I am now an official Copaxone user!
 

I took my first shot tonight....!

I was NOT expecting that much itching or that much pain from the itching! I hope that gets better like yesterday!!!

The itching only lasted about 1/2 hour....the site is still a little little little bit sore!

(And the worst thing about all this!? I didn't get properly trained!! Whoops! I got tired of waiting on the nurse and I already was a pro with Rebif and Avonex! AM I going to be in trouble now???)

Naw, you aren't going to get into too much trouble. :D The itching should subside in a few days, or you could pre-medicate with benadryl before the shot. Welcome to the club! :D

Congrats! Before you know it you'll be a pro at it. Typing on NT to your board buds while shooting. LOL. Well, maybe not that good.

Glad you are doing well. It gets easier with time.

Don't worry about the training. You've heard my story on that one. I learned 2 things - 1) Don't let your brother (or any family member) train you to give yourself a shot and 2) let the medicine warm up before you inject, cold meds hurt more. LOL.

(OK, my brother meant well and really did a good job considering there were 3 kids under the age of 4 running around going wild, dinner on the stove, phone ringing, etc.) Bless his heart. So he forgot the warm it up 1st part. LOL:D

Get some Benadryl cream to put on the injection site after you do the shot. It'll help with the itching.

I have to disagree with Polar Express about icing it tho. My C nurse (and the people at Shared Solutions, and the pharmacy that sends me the C) has told me to put ice on the site for a little while after you do the injection.

I'm getting used to the pain, but I havent gotten used to the itch. But, it's only been about 6 months so far. I'm hoping that goes away eventually.

Oh yeah, make sure you get an extra autoject (if you're using one) My first one broke about 2 months ago, and my spare autoject has decided that it doesnt want to inject the entire syringe any more. So, tomorrow, I'll either have my dad inject me (he's a nurse), or I'm going to have to wait until I can get a new autoject. (this will allow the sore spots to heal at least if I wait to get a new autoject)

I'd have asked for a new autoject before now, but they always call me at the butt crack of dawn when I'm not awake yet to tell me that I need a new box of C. (I've been 3 months behind since I started because the stupid nurse didnt bother to call or come teach me for about 2 1/2 months after the Rx was given to me)


I'm always too groggy from sleep to tell them I need an injector and a new Sharps container.

Yeah, I remember those first weeks of shots: they itched and burned like the dickens! I agree, it gets better in time.

Not to put a damper on anything, but I went off Copaxone about 5 weeks ago. I feel so much more alive now! It slowed me down mentally and physically. I ached a lot too. Just some things to be aware of. Someone else said they felt worse going off Copaxone, so it might just be me.

Anyway, congrats to you, Robin, for taking charge and getting started. Good for you! :)

Oh, are you using the AutoJect? I found I experienced fewer unpleasant side-effects once I self-injected.

HEY Robin .. now we can do our shots together as we quilt!!

now - you were told:

1 - about the same time everyday ... AND

2 - do a different area each time .. and rotate:

this is my schedule I keep on a calendar .. I know the day now by the shot - will be 10 months on C already!

SUNDAY - LEFT ARM :: LA
MONDAY - RIGHT THIGH :: RT
TUESDAY - RIGHT ARM :: RA
WEDNESDAY - LEFT STOMACHE (LEFT OF BB) :: LS
THURSDAY - INTERCHANGE :: ONE WEEK RIGHT BACKSIDE HIP/ LEFT BACKSIDE HIP :: RH // LH
FRIDAY - LEFT THIGH :: LT
SATURDAY - RIGHT STOMACHE (RIGHT OF BB) :: RS

believe it or not .. the stomache is the less painful .. after you swipe the area down with pad ... hold the glass needle in your hand and count to 60 (so that it dries!! if it don't .. it WILL burn) ... and by holding it - it'll warm up .. I take mine out each day before I take a shower .. then - take my shower ... then shot ... it's all routine now.

email or call if you have questions my quilting buddy!! :hug:

OH .. and don't shoot by any scars (like appendix or c-section scars etc) ... and if you use the autoject ... turn it down to 4 when you do your legs - and the swelling and redness will go away .. it may itch/burn because the area wasn't dry enough before you stuck yourself ...

P.S. I LOVE COPAX ... and after 6 months on it - had my follow=up MRI - and the neurologist was happy to say that there are no NEW lesions ... so keep doing what I'm doing ...

Icing helped me...
 

Wish it was frosting (like on a cake!)

When I used C - I would ice after (I got a child's ice pack - small and covered in terry cloth - it was PERFECT) - also Shared Solutions sent me several ice packs too - small - which is good.

I iced after I did the shot - and it helped with the burning and pain.

As for the itching - shared solutions said I could rub or massage it but only 24 hours AFTER the shot was given.... I think you can use benadryl or cortisone cream right away. But you should check with them.

Good luck.

~Keri

I wish you luck Robin.

Copaxone didn't work for me, but then I'm just one of the unlucky ones who had reactions to all of the DMDs

I do wish you all the best.

Please keep us informed as to how you get on. :hug:

Ohhhhh! And don't use your arms for injections. They hurt too much afterwards...trust me!

Hey Robin. Hope Copaxone works for you. It does get better with time:hug: