I have all of the classic flu like symptoms that I anticipated, as well as some really nasty looking red spots at the injection sites. Sometimes they bruise and form knots under the skin. Anyway, my Neuro said that is all normal and should subside within the next 2 months. However, I was speaking with my sister in law who is an RN. She said that they often have their patients take an antihistamine such as Claritin with their injections to lessen the sypmptoms (both flu-like and injection site.
I started on betaseron (betaferon here in UK) 2 weeks ago, so have so far injected 7 times. On nearly all the injection sites I have a slightly raised red area, approx 1 1/2 - 2 centimetres in diameter, not at all itchy or bothersome in any way. Where I did the first 2 injections I now only have very small marks, more like tiny bruises.
I suppose I am looking for someone to tell me it is ok to ignore this. I don't want to go to the doc or MS nurse and risk the drug being stopped.
s the most complained-about side effect. You must massage each injection site, keep it warm, and rotate the injection sites so that each site has time to recover. If you don't, you'll end up like me! I had problems with some of the sites, so only injected in the hips, thighs, and stomach. After a while, the thighs ended up being so scarred that the injection would cause an IPIR. I also have it in the hips and stomach, but after the thigh IPIR I switched to Betaseron.
Like MS varies from person to person, I think neurologists vary, as well. I think this applies in how they diagnose MS (I had one neuro tell me it was a clinically isolated syndrome, and another tell me it was definite MS according to the criteria), and in what medicine they prescribe.
So, I would do your own research, and then ask your doctor as many questions as you need. I would start by asking why he only recommends either Rebif or Betaseron, and not Copaxone or Avonex.
I have been on rebif for 2 years now. My question to all who are on or have been on Rebif is: do the areas where you have injected hurt? I don't mean right after the injection or even 1 week later. For example, both of my upper legs hurt when I lean against a counter top, even though I have not injected there for over 3 weeks. My hip areas where I have injected will ache as well if I turn just right when I am sitting down.
I am actually thinking of taking a break from Rebif.
So, in essence, you make it even more difficult to insert an injection. So, by alternating your sites, you lesson that possibility, because you give each area a longer recovery time.
I can understand the difficulty in trying to give yourself the shots on the back of your arms, or on your backside hips. If my wife (who is afraid of needles and normally passes out at the sight of a needle) did not give me those shots, I couldn't do it myself.
d appreciate experienced opinions. My Support Services weekly injection map/planner has only 4 sites for each arm, 8 for the hips, 10 for the thighs and 19 in the abdomen. That seems excessively burdensome for the arms and not using the abdomen enough. For some of us, sadly, there is SO much adipose territory in the abdomen I'm tempted to consider the upper and lower row of the abdomen two separate 8 site zones and go there twice in a rotation.
Hello and Welcome to the Forum :)
I am currently taking Avonex but I am not a fan. The needles are huge and the side effects knock you on your bum as if you have a wicked 24 hour flu. Can't miss work so you do it on the weekend and there goes have the weekend! I was told that it gets better in time. I have been on it 10 months and now I cry when it's time for the big needle because are the injection areas are so tender. Oh well maybe it's working.
Recommended
