronger after a week.  Oh well, at leist I know what it is.  

[doni54]

Hi Opie,

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that any infection can bring on a flare.  I've been on the forum for a while now and read where this has happened to lots of our members.

I would still call and check in with your neuro and let him know what is going on with you.  It's always best to let your neuro know, and maybe he will have someway to check to see if it's a virus or the DMD.  Best to be safe.

Hope you feel better soon.

doni