tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post5562464487281534982..comments2024-01-29T11:48:55.990-07:00Comments on Dave's ActiveMSers Blog: Giving it a ShotDave Bexfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-34956486369384471622016-07-05T14:31:43.101-06:002016-07-05T14:31:43.101-06:00Elizabeth, here's a high-5 back!Elizabeth, here's a high-5 back!Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-47903037479841994662016-07-05T13:23:58.342-06:002016-07-05T13:23:58.342-06:00Thanks for this!!
As a child my mom stated that I...Thanks for this!!<br /><br />As a child my mom stated that I'd run to the other side of the car when it was that time of getting a booster shot before school would start. <br />It didn't matter if it was from a medical personnel or dental I flat out would show my hinny in their offices. <br /><br />started out on Rebif and for 2 1/2 years 99.8% when it was shot night and during the shot I'd start to cry....SO I get and high 5 you for posting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13238530151705455557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-60628756500385885242016-07-04T15:40:14.384-06:002016-07-04T15:40:14.384-06:00Hahaha, Susan. Laughing with you of course. :)Hahaha, Susan. Laughing with you of course. :)Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-38137682357244292712016-07-02T18:12:22.215-06:002016-07-02T18:12:22.215-06:00I'm a little late posting but I need a laugh s...I'm a little late posting but I need a laugh so I'm going to share this: I shot myself with Copaxone daily for about nine months until my neurologist decided I was allergic to it. So, on to Avonex with it's long, long needle. After the nurse showed me how to prepare it, we practiced injecting an orange. My turn. I prepared the Avonex, stabbed the needle into my thigh and...promptly pulled it back out. The nurse, ever so patient, said "You'll need to keep the needle in until you actually inject the Avonex. Let's try it again."Susannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-18719413333542546822016-06-23T09:20:12.115-06:002016-06-23T09:20:12.115-06:00Jess, Copaxone can be an effective drug and it has...Jess, Copaxone can be an effective drug and it has a long and safe track record. It's worth a go (or a shot if you are a punster).Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-37865874441862128262016-06-22T19:54:20.629-06:002016-06-22T19:54:20.629-06:00I'm new-ishly diagnosed (4/1/15, unfortunately...I'm new-ishly diagnosed (4/1/15, unfortunately not the worst April fool's joke ever). I'm JC+ so when I was initially told to take Tecfidera, I flat out refused because of the PML risk, my anxious mind can't take the worry. I just saw a UCSF specialist & he's strongly pushing medication so I'm getting my first shipment of Copaxone on Friday - I've been giving myself B12 shots for a couple months now so I feel ok w/ the needles. I only comment because I feel so deflated after seeing ppl say they only got worse on Copaxone :/ was hoping I'd be able to calm down by currently very active MS. Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15380270900290244009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-76714569371544413002016-06-22T11:03:05.054-06:002016-06-22T11:03:05.054-06:00Thanks Cheryl, Marilyn, and Susannah-Joy for all o...Thanks Cheryl, Marilyn, and Susannah-Joy for all of your input. It definitely helps those worried about self-injecting. Fantastic suggestions all.Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-29643365395777987342016-06-22T10:11:16.924-06:002016-06-22T10:11:16.924-06:00A perfectly timed post for me. I've managed to...A perfectly timed post for me. I've managed to avoid the medications requiring shots in these years of MS, struggling to manage the neurological silliness with less stress and a lot of naps. So far, I'm good. Lately, I've been ordered to take B12 shots, and being the not-spending-my-money-on--this type individual I am, I've chosen to given myself the shots. Your post, plus a couple of YouTube "How To" videos made the first effort painless and mostly successful (apparently the $0.30 cheapo disposable syringes often have no seal making it difficult to draw anything out of the bottle) <br />Anyway, I'm glad I found the blog, navigated my first (of many) shot, and lived to tell the tale.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14555127561191832878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-48553057112403741672016-06-19T09:36:56.781-06:002016-06-19T09:36:56.781-06:00I was a betaseron pioneer. I was on the waiting li...I was a betaseron pioneer. I was on the waiting list about number 2000 somewhere around 1989. As soon as it was available I signed up. At that time you not only had to stick yourself, you had to mix the powder with the liquid. I "stuck" with it for years. It's so important to just do it no matter what you think about needles. It's not that bad and the alternative might be really bad. I'm so grateful so many treatments are there to choose from. Marilynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-42923132027388122382016-06-18T16:07:27.444-06:002016-06-18T16:07:27.444-06:00I'm a nurse so shots were never a big deal to ...<br />I'm a nurse so shots were never a big deal to me except that I was giving them to others. I started on Copaxone and hated having to take one every day and didn't have good success while doing so. MS got progressively worse. Then I switched to the bigger gun, an IM once a week. What I did find out that most people don't know is this. It is possible to get a needle long enough to penetrate the muscle (1 1/2 inch) and not be any bigger than the needed used for insulin. Yep. a 27g 1 1/2 inch needle perfect for intramuscular injections. Doesn't hurt a bit. All you need to do is get your neurologist to write a script for it and pick them up at the pharmacy. Baxter made them when I was using them years ago. I've been on Tysabri for years now so I guess I got over my fear of any type of needle at this point but hope this info helps.<br />Cheryl Helthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10611305378288301161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-17356758859850165152016-06-17T15:42:10.213-06:002016-06-17T15:42:10.213-06:00And Matt, you are SO right. It's never fun to ...And Matt, you are SO right. It's never fun to give yourself a shot and the idea of it is disturbing, but the actual doing it isn't so hard.Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-65251064681028893202016-06-17T15:40:13.125-06:002016-06-17T15:40:13.125-06:00Whitney, Laura, et al, I'm so glad to here I&#...Whitney, Laura, et al, I'm so glad to here I'm not the only one who had to overcome shot fears. I will say that giving myself regular injections really helped with my stem cell transplant. Since my immune system was wiped out, I had to get ALL of my childhood immunizations again. Um, that was no fun!Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-43714699862853387422016-06-17T11:29:51.677-06:002016-06-17T11:29:51.677-06:00I was "lucky" enough (HA!) to be diagnos...I was "lucky" enough (HA!) to be diagnosed just after Gilenya was approved, so I've never had to medicate with injections. Unfortunately, my relief over that fact lasted for just over a year when I got a staph infection that wouldn't go away. Many months and 10 rounds of antibiotics later, we discovered that the Gilenya had done its job too well and all but wiped out my immune system. And how did we reach that conclusion? With a lymphocyte panel - eight vials and and three BOTTLES of blood in one sitting. Now then, I am THAT patient when it comes to needles - I turn sheet-white and pass out when stuck. I made it through the test with only a little bit of whimpering (the phlebotomist swore she'd never tell) and only had to have that test TWO MORE TIMES in the two months it took me to rebound to a normal white cell count. I can now proudly say that I am able to carry on an intelligible conversation while getting blood drawn and my days of fainting are gone. That being said, I'm on Tecfidera after telling my doc there would be issues with "non-compliance" if she put me on an injectable. Not quite the heart of a lion yet. ☺ Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13656509192046751612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-30344106920570701322016-06-16T17:14:22.552-06:002016-06-16T17:14:22.552-06:00My "fun" with needles before MS and Cop...My "fun" with needles before MS and Copaxone was always fainting having blood drawn, or having IV's placed for my MRI's. There's a special note they put in one's files to lay this fainting person down before a procedure...or bring you some juice after which is pretty sweet.<br /><br />To work through my fear of needles, my kind and diabetic from age 7 hubby, who, of course, has to take insulin all the time (type 1), suggested I watch him every time he did so. At first it made me nauseous and light headed...eventually I could watch the whole thing...and soon I thought, jeeze, I only had to take one needle a day compared to his many a day...so I've got a better deal! <br /><br />I was still a bit pale after my first time...but now, 4 years later, I'm a drug injecting pro!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757782679377198911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-63566606246601510762016-06-16T16:26:50.327-06:002016-06-16T16:26:50.327-06:009 years ago, at age 56 I was diagnosed with MS - a...9 years ago, at age 56 I was diagnosed with MS - a very late diagnosis. They told me I probably had MS and didn't know it. My tripping and falling was probably the symptoms I never associated with MS, I just thought I was clumsy. I was started on Copaxone injections and stayed on it until last year. The needles were a chore. That also was when it was changed from 7 days to 3 days a week. My symptoms got worse. Foot drop, balance issues, bladder issues became serious. I was switched to Tecfidera. A pill twice a day. So far so good. I still have walking issues. I go to physical therapy but the co-pays are horrible. I try to exercise on my own and am determined to be able to dance at my kids' weddings (which may happen in the next 5 years). I have 3 children and a very supportative husband. I firmly believe that MS is BS! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-18610272543058991472016-06-16T14:42:40.930-06:002016-06-16T14:42:40.930-06:00I never wanted to use a needle, and hence it most ...I never wanted to use a needle, and hence it most likely was the biggest fear that kept me off the heroin in my younger days. I actually fainted watching one of my nephews getting an injection in a head wound before being sutured and they had to use the smelling salts on me, too. It wasn't pretty but we all survived. But then as with you, the MS came along and BAM! it was shot time for me. I adjusted and made it a daily routine for three years. Recently I had to do my own injections for blood thinner - those are given in the abdomen - and it felt like riding a bike. I hadn't been injecting for a while but the skills came back quickly. I'm again done with injections and hope they aren't back in my routine any time soon.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029506736591787478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-30759096606546070302016-06-15T18:01:31.435-06:002016-06-15T18:01:31.435-06:00Hahaha, sorry but that nade me laugh. I honestly n...Hahaha, sorry but that nade me laugh. I honestly never minded needles (thankfully) so Copaxone and Rebif with the Autoject thing was easy. Acthar is an actual vial of meds so that is sort of fun. I can't say I LIKE needles just that I do not mind them. When I was on Tysabri I often let students practice placing and IV in me but after about 5 pricks in attempt to NOT totally fail I had to tell them enough was enough (maybe I should have offered my thoughts on a change of career paths?). I do admit when I was FIRST diagnosed the idea of a self-administered injection either every day, 3 times a week or once a week with a fricken spear was intimidating but yeah, once I did it? Not so bad.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222791729495816471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-72724954788581668332016-06-15T15:03:22.631-06:002016-06-15T15:03:22.631-06:00Haha, Marina, good story. I can see it now and the...Haha, Marina, good story. I can see it now and the look on the nurse's face! Priceless!Dave Bexfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372910409976557944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838498765761167784.post-51668368075861542802016-06-15T14:55:13.298-06:002016-06-15T14:55:13.298-06:00That beats my first shot experience! I didn't ...That beats my first shot experience! I didn't pass out, but did manage to drag the needle on my arm, cut myself, and bleed everywhere! The poor nurse kept saying, "that was really good...great job." with a straight face. She should have been an actress :)<br /><br />I have to say I hated the needles and switched to Gilenya the second it came out. Of course now I get an infusion, but at least someone else has to get it in me! :)Marinanoreply@blogger.com