Copaxone - how many shots do you miss??

[DianeD]

I really do want to stop and see what happens.

I would like to brag and say good for me ... but I'll tell the truth. After over four years, I quit Copaxone two months ago.

I'm feeling more like my old self. I have more energy, am less sleepy, and more cognitively together.

I've written a book about my experience with a diagnosis of RRMS and a treatment of Copaxone.

It's not your "I've got MS but MS doesn't have me" cheer. It's the truth, cold and simple ... but warmed by the loving support that has carried me through this passage.

I believe I'm through. Time will tell.

Terry

I know this isn't a new post, but I haven't been on MSWorld for a while. I hate Copaxone and don't believe it's doing a bit of good for me. I feel worse, not better. I am running out of injectable sites (just do my legs and hips due to reactions like welts and sores elsewhere). My neuro, of course, just says keep doing it. I'm not sure of his true logic, but I suppose when that's all you can offer a patient, you just keep saying it.

I'd love to read your book; is it published?
I would also like to get your opinion of Gabapentin? I don't know if you've tried it, but it leaves me dizzy and in a depressed mood.

Diane

[Mamabug]

You've written a book? Tell us more about it, is it advertised anywhere, where could we get it if we decided to purchase one, is it available as a Kindle book, etc?

[DianeD]

I would like to brag and say good for me ... but I'll tell the truth. After over four years, I quit Copaxone two months ago.

I'm feeling more like my old self. I have more energy, am less sleepy, and more cognitively together.

I've written a book about my experience with a diagnosis of RRMS and a treatment of Copaxone.

It's not your "I've got MS but MS doesn't have me" cheer. It's the truth, cold and simple ... but warmed by the loving support that has carried me through this passage.

I believe I'm through. Time will tell.

Terry

I'm just wondering if you stayed off the Copaxone?

[M.A.F]

HI, i went 6 years and did not miss one shot, but last year i did skip some.mark

[Alicious]

[QUOTE=babygirlamy;1341846]

Basically, I put it in the auto injector, realized it was a place I could inject manually (I prefer manual), tried to get the already uncapped syringe out of the injector that was screwed together, popped the inject button, and voila! Super expensive fountain. Twice. I knew both times it was a bad idea....

Don't feel lonely....I did the same thing

At least I'm in good company!

[babygirlamy]

[QUOTE=Alicious;1339525]

Basically, I put it in the auto injector, realized it was a place I could inject manually (I prefer manual), tried to get the already uncapped syringe out of the injector that was screwed together, popped the inject button, and voila! Super expensive fountain. Twice. I knew both times it was a bad idea....

Don't feel lonely....I did the same thing

[jillmb]

I have only been on copaxone for 6 months, but have not missed a shot yet! I do the shot beofre I brush my teeth and wash my face at night, which I never miss! So, I figure if I put the shot into that part of my routine, I won't forget to do it. I know me, I would feel awful if I forgot to do it, like it ruined my "system or routine" so I have to do it! Oh, and I do it manually, I hated the autoject

[babygirlamy]

I try to be faithful in taking my injection but I will be honest there are nights that I forget or I just don't feel like taking it. I might miss 3 or 4 a month. I really try to do good and remember to lay it out so that my husband can give it to me when he gets home from work. I haven't thought of doing the journal. Thats a great idea!

[Mamabug]

When I started Copaxone, I had super awful site reactions for a long time. But, only in my hips, arms and thighs. Big red welts. But, worst of all was the pain. Not just during injection, but, aching, aching pain at the site for up to 3 days following each injection. Painful enough that I took acetaminophen or ibuprofin every 4-6 hours round the clock every single day.

I called Shared Solutions multiple times for injection techniques. I tried everything they suggested. Multiple times. I requested that they send a nurse a second time to re-train me. They did, and I was doing the injections correctly. The injection that I did with the nurse there hurt just as bad as every other injection.

I'd read articles/research regarding every other day Copaxone injections being just as effective as daily injections. The sample size of the study was small, so its results could be questioned. But, I talked to my MS Specialist about it, and we decided that 4x per week injections, rotated at 4 different sites in my abdomen were OK for me.

Copaxone has always been more effective for me than Betaseron was. (Everyone's different; I'm not dissing Betaseron, because it works for some, and there were some things about it that I preferred.) However, decreasing my Copaxone fx to 4x/wk has not decreased my experience with how effective it appears to be for my MS.

~ Faith

[MarkLavelle]

Basically, I put it in the auto injector, realized it was a place I could inject manually (I prefer manual), tried to get the already uncapped syringe out of the injector that was screwed together, popped the inject button, and voila! Super expensive fountain. Twice. I knew both times it was a bad idea....

Now if I forget I just leave it alone until a hip injection day and grab a new syringe to do a manual shot.

Please don't take this wrong, but that was my best laugh of the day!

I should probably start a new thread, but what is it about manual injection that you prefer? I find it pretty impossible for the arms and difficult for the hips (butt).

[Alicious]

But I want to ask!

I've left the red cap on a couple of times, but I've figured out how to 're-load' without wasting the dose...

Basically, I put it in the auto injector, realized it was a place I could inject manually (I prefer manual), tried to get the already uncapped syringe out of the injector that was screwed together, popped the inject button, and voila! Super expensive fountain. Twice. I knew both times it was a bad idea....

Now if I forget I just leave it alone until a hip injection day and grab a new syringe to do a manual shot.

[chalknpens]

Four Years, maybe five shots missed

I would like to brag and say good for me ... but I'll tell the truth. After over four years, I quit Copaxone two months ago.

I'm feeling more like my old self. I have more energy, am less sleepy, and more cognitively together.

I've written a book about my experience with a diagnosis of RRMS and a treatment of Copaxone.

It's not your "I've got MS but MS doesn't have me" cheer. It's the truth, cold and simple ... but warmed by the loving support that has carried me through this passage.

I believe I'm through. Time will tell.

Terry

[MarkLavelle]

I have lost two syringes by screwing up the autoinjector and watching the meds spray across the room (don't ask), but I still took shots those days.

But I want to ask!

I've left the red cap on a couple of times, but I've figured out how to 're-load' without wasting the dose...

[Alicious]

...Also, I know my personality. If I allow myself to skip one, why not two? Three? A few a month? Mne a week? More?

I do them every.single.day to keep myself accountable.

[Alicious]

I haven't missed one either.

I have lost two syringes by screwing up the autoinjector and watching the meds spray across the room (don't ask), but I still took shots those days.