Botox is now used to treat migraines. I know you saw me post that I was getting my shots on October 3rd….and I did…more in a moment. However, isn’t it amazing that Botox will help migraines? Or at least I hope it will. I’ve been reading about it, and it seems to, I know someone who has been getting the shots for a while now and she has had wonderful results.
Botox is for people who have tried many other treatments but still have 15 or more migraines a month. In trials it prevented about 9 of those headaches. Having half as many migraines as i do now would be amazing. However, I also read that people who took the placebo reported having 7 fewer migraines a month….a difference of 2…not so great.
There are a number of side effects you could have, but I haven’t noticed anything. On the Allergan site (they make Botox, I found that funny since they are known for contact lens stuff) it says, “It may take several weeks to see a response. In clinical trials, patients showed a response at their 4-week evaluation. After 2 treatments (at 24 weeks), BOTOX® was proven to reduce headache days each month.” I was told by my doctor (and I know others have been told this too by their doctors) that you will notice a difference in 4-7 days, normally about a week. I hope the doc’s right, I’m ready for relief. Also, considering I won’t be able to get my second injection for about 5 months I might have waited until then for my first treatment if it takes 2 treatments to be proven to reduce the number of headaches each month. (We will be in Tucson, AZ for the winter, so I can’t get my next injection until March 7th).
I’ll keep you updated on how my headaches are doing. Allison, from Taking Life for a Spin, recently had her first treatment and after about a week she reported she couldn’t lift her eyelids. You can check out her story here: Unresponsive Eyebrows.
So, how did the treatment feel you ask…what exactly did they do???
I had 31 injections….here are photos from the Allergan site showing the injection sites. One of mine was a bit different, Cochlear Implant in the way.
photo from http://www.botoxchronicmigraine.com/botox-treatment-expectations/
This was a bit different on my left side due to my CI.
photo from http://www.botoxchronicmigraine.com/botox-treatment-expectations/
photo from http://www.botoxchronicmigraine.com/botox-treatment-expectations/
photo from http://www.botoxchronicmigraine.com/botox-treatment-expectations/
What did it feel like? My doctor told me it would feel like little bee stings. Well I’ve only had big bee stings so it was much less painful that I thought it would be. The needles are tiny, but the solution does sting a bit, and some of these areas were pretty sensitive on me, but it wasn’t bad. I’d do it again. : ) It went really quick, my doctor really knew what she was doing, just a few minutes and it was done. I spent much more time waiting on her to come in the room. : )
So like little bee stings, yeah, but remember I got stuck by the whole hive! hahaha. No…I promise it wasn’t bad at all, it was nothing like some of the other procedures I’ve had!!
After I got the Botox injections, I also got an injection for the migraine I had right then. (one that had been going on for nearly 2 weeks) So after my visit we got a bite to eat and I came home and slept for 6 hours! What a way to spend the day…a good way actually. The shot in the butt helped my head pain, and he shots in my head will hopefully help me to have less head pain, and I had a good 6 hours of sleep straight through. I did feel like I wasted the day, then I thought, “What else would I have done?”
Oh….I forgot the funny part of the story! But beware…this is Way Too Much Information!
I had been having cramps and all the symptoms of having a period, with no period, for over a week. That morning I woke up and felt fine, I thought….hmmm, guess I’m not having a period this month. (I am 49, I’m expecting to start skipping some periods) So I got dressed, and left for the doctor’s, we get half way there and I’m hit with a horrible cramp. I thought….no, no, no…I didn’t bring a thing. Of course, when we got to the office I go to the rest room and yep, I started. Well, If you are a woman, I’m sure you’ve all had this happen at some point in your life, and what do you do? No dispenser on the wall….so…Toilet Paper to the rescue…and pray it’s good enough for the time being. So I went and waited and waited for the doctor, and had all my shots and 2 hours later we were leaving…and I forgot, yes, I forgot about my makeshift protection. So we go out to eat lunch, and go home and I walk in the door and remembered. How could I have forgotten?….well the shot could have had something to do with it, but, but, ewwww. Luckily, it wasn’t that bad. But I will never again assume I’m not having a period!! Lesson learned!
Picnic with Ants 
I do hope this works for you. That would be wonderful!!
Before I had my hysterectomy I couldn’t go anyplace without protection on and extras in my purse because I never knew what was going on or when and when it did–I had to go right home if it was the first two days because it was like a river! I would never have been able to wait in the doctor’s office or forgotten. TMI back atcha! LOL! 😉
LikeLike
I sure the botox does the trick! Not only will you have fewer headaches but no wrinkles 😀 Sorry about the period matter but glad you got through it. Going away for winter? I better get over there.
LikeLike
Looking forward to seeing you Lisa!!! Oh the period story wasn’t bad….I thought it was funny! But as Maureen said, it wouldn’t be a Wendy story without TMI. : ) I’ll email you ASAP. xo
LikeLike
Fingers crossed that this works for you. It’s amazing how a drug marketed for one thing can help people for something else.
And, it wouldn’t be a great Wendy post without a TMI story to go along with it. 🙂
LikeLike
Maureen, Oh I’m hoping it works too! It would be amazing! And it is amazing how drugs that were made for one thing ends up helping something else. Did you know Pepcid (the acid reducer…I think I may be spelling it wrong) is a strong antihistamine. When I was rushed to the ER after an allergic reaction to a medication they pumped me full of Benedryl and Pepcid. I asked why about the acid reducer? Would the medication hurt my stomach? They explained it’s also an antihistamine that works differently than Benedryl so they wanted to attack it from both sides. Amazing.
Glad the TMI story didn’t gross you out. I don’t know why I felt the need to share, but it’s been so different lately….and I thought it was kind of humorous.
hugs to you. w
LikeLike
Hope the botox does the trick (no migraines and looking years younger, lol). Seriously, I have heard it is a worthwhile proceedure — I’m not sure if it’s one of those AH moments — people with migraines got less with botox treatments for wrinkles, or that researchers thought this might work.
I can identify with the toilet paper issue — one time I had to use paper towels — yuk! One of the nice things about menopause (and in my case there are nice things) is not having to worry about carrying/finding supplies!
Looking forward to hearing that you’re not getting so many migraines! Good luck.
LikeLike
Even if I’m a botox fan, I think this use is the less effective. Comparing to its effectiveness on removing wrinkles, excessive sweating or to treat bladders, this migraine treatment proved to work only for 50-60% of all patients. This is a low percentage encountered in Ottawa but I’m sure the developers of botox will find a solution to improve the percentage of botox in Ottawa.
LikeLike
I have never been a fan of Botox. the idea of using botulism is scary to me. But it wasn’t scarier than having debilitating migraines on most days.
If someone with chronic migraines has tried everything and still cannot function more than 15 days a month, many will be willing to try to be that 50-60%. Actually, I would have tried it if it was only proven to work on less than 10% of the patients. I am at the end of available migraine medications. Nothing works. If the Botox works, wonderful. If it doesn’t, I haven’t lost anything.
I’m happy to say that I’m having less migraines, even with a lot of triggers hitting me at once. I’ve had a very good week. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the 3 months will be like. Hopefully, I’m in that low percentage.
Thank you for your comment. I don’t want to start a debate. I’m only stating why I decided to go through this procedure. Everyone should do their own research before undergoing any medical procedure.
LikeLike
Wendy, Have you noticed any change in your headaches since your botox injections? I had great relief right from the start. My daughter gets botox for headaches they help her. I stopped getting them when my MD in Ohio gave me botox, but I know he didn’t because the injections didn’t sting. That was the last time I went to the office! You can tell the difference with botox injections and other injections. Botox does sting as the medication is inserted, but it’s not horrible. I think any attempt at deceiving a patient, or turning in a claim for something that wasn’t given is WRONG! I’m not into playing mind games. I hope these help you. Make sure you set up your next appointment as soon as you return to the area. Take care, Edie
LikeLike
Edith, The first week I didn’t notice anything, then about day 7 I noticed a great improvement…triggers that normally cause bad migraines weren’t. The past few days have been headachey. One was a pretty bad migraine, but the others have just been from this dang cold. That’s a great reduction in the number of migraines! I sure hope it continues to help, especially during, that time of the month. And YES, any doctor who deceives a patient or the insurance company is very WRONG. Unfortunately, it happens more times than we’d like to think. Hope your headaches are better, and stay that way. (I already have an appointment set up for the week I return.)
LikeLike
I don’t get migraines, thank God, but I think I would try just about anything if I did. I have seen my sister when she get one, looks horrible. Good luck with this.
I love when I go to the doctor and they ask me when was my last period and I say 1991!
mo
LikeLike
Mo, I wish I could say my last period was years ago. When I read that line I just cracked up! My mom was finished by the time she was 42….I’m heading toward 50 and I see no signs of stopping. It’s worse! oops, TMI! Thanks for the comment! w
LikeLike