Re: More questions after botox injections
The bruise is standard results for injections into muscles, especially around the eyes. Don't concern yourself about it. I find it amusing to gross out my friends about the injections: What kind of toxin? WHERE? Gaag!!Give yourself a little more time for the Botox to take full effect. Sounds like it's not there yet. Mine usually takes about 10-14 days. You may find that when things quiet down that you are much more normal than you had expected -- I know I did -- and that returning to work is a much more pleasant prospect than fighting for disability insurance. Not to say that you shouldn't do that, but it's worth hoping that it won't be necessary. Cheers, --- Lynn
Re: More questions after botox injections
If your eyes are not closing completely when you sleep, you need to be especially careful about lubricating them at night. Use an ointment of some kind and possibly a sleep mask - several of us do.I had breast cancer 7 years ago and it helped me develop a better attitude toward dealing with health problems. I'll admit the BEB is hard to laugh at, but it helps to find something humorous about the trials and tribulations we have, as well as our ways of coping with them. Virginia in AL, where we are past our last freeze date, but Mother Nature is ignoring the calendar - hope tonight is the last. May be in the 80's by weekend.
Re: More questions after botox injections
Lubrication of eyes when they don't close is must. Wearing eye covers as well along with lubrication even more helpful...I call it my movie star mask...helps keep the cornea healthy. The last Botox I got 3 weeks ago made me have to wear the mask again despite the fact I had been doing better since taking Moistur Eyes caps. As far as disability that is an individual decision. If they are indeed downsizing you might want to ask yourself some important questions. Do you have disability insurance at work which you would lose if you were terminated. Can you preform the functions of your job? How hard and stressful is it for you to do your job since the BEB? What kind of quality of life do you have once you get home from work? Not being able to drive is not grounds for disability....not being able to do the functions of your job is. If you have disabiltiy at work and you got it, you would have to apply for Social Security Disability(SSD) and then the work disability would be reduced to the amount your policy states. Example...mine was 60% of my salary. I took 30 days of medical leave to qualify for short term disability(STD) and used my vacation and sick time. After 30 days I received STD. After 150 days I received Long Term Disability(LTD) and had to apply for SSD. I got mine on the first try. You have to be off work 5 months to get SSD, but mine worked out exactly right and was retroactive to the time I applied. Then the LTD pays whatever it needs to for a total of SSD and LTD to equal the percentage your policy states. In my case a total of 60%. I loved my job, but I struggled 5 months trying to do it with BEB and using every ounce of energy I had I had to go to bed when I got home and dreaded the next day because it was torture to get there and then try to do what I needed to do. I have no regrets about my decision. My stress level was decreased so much that now I cope much better because I can listen to my body, rest when I need to, enjoy the better days and manage the terrible days. I hope Botox is so effective for you that you don't have to stop working, but in my case nothing helped enough to make the struggle worth it. If you do come to that point that I did, the foundation has a SSD packet and your human resources office at work can help walk you through the process. Good luck. I had a black eye with my first Botox because she hit a superficial vein. I now warn everybody where it is and so far haven't had a shiner since. I also go ptosis in the same eye, so I looked liked I'd been in a fight. 3 weeks of black, blue, green and 5 weeks of ptosis. I've had slight ptosis the second time but since then the docs have avoided above my eyelids and no more ptosis.
Delaine in TN.
Re: More questions after botox injections
Delaine, just want a bit of info about the lubricants and if I should be using them more often and regularly. 4 weeks ago I was diagnosed with blepharospasm and got first botox treatment. For 3 days my eyes felt perfect and after that I began to have some side affects, blurriness and double vision. I've gone past that and my eyes are feeling about normal other than I do feel like they are dried out and 3 or 4 times a day I use the gen teal gel, one drop each eye. Feels great and doesn't film over. I use one drop each eye at bedtime of celluvisc, and have very little residual affect in the morning. Heres my question, should I be using more moisture, like the ointment at bedtime and using the gel more through the day. Do you recommend the moisture eye caps? I have never heard of them except here on the board. I feel like my eyes arent' closing completely and I don't want to risk doing them damage. Do you know what lacriserts are and would you recommend them? I guess I'll buy a mask, if you'll send me advice I'll appreciate. thanks, penny
Re: More questions after botox injections
Lacriserts??? Have no idea what those are. The ointment blurrs my vision so much that I use Thera Tears which has a little thick and oily texture. I have worn a mask when I rest or sleep since I first started getting Botox. The partial myectomy made it even more necessary because when I relax my eyes they open just a little, even if the Botox has worn off. My neuro/ophthal drilled it into my head not to let my corneas dry out or I could get ulcers and inflammation and infection and besides that, extreme dryness is just plain painful and blurs my vision. I really like the ingredients in the Moistur Eyes...good stuff for the eye and overall health and I really thought they were helping. The last Botox caused me to experience more dryness and I put the mask back on again. I'd had a month or so where I didn't wake up with my eyes feeling so dry. I also use a humidifier in my bedroom and one that humidifies the living area. I think that helps also. Helps my sinuses too.
SSDI ...
Coleen:It's best to know what you have in the way of coverages from work. If you have a company benefits booklet look for STD(short term disibility) and LTD (long term disibility). Go to your Human Resources Department if you have one and ask them. Make copies of what it says. When I was in the same situation I just put on my dark wrap around sunglasses because the lighting was a killer and told people that I had an eye problem, hiding the extent of it from my employers for fear of being laid off. In retrospect, as soon as I knew the prognosis I could have let them know, which would have automatically protected me under the ADA (American with disibilities act). As it was, I worked for a little over a year with one eye closed and the other blinking, struggling each day to get out of bed (when my body was saying loud and clear, 'I just can't do this'), drive seven terrible miles to work, working under heavy flourescent lighting in the multi-stress position of a stock brokerage. Keep copies of your doctor visits, notes regarding conversations with your employer, in short - document everything to create a paper trail in the case that you may need it. You still have plenty of time for the Botox to work. It takes approximately 3 sessions of shots for the doctor to get the optimal placement of shot site and units of Botox that will work for you. Hang in there, Judy
blkmn36@earthlink.net
Re: More questions after botox injections
Hi Colleen, Where in Pa are you from? I always get excited when I think someone might be near me. I am in the Northeast. Marlyn
Re: More questions after botox injections
I had short and long term disability at work so that is what I chose to do a little over a year ago. My condition has worsened and my spasms have spread to my jaw, neck and throat. My LTD policy states that I have to be disabled from my present job for 2 years and any job after that. I am a CPA so the computer 8 hours a day just wasn't cutting it. I drove one hour in Dallas traffic each way to work, dropping 2 kids off at 2 different day cares. All I could think about from the time I woke up was how many hours until I could go back to bed. I left in Dec 1999 and am functioning better around the house and caring for my children. Lessening the strain on my eyes and the stress associated with work has definitely helped overall. My LTD carrier is now requiring an independent medical exam in a couple of weeks. The doctor is a neurologist atleast so we will see how that goes. It's a hard decision to make and I wish you luck in making it.
Re: More questions after botox injections
Marilyn, I am in Lancaster County, Amish Country. We have only been here about nine years and haven't explored much of the state. Where in the northeast are you? If you are in the Scranton area, my husband is always looking for an excuse to go to Steamtown. Whatever that is. It would be great to get together. Coleen
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