Looks like I will be trying copaxone again
 

Had an appointment at Barnes Hospital today. They are recommending that I try copaxone again. I had 5 IPIR's in the 4 1/2 months I was on it, but since interferons and tysabri are out ( allergic reactions, antibodies), she wants me to try it again. She also recommended I manually inject. So hopefully with the smaller needles and by manually injecting I may have less reactions. I have 2 or 3 new lesions in the past year so there is some progression. On a more positive note, she still thinks that my MS is relatively mild based on number and size of lesions and the fact that I did well during the physical exam.

If this does not work, she mentioned imuran as the next step. However, she also believes there will oral meds for ms in the "near" future.

I hope it works for you this time barb.

I've never experienced an IPIR... and I manually inject. Hrm. Though, if that's the reason for IPIRs (autoinjector) that would surprise me.

PS I'm jealous you have the 29 gauge needles! Still have crappy 27's here. :(

Good luck wiyh the switch and watch out for veins, I think that's why it happens. It is good that you are taking measures to slow your MS. Copax has been working for me, so far as anyone can tell but I'm looking forward to the release of Frampridine for improved mobility and some kind of oral or non interferon once a week or so med or a cure(?) Stay the course and be well.
Oh yeah, the smaller needles seem to lessen the site reactions.

Good luck,Barb. I hope Copaxone works well for you this time. In my experience on it, I agree with Bombi, the IPIR's seemed to happen after hitting a vein. In over 9 years on it I've had maybe 10 IPIR's and each one seemed to be after I bled pretty much after an injection and had hit a vein.

Good luck, Barb. I hope it works for you this time. :hug:

Cherie

Then that would make sense.

I make sure to dodge any dark lines when I'm doing my injections. ;)

hey Barb ... C-shooter here ... but, autoject2 ... or I'd pass out everyday!!

know that I'm here for ya too ... HUGS!!

Barb, thanks for sharing your exam results. Hope that Copaxone shows some lessening of lesion production for you.
I'm still having trouble with huge welts where I shoot, esp the thighs. I need to call Shared Solutions about it, since it hasn't lessened after one month.
How do you know how far in to put the needle when you inject manually?

I hope it works better this time Barb. :hug: I fared much better when I switched to manual injections. Before that I hit muscle a few times and that was incredibly painful.

It just needs to go under the skin Deb. I had a technique but don't know how to describe it. A nurse can show you how to do it.

Thanks, Wiz. The nurse showed me on a small Bosu ball look-alike...:confused: not sure how far in I pushed it, though...

I thought you were supposed to push it all of the way in unless you are thin, and then you push it in from a 45 degree angle instead of an unpright direction. You are also suppose to pinch an inch of skin and then let go and inject slowly. At least that is what I remember.

I finally after 7 months mastered the darn thighs. Now I consider them to be a vacation from the arms LOL.

I pinch 2 inches of skin at the spot I pick for the thighs, and hold that skin for a minute or 2 before injecting. It almost numbs the skin before you do the needle that you don't feel it as much I find.

I still have a bruise from where I accidentally hit a blood vessel or something on my thigh 3+ weeks ago. Pretty ugly looking thing, but it's finally starting to fade.

Barb - Good luck with the C. Hopefully this time things will go better for you.

I am a manual injector myself. I feel I have better control and can go in at a 45 degree angle on my less fatty areas and can control the depth better. Although, my thighs are out of the question; too many major site reactions, hitting veins, and muscles. I have had IPIR a few times - all from doing my thighs and hitting veins.

Wiz is right, hitting a muscle is painful.:eek: So is injecting it cold (did that once and only once LOL).

Best of luck on the Copaxone. :hug: I was on it, but that was about four years ago. I did use a gel pack to numb the site first.

I do remember (vividly) hitting a muscle in my upper arm. Eeeek, that was painful! :yikes:

Good luck, Barb :hug:. I really hope C work for you this time. I'm done with dmd's for now. I'll be starting LDN next week :). I think it's worth a try for me :). I'm just sooo sick of meds making me feel worse instead of better.

good luck this time with the C barb.
perhaps shared solutions would send out the nurse since you're starting over and injecting manually.

that might be a help. it's worth asking about.
your dr might even order it to have more weight in the matter.

Barb, good luck with "C".:)

Are you going to do LDN with it? That may be a good thing.

:hug::hug:

At this point, I am not going to try LDN -- one new med at a time. But I am not ruling it out in the future.

good luck Barb:hug: I sure hope it works out and you can use it. I feel guilty on some of these threads I am so numb I dont feel my shots so it doesnt bother me, every once in a while I feel it when i use a cold injection, other than that i am lucky I guess:Bang-Head: