Wow, so sorry you had such a hard time! Almost sounds like an allergic reaction with the throat closing up etc.
When I started Beteseron, they slowly increased the dose. Didn't start off on a full dose. I did well that way....but perhaps I am just lucky.

Had my 6 month check up with my Neuro just last week. I told him I've been on shots since 2002 and my skin has had it. I want to try the new BG12 pill. He said it comes out in a few weeks and he would like to see how the general M.S. population does first. He feels trials always look pretty good until more people go on it. So he asked me to give it another 6 months for him to check it out.

I don't have any side effects from the Betaseron EXCEPT for the awful injection site reactions. My skin is always sore and stays that way for a long time. I'm running out of areas to shoot up. My disease has been stable since the Betaseron, but I'm not convinced I would have been stable with or without the shot. We never know and it is fear that keeps us where we are.
I'm waiting for my liver to show some problems.....I think it is inevitable.