Amy, you are going to be sooooooo disappointed! The shots are no more exciting than brushing your teeth, letting a dog out, doing the laundry, or shaving your legs.

Trust me, it will merely be one more of the mundane, daily pieces of your typical routine.

Look forward to the good stuff and don't sweat the small stuff, life is much too short!

—Copaxone 6 years.
—Beta 4 years

I agree! With both of you. Dear Amy I also totally feel ripped of in the grand scheme of life. After a crappy childhood and working like a dog to get my life personal, professional and financial things in order along comes this miserable disease. Although if I'm totally honest I have also been blessed in many ways, shhhh don't tell anyone I admitted that.

As for the meds I look at them as the only postive here. Years ago people with MS had nothing! At least we have something. To me with every shot I give myself, 4 years now, I feel as if I have some power and am fighting the damn MS.

Hugs, good wishes and please keep us posted. Jules

Hey, you're one of us now, you'll make it through, just because.. Whining, once in while also helps...we all do it.

I did the BIG Avonex needle and then the piddly little Copaxone needle.. Copax was a cinch...I hope it goes as easy for you.

Amy! Some of the events in our lives are hard to look at sometimes. Allow yourself to feel what you're feeling, then keep on going anyway. The shots will empower you to do something about your illness. Make MS the victim in your thoughts every time you give yourself a shot...And remember you have a lot of people in your corner!

Amy when I started my Avonex I saw that needle as a sense of empowerment that I had OVER this disease! I am an RN and was afraid. But it does get better. I'm sure if you came on here as you are preparing to give yourself your shot there would be someone here to go through it with you.

MOnday is here! woo! come on back and tell us how proud of yourself you are.


The first one is the hardest. After this one, it gets better and better.

Ok, you were all right ! I got through the first shot this morning with only a couple "weepy, I feel sorry for myself" moments. The nurse was fabulous! After a few "practice" times, I just went for it and I hardly felt the needle either.....

My arm did have some weird feelings for the first 15 minutes or so, I wouldn't describe those as painful, but more of an ache.

Now I feel a bit silly about being so anxious about it, but I got through it, just like you all said, and Yes....I am proud of myself!

Thank you everyone for your support, it really means so, so much to me!

WOO HOO !!! you rock star!

We have ALL had those first time jitters. its really scary to poke yourself with a needle full of who knows what.

Congratulations! way to go!

That's great news!! I'm sure we all did the same thing with our first shot. Getting the dx of MS is scary enough.....then to have to give yourself a shot, too. It's alot to get used to. I'm so glad the first one went smoothly for you. Getting past that first day is a great relief and a reason to be proud of yourself.

Hello again! So I did my first "at home" injection by myself this morning and I chose my left thigh. That hurt so much worse than my left arm and it is still swollen tonight. I sat on the floor with my legs stretched out, so my muscles wouldn't be engaged, however I stood up right away because it really hurt and I wanted to get an icepack on it and of course, the ice packs were upstairs in the freezer. Do you think it hurt and then swelled up because I got up too fast....or is just an injection sight reaction and something to get used to?

Arm = didn't feel the needle, hurt as meds were settling into my arm and I have a small black and blue bruise.

Thigh= didn't feel the needle, hurt way more and swelled, but no bruising....... I just think it's weird.

Now I have to decide where to choose where to do it tomorrow...I just know that it's not going to be my right thigh!