Just a quick post tonight before I retire for the evening.
I saw Dr E on Monday for my first Botox treatment. Much to my surprise, my new insurance company approved my doctor's request for Botox on the first try, no appeals necessary. My last insurance company denied the Botox, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise since it helped me to realize my last doctor was a turkey, so I fired her.
The procedure itself really was not as bad as I thought it would be. I brought DBF with me for moral support. After talking to me a bit about Botox, Dr E gave me about 12 injections, in my forehead, brow, back of head, neck and shoulders. The injections burned, for sure, but the pain was nothing compared to the migraine I had while I was there.
He also gave me the go-ahead to discontinue the cursed Topamax. I felt it was only giving me side effects and no benefits, and he felt that since I was on such a low dose I could go ahead and stop it. So right now, the only preventives I'm taking are magnesium and vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Plus the Botox.
I should know in the next few days if it's going to work for me. The day after the procedure was wonderfully low-pain. Yesterday I overdid it and ended up with my pain at an 8 by the end of the day. Today is somewhere in between. I'm faithfully tracking everything in my migraine diary and trying to be patient.
Dr E wants me to call in in three weeks to let him know how I'm doing. By then we'll have a better idea of my frequency and severity, and can discuss a plan from there. I have a follow-up Botox appointment scheduled in three months, but he plans to do some phone consults with me before then, and have me come in sooner if I need to.
(Let me just say again, I am so happy I found this guy.)
So, I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed that the Botox will help. I'm not expecting miracles, but I'm hoping it will reduce my pain enough to give other preventives a chance to start working. And maybe, just maybe, one day I'll be rid of this migraine.
Also, if you haven't seen it already, check out June's Migraine & Headache Blog Carnival, hosted by the Migraine Girl.
Be well,
MJ
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I am so happy to hear you were able to get the Botox, and with no insurance hold up!!! Yippee!!!!
I don't think I would qualify for it since at the present time, I'm pretty well controlled in the migraine department (as far as some standards) but I would like to get it for my wrinkly forhead, and to have it be covered medically - that would be awesome....but I guess that would somehow be cheating.
I hope the Botox works wonders for you my friend!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Hey MJ,
It's good to hear from you again. It's nice to know that I'm not alone, although it is unfortunate that any of us have to deal with this at all. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has thought about or had to dump "toxic" people from our lives. It's a tough thing to have to do, but I guess it sometimes has to be done. Thanks for your comments! I enjoy reading your blog!
Leslie
Good luck with the botox! Glad to hear the insurance didn't hassle you about it.
Eileen, Leslie and Migraine Chick, thanks for your well wishes!
Post a Comment