Cold copaxone update...
 

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say that I finally got around to calling Shared Solutions regarding cold vs. warm copaxone. They said that the FDA is really saying that you need to take it out of the refrigerator at least 20 minutes prior to the shot. Of course, my body doesn't like the copaxone warmed - it likes it right out of the fridge.

As for my bleeding issue with almost every shot - I'm inclined to believe the needles are dull - of course, I don't know how you tell that! How can you tell? I look at it after I take it out of the autojector - but I just can't tell!

Anyhow, they are going to send me one replacement box (or atleast 25 needles) - because one box that I had wasn't injecting fully....which freaked me out b/c I wasn't getting all of the copaxone. (Yeah, I'm a freak!)

I'm also going to start heating before the shot to see if it makes a difference b/c on top of the "regular" site reactions of bumps and itches and stings - I end up with a black and blue at least 90% of the time! My question is - don't you find it a pain in the ***** to hold a heat pack to the body part to heat it? I mean, it's not like you can just set it on your leg...you have to hold it to the back of your arm, etc.

Sigh.

Sorry, I feel whiny tonight!

~Keri

I don't blame you -- I felt whiney on Copaxone, too!

I wish I had some great suggestions for you, Keri. So sorry. Dumb disease anyway. :mad:

Thanks Red i always warm mine up today however :Doh: and had a nasty reaction at the injection site, its still swollen was about 15 hrs ago I think I hit a nerve too today, on top of shooting the cold copaxone

I have not bruised yet I do get blood and injection site reactions and one time that Ipir or what ever that reaction is, nasty scary reaction, thought i was having a heart attack, and one time they think I hit a nerve I paralyzed myself from hips down for about 35 minutes

i do find between warming and ice on shot site thats about it for help that i know, are you using the auto injector Red? the needle may be set too deep, i cant do it any other way but auto and have heard a number who use to use the auto injector are so much happier injecting without it

Keri, I just said goodbye to Copaxone... my post about that is probably on page 2 by now.

I did have trouble with the autoject not fully injecting all the meds. From what I was told, there was some variance in the old and new autoinjectors... just enough that if you didn't click the syringe into place with at least two clicks, it wouldn't go far enough down into the injector body and it stopped short of emptying out all the drug. It's late I hope that made sense! EDIT BELOW:

OK STRIKE THAT... I knew it was too late for me to post last night:o The trouble with mine was the syringe was going too far down into the autoject and the plunger was not being pushed down all the way. I was told it was a syringe problem and then told it was an autoject problem.

I hope you can find solutions that work to help you avoid the reactions and bruising.

tk

!@#!@$#$%$%&$%^*%&*(%!#$%^&*(())_()_(^^$$%#!#

I could translate that, but I'd get kicked off the boards.

I just pre-heated.... (not so exciting to pre-heat and not even get a batch of cookies out of it!)..... The copaxone had been out of the fridge for a lil over an hour.

Then I shot myself up.

OMG $%^&*^%!#*&^%^*^&(&* !!!!!!!!

I'm shocked my neighbors down the block didn't come running over - I imagine I screamed loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear!

I have NEVER had it hurt so much. Holy Moly. Holy something. OUCH.

Now I'm icing - but WOW. It still stings - and not in the same way it usually does. That was awful rotten lousy.

All I can think is - just a few more months of this and I should be in the clear and off of Copaxone.... I admire those of you who have been on it for a long time. I'm a big wimp.

TK - I did read your post and can feel your pain (somewhat, as I know my experience with Copax is supposed to be short-lived....

This disease just sucks.

~Keri

When you do the injections, do you wait for the alcohol from the wipes to dry??

If you dont let it dry and inject while the alcohol is still damp, some of the alcohol can get into the injection site and that stings like a %^&*(&&&^^%!!!!


Let the alcohol dry for 30 seconds or so and see if that helps.

Sorry to hear it stings so much when you use it at room temperature. How long have you been using Copaxone? Just keep in mind what the med is actually doing as it injects into your system. Breaking down fatty tissue AND attaching itself to your DNA strands, to make you well.

I compare the discomfort to getting a vaccine. Are you taking tylenol or ibuprofin before you take you shots?

I can't answer about warming up the area with a hot pack, I don't bother. Best of Luck with your shots :hug:

Mine used to sting like a really big bee the first month or so, but it went away. I use a rice filled heating pad that my hubby found at some store to heat my injection sites prior to the shot on my legs and arms. LOL, I have enough cushion elsewhere that there's no noticable difference if I use the heat or not.

The neat thing is that it's big enough that I can drape it over my thigh. For the arm, I can slip it under the armpit. I can then drape, lean back, and use the back of the chair I'm sitting in to keep it in place. Washable and microwavable too, which is always a plus.

If the brusing is happening a lot in the thigh, You may be too close to the knee. I've learned that I can't go past a certain point or I WILL get a bruise no matter what else I do. Lucky me, I have big freckles that I can use as reference points. :rolleyes:

It took trial and error to find out which settings on the AI wouldn't cause me bruising either in the thigh and arms. For me, that would be around 6. While the more cushioned areas are around 8.

Hope things improve soon. :hug:

I leave mine out to get to room temp - some spots bleed - but otherwise bee sting and somewhat swollen the next day -

Keri if it keeps doing this I hope you have already called the doc yesterday,

I am sorry you are going through this:hug: