shaywood
02-15-2006, 02:18 PM
I was diagnosed in November and I finally got my Avonex delivered yesterday. It is about time. I am having trouble picking a day to take it. What factors did you put into place to decide the day that you wanted to take your meds. I am a stay at home mom and wife. My husband works through the week and sometimes works weekends, but he usually has sundays off. I am not sure how I will react to it and how bad the flu symptoms will be. I heard that it is best to take at night for some people. So I was thinking about takeing it on saturdays so if I feel bad the next day my husband will be there to help with the kids, but I hate to put a damper on the weekends. At least I would have sat. to feel up for doing things with my family. I am just not sure what day to pick at first. Open to any suggestions.
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jennypash
02-15-2006, 03:18 PM
Hi there!
I have been on Avonex since October and although my side effects have improved alot, I still get pretty sick on shot night (and exhausted the next day). I work full time outside of my home so I have to do my shots on Friday night so I don't miss work. My son goes to his dad's house every other weekend so on the weekends he is home, my hubby will take him out in the morning so I can sleep in and rest. When he isn't home, I spend almost the whole day laying low. It really wipes me out the next day though, even if I sleep through the side effects my body is tired when I wake up. I would suggest picking a night to do the shot when you don't have a full and busy day the day following the shot. It effects everyone different so you may have little or no side effects. Just plan ahead in case you do. My goal is to do my shot on a work night so I don't lose part of my weekend (I really miss my Friday nights and Saturdays!) I am not at the point yet where I could work the next day, but hopefully I will be soon! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
I have been on Avonex since October and although my side effects have improved alot, I still get pretty sick on shot night (and exhausted the next day). I work full time outside of my home so I have to do my shots on Friday night so I don't miss work. My son goes to his dad's house every other weekend so on the weekends he is home, my hubby will take him out in the morning so I can sleep in and rest. When he isn't home, I spend almost the whole day laying low. It really wipes me out the next day though, even if I sleep through the side effects my body is tired when I wake up. I would suggest picking a night to do the shot when you don't have a full and busy day the day following the shot. It effects everyone different so you may have little or no side effects. Just plan ahead in case you do. My goal is to do my shot on a work night so I don't lose part of my weekend (I really miss my Friday nights and Saturdays!) I am not at the point yet where I could work the next day, but hopefully I will be soon! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
jennypash
02-15-2006, 03:19 PM
Hi there!
I have been on Avonex since October and although my side effects have improved alot, I still get pretty sick on shot night (and exhausted the next day). I work full time outside of my home so I have to do my shots on Friday night so I don't miss work. My son goes to his dad's house every other weekend so on the weekends he is home, my hubby will take him out in the morning so I can sleep in and rest. When he isn't home, I spend almost the whole day laying low. It really wipes me out the next day though, even if I sleep through the side effects my body is tired when I wake up. I would suggest picking a night to do the shot when you don't have a full and busy day the day following the shot. It effects everyone different so you may have little or no side effects. Just plan ahead in case you do. My goal is to do my shot on a work night so I don't lose part of my weekend (I really miss my Friday nights and Saturdays!) I am not at the point yet where I could work the next day, but hopefully I will be soon! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
I have been on Avonex since October and although my side effects have improved alot, I still get pretty sick on shot night (and exhausted the next day). I work full time outside of my home so I have to do my shots on Friday night so I don't miss work. My son goes to his dad's house every other weekend so on the weekends he is home, my hubby will take him out in the morning so I can sleep in and rest. When he isn't home, I spend almost the whole day laying low. It really wipes me out the next day though, even if I sleep through the side effects my body is tired when I wake up. I would suggest picking a night to do the shot when you don't have a full and busy day the day following the shot. It effects everyone different so you may have little or no side effects. Just plan ahead in case you do. My goal is to do my shot on a work night so I don't lose part of my weekend (I really miss my Friday nights and Saturdays!) I am not at the point yet where I could work the next day, but hopefully I will be soon! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
JulieDe
02-15-2006, 04:30 PM
I've been on Avonex since Nov 2005 and I take my injection on Sat nights before I go to bed. That way I have all day Sunday to recover from any side effects I might have. They have improved over time. I didn't have any for 3wks in a row then last week I had a bad night. Woke up several times, was achey, etc. I also take the shot out of the frig about 4-5pm and leave it out for about 7-8 hrs. Seems to cut down on the side effects. Just watch you don't leave it out for more than 12. Good luck!
StephanieAnne
02-15-2006, 05:50 PM
Shay
I take mine on Thursday night, Thurs was the day that I went to the DR's to learn how to give me the injection and that is how I picked that day.
The symptoms lasted for about 3 weeks, then they went away, and came back about 6 months later for a few weeks and I have not had any side effects since the summer. I started Jan 2005. I found that I have 5 hours after injecting until the symptoms start, so I shoot usually around 8 or 9pm, so I will be sleeping if they start, BUT I have woken up at 3am and not had any side effects at all. The symptoms that I felt were that feeling of chills all thru my body, like your body is trying to yawn, it's just uncomfortable, so don't forget to take something for it.
I am the biggest chicken on the face of this green earth, I tried my whole life to talk any dr out of giving me any shot, and now I give myself one every week, life is strange itsn't it?
Have you had someone show you how to inject? are they pre mixed needles or do you mix it? I hear that the mix it solution doesn't have bad side effects/symptoms. I am thinking that if you do the 1st one on Saturday night, then you will have your hubby around for the 1st day after, then see how you feel and maybe you will want to move the injection time to friday so you will have some of your weekend, and I remembered I felt crummy for about 1/2 a day. Then felt normal..... whatever normal is now :rolleyes:
Hope this helps
I take mine on Thursday night, Thurs was the day that I went to the DR's to learn how to give me the injection and that is how I picked that day.
The symptoms lasted for about 3 weeks, then they went away, and came back about 6 months later for a few weeks and I have not had any side effects since the summer. I started Jan 2005. I found that I have 5 hours after injecting until the symptoms start, so I shoot usually around 8 or 9pm, so I will be sleeping if they start, BUT I have woken up at 3am and not had any side effects at all. The symptoms that I felt were that feeling of chills all thru my body, like your body is trying to yawn, it's just uncomfortable, so don't forget to take something for it.
I am the biggest chicken on the face of this green earth, I tried my whole life to talk any dr out of giving me any shot, and now I give myself one every week, life is strange itsn't it?
Have you had someone show you how to inject? are they pre mixed needles or do you mix it? I hear that the mix it solution doesn't have bad side effects/symptoms. I am thinking that if you do the 1st one on Saturday night, then you will have your hubby around for the 1st day after, then see how you feel and maybe you will want to move the injection time to friday so you will have some of your weekend, and I remembered I felt crummy for about 1/2 a day. Then felt normal..... whatever normal is now :rolleyes:
Hope this helps
shaywood
02-21-2006, 09:22 AM
Well I decided to take my avonex on saturdays, and this past sat. was when I got my first shot. My aunt is an lpn so she is going to help with the training cause my ins. does not cover the training. I took it about 8 that night and around 1 in the morning I woke up shivering. My body was shaking so bad and every muscle in my body was hurting. I woke my husband up from my teeth chattering and I was shaking the whole bed. It scared him to death. It scared me too. Then I felt like I was running a fever and I finally did fall asleep and then I woke up again in a sweat. The next morning I felt awfull. My head hurt and my muscles were all sore and I was so tired and it is now 3 days later and my muscles are still sore. I know that flu symptoms do come with the shot but it is really hard to give yourself a shot when you know in a few hours that you are going to feel horrible. I am sure that a lot of you are going through this too. I just wish the stress would go away and that I could go one day without something hurting or being tired. I want my normal life back again but I dont think it will ever be the same. Im sure you know what I am feeling. Thanks for listening.
MelissaM7576
02-21-2006, 01:33 PM
I have been on Avonex since Sept 2005, I started taking my shot on Friday night and when I first started the symptoms were severe. I would get the shivers, shakes, teeth chattering, the sweats, and finally the muscle aches. I would be so exhausted by the time the morning came I would be wiped the entire day and weekend. :mad: As my symptoms subsided I switched to Thursday nights thinking I could work through it, the problem is you never know when the symptoms can come back? Does anybody know why that is????? :confused:
SO I guess my point is, you have to start on a day where you know you'll have help. As you get used to the medicine, you may be able to make changes as you see fit for your schedule. For now sounds like Saturday night might be for you Shaywood, take it when your husband is around so you can rest and let your body adjust.
Good luck :)
SO I guess my point is, you have to start on a day where you know you'll have help. As you get used to the medicine, you may be able to make changes as you see fit for your schedule. For now sounds like Saturday night might be for you Shaywood, take it when your husband is around so you can rest and let your body adjust.
Good luck :)
StephanieAnne
02-21-2006, 04:33 PM
Shaywood
Sorry you had a bad event, did you take an anti inflammatory drug like Motrin before you had your shot? I remember when I 1st started taking Avonex, and that shivering was like my insides were shaking, I got into bed and curled up into a ball and went to sleep. and I felt crummy the next day, but I would take Motrin in the AM and that seemed to help
The symptoms in the beginning lasted about 4-6 weeks, then they went away and came back about 4 months later for a few weeks and I have not had any symptoms since August, so they will go away. Make sure you take something for the flu feelings next time, that should help.
I hope you have an easier go this week
Steph
Sorry you had a bad event, did you take an anti inflammatory drug like Motrin before you had your shot? I remember when I 1st started taking Avonex, and that shivering was like my insides were shaking, I got into bed and curled up into a ball and went to sleep. and I felt crummy the next day, but I would take Motrin in the AM and that seemed to help
The symptoms in the beginning lasted about 4-6 weeks, then they went away and came back about 4 months later for a few weeks and I have not had any symptoms since August, so they will go away. Make sure you take something for the flu feelings next time, that should help.
I hope you have an easier go this week
Steph
shaywood
02-21-2006, 05:20 PM
Thanks for the replys. I did take advil liquid gells before my injection and four hours later when I got sick and when I woke up in the morning I took some more and throughout the day also. Well i sure hope is eases up like you said. This is really hard to deal with, what helps you to deal with it all?? I feel like I am waiting forever to be happy and to not hurt anymore.
StephanieAnne
02-21-2006, 09:48 PM
Shaywood,
I felt that way too exactly one year ago, what I did was just chill what else could I do, I listened to my body, did what it wanted, don't push anything at this point, I did alot of laying around, reading, learning about MS on the computer. I am home alone all week my hubby drives truck and to fill my time everyday there were things that I would do, like call someone on the phone, or have someone over for coffee, go visit someone, even if you do these things a couple of times a week, it will help you get thru this time.
You sound a little sad :( depression is a big symptom, are you on anything? Maybe you might want to consider taking something, it is so difficult to adjust to this new life that we have, and I found that Zoloft helped and still helps me, you have to lean on things at this point in your life.
Things do get better, at least you are experiencing all of this in the winter, so when spring gets here, you will be past all the yucky-ness
Try this, drink lots of water, breathe [I know you breathe all the time] but sit in a chair, close your eyes and think good thoughts and inhale hold it for a count of 5 let it go, let all the air out of your lungs, then do it again, it will calm you. Eat lots of fruit and veggies. and think good thoughts!! :)
Hope you are feeling better
Steph
I felt that way too exactly one year ago, what I did was just chill what else could I do, I listened to my body, did what it wanted, don't push anything at this point, I did alot of laying around, reading, learning about MS on the computer. I am home alone all week my hubby drives truck and to fill my time everyday there were things that I would do, like call someone on the phone, or have someone over for coffee, go visit someone, even if you do these things a couple of times a week, it will help you get thru this time.
You sound a little sad :( depression is a big symptom, are you on anything? Maybe you might want to consider taking something, it is so difficult to adjust to this new life that we have, and I found that Zoloft helped and still helps me, you have to lean on things at this point in your life.
Things do get better, at least you are experiencing all of this in the winter, so when spring gets here, you will be past all the yucky-ness
Try this, drink lots of water, breathe [I know you breathe all the time] but sit in a chair, close your eyes and think good thoughts and inhale hold it for a count of 5 let it go, let all the air out of your lungs, then do it again, it will calm you. Eat lots of fruit and veggies. and think good thoughts!! :)
Hope you are feeling better
Steph
shaywood
02-24-2006, 09:26 AM
Thanks stephanieanne, Yeah the winter does make all of this worse being cooped up in the house all of the time. I feel allright at the moment, I wouldnt say I am depressed I would say I am just overwelmed at the time. I have some other health issues going on at the time and it just hit me all at one time. When I was diagnosed with ms in November My gall bladder began to act up agin and it put me in the hospital a couple of times and then I had to have it taken out and now I have had some tests done and I have some kind of obstruction of the bile ducts doc. think it is from my gall bladder being so bad. I had over 100 stones can you believe that...So I have to have a procedure done to see what is in the bile duct. If it wasnt everything all at once I wouldnt feel so overwelmed and worried all the time. I just keep on waiting for that warm weather and the birds and flowers and I will feel much better. fresh air can do wonders...
StephanieAnne
02-24-2006, 11:36 AM
Shaywood
Oh my gosh, how much more are you supposed to take :confused:
I hope things go ok with the procedure, 100 stones that is alot and that is probably why you are feeling so down, anyone would in your position.
How about removing your gall bladder?
I thought I had those problems a few years ago, had all sorts of tests, an upper endoscopy, a test where I drank a shake with something in it to show where it goes in my body. But, after all that testing... months of it.......
I had a big huge honkin' fibroid tumor!!!! 3lbs! Had energency surgery on a Sunday, the entire thing was surreal, so I have a inkling of what you are going thru.
Best to get all of this over with before the flowers, birds, and trees come back :) SPRING, I CAN'T WAIT, as I look at the 8 inches of snow out my window :eek:
Wishing you healthy thoughts :D
Oh my gosh, how much more are you supposed to take :confused:
I hope things go ok with the procedure, 100 stones that is alot and that is probably why you are feeling so down, anyone would in your position.
How about removing your gall bladder?
I thought I had those problems a few years ago, had all sorts of tests, an upper endoscopy, a test where I drank a shake with something in it to show where it goes in my body. But, after all that testing... months of it.......
I had a big huge honkin' fibroid tumor!!!! 3lbs! Had energency surgery on a Sunday, the entire thing was surreal, so I have a inkling of what you are going thru.
Best to get all of this over with before the flowers, birds, and trees come back :) SPRING, I CAN'T WAIT, as I look at the 8 inches of snow out my window :eek:
Wishing you healthy thoughts :D
shaywood
02-24-2006, 11:50 AM
hey stephanieanne, yeah I did have my gall bladder removed in dec. and my diagnosis with ms was on nov. 7th so it happened all at one time. Yeah I had on e ofthose endonoscopy and a mrcp now I am gonna have a ercp it is another scope that goes down your throat and I guess they can use a tool and do surgery that way. well thanks for the good thoughts and wow 8 inches of snow. I dont have any where I live right now but it is supposed to snow a lil over the next few days. Thanks again I will let you know how my ercp goes on march 29. I hope you have a great weekend. :D