Re: Extending Botox?
Hi June,I have still not been diagnosed as having blepharospasm ( am waiting for another doctor's appointment), but I was struck by your message about hip and back problems. I have had sharp pains in my knees off and on for the last 5 years. I have been told it was arthritis,but no arthritis medicine even touches it. It is worse at night which no doctor can seem to understand. Acupuncture has helped a lot. I wonder if it has anything to do with this situation. Hope you don't mind my continuing on this web site even though I have not been definitely diagnosed.
Re: Extending Botox?
JuneMy doctor who give me my botox will not under and circumstance give botox any earlier than 3 month intervals. She is adament that it causes antibodies to build up. I am fortunate that I do not need them that much, usually I can go 4 -5 months since I have had my surgery.
I I am doing much better since the surgery but still some have bad days. I find that when I am tired they are worse.
I have a question for you.
I pick up my botox from the pharmacy myself. It comes in a frozen state. I get about 45 units and then I really do not know what happens to the rest. From what they tell me it can be kept for 4-5 days after it has been thawed. I feel that the botox I just had is not working as well as before and I was wondering maybe I got someone elses botox that had been kept and they kept mine frozen???? Have you every heard of that happening. I will definately ask more questions now that I feel these injections are not a good. Hope this is not confusing Catherine in Calgary who has 2 Christmas parties this weekend and will definatel;y nap the afternoon.
Re: Extending Botox?
Hi Catherine, nice to talk to another Canadian - although everybody on this bb is great!I don't know anything about your particular problem - didn't others in the past say that botox shouldn't be frozen at all? Maybe I don't remember correctly - sure others more knowledeable will answer you. Take care. June in Toronto
Re: Extending Botox?
When my last botox was so ineffective, I wrote to the company about quality control. I was interested in the strenght being even every time but they answered that they kept it frozen to a certain degree at all times. I wrote to Allergan on the internet. They should be able to answer your questions. Ann Doyle
Re: Extending Botox?
I do know that after it is defrosted , it is only good for a few hours. Ann D
Re: Extending Botox/Catherine
Hi Catherine - I received my Botox injections today - 25 units around each eye, since I had a limited myectomy 21/2 yrs. ago. I go for the shots exactly every 8 weeks, and it keeps me in pretty good shape. (reasonably good - Most of the time I can drive, read, etc.) My dr. is a very respected neurologist in a teaching hospital, and he feels that I will not build up an immunity. I haven't so far. I think recent research has stated that immunity is rare. I found out that I NEEDED it every 8 weeks, and he OKed it....I trust him! Good luck ! Mary
Re: Extending Botox/Also Other Pains?
Hi Ruth,We certainly don't mind you being here - with or without a beb diagnosis you are welcome. I had back surgery many years ago and know my recent problems are due, to some degree, to falls I had during last winter that aggrevated the hip especially and, of course, the aging factor. Those 3 falls were caused by my eyes shutting down on me during very cold, windy weather and icy conditions (we get that here in Canada:-). This year (to use whenever we get colder weather), I have purchased a pair of glacier glasses that are wrap-around sunglasses with leather sides and top - I hope that will help with the wind when I have to go out in it. I have also dug out an old cane and put a snow/ice gripper on the bottom and will have to use that to help with the (not) falling. This particular (AccuHealth) tens-type machine I'm using is supposedly good for all pains and especially for arthritis - its similar to your acupuncture I'm sure, but you could use it at home when and as needed. There's a positive (+) and minus (-) setting on the machine and I use the - polarity, which is supposed to have a sedative effect, so perhaps you'd get better sleep with it. My hubby has peripheral neuropathy and has terrible pain, so we are having togetherness(:-!!! and using it on each other - he, especially is sceptical (he's a social scientist and requires lots of research done on anything), but hey - its worth a try I figure. I've been to doctors, chiropractors - continually do back exercises, etc. Nice talking to you. June in Toronto who also has a Christmas lunch at the fitness club today - its gonna be a day to put on weight!
--modified by June in Toronto at Fri, Dec 07, 2001, 10:04:06
Re:Ice and falling
Hi June,Speaking of slippery conditions and falling, we've been having lots of snow storms in the Spokane area this past week or so, and very slick conditions. (We're now in a period of relative dryness, but more is supposed to come.) Anyway ... one of the TV reporters showed some cleats the other night that he was wearing to go out and about to do his reporting job. They just go over your regular shoes or boots, and grip into the ice. He said they are inexpensive and are available at most outdoors stores. I might check them out next time I can go shopping. Sally in North Idaho where a sunny day today was very annoying to my eyes. They've done much better during the gray, snowy days.
Re: Re:Ice and falling/sally
unfortunately , my eyes are doing better on these overcast days also. gray days don't help my mood any.
Re: Extending Botox/Also Other Pains?
june, i'm thru feeling sorry for you. you're so "on the go" all the time , it sounds like you are happily very busy. you just don't sound like a knitting type person!
Re: Knitting
Oh Kathy ye of little faith:-), I managed to knit 4 pairs of mitts for our church's mitten tree - 4 more pairs than I did last year! I found it hard and slow to knit though as my eyes don't want to concentrate - crocheting and using my sewing machine are almost impossible as I have to stare at that. Maybe I'll start knitting early in 2002 and have loads of stuff for the next tree.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: Extending Botox?
I see an opth surgeon and a neurologist (mds) regularly for beb and meige. Both doctors agree that receiving botox every 8-10 weeks at the lower doeses required by beb/meige (I receive a total of 155 units) will not cause me a problem. They concur that my problem will arise when I am completely blind by waiting for some arbitrary amount of time and am unable to care for my young daughters. I HAVE to function today and just can't worry about several years down the road right now.Kelly in Dallas
Re: Extending Botox?/JUNE
June, I'm curious what kind of side effects do you get from botox? I have never had any that I know of. Happy Anniversary! Dee in OR
--modified by Dee in OR at Sat, Dec 08, 2001, 17:25:36
Re: Extending Botox?/Side effects
Dee, I don't get any side effects either. With my old doctor I got ptosis for about a month after every injection, my eyes would tear alot because they didn't close and they were dry. Now I have had ptosis once in 5 years and only use drops when I wake up in the morning. I guess we are pretty lucky!Kelly in Dallas
Re: Extending Botox?/JUNE
Hi Dee, I get a lot of burning pain and feel like I have barbed wire keeping the eyes open. Also I most often get double vision, then blurred vision, and the last 3 times I've had botox have had sinus and/or tearing - these side effects last 4 weeks or more.June in Toronto who had a wonderful evening for our anniversary - Japanese cooking all done before our very eyes with lots of tossing of food and cutlery - a great show and delicious to eat.
Re: Extending Botox?/JUNE
well i guess i got told off there about the knitting, it's just that you were searching for things to keep you busy at one time. i didn't know it was you anniversary. Happy Anniversary!!
Re: Keeping Me Busy?
I'm still searching Kathy. Like others (before beb/meige) I was employed full time at a university, was a single parent raising 2 kids, never had much time for hobbies except that, for years, I did make all our clothes and gardened and enjoyed keep-fit classes. Now (because of the beb) I cant sew much, can't work, miss reading terribly (talking books are ok but not like curling up with a good book to read), live in an apartment with balconies (not real gardening anymore!) and keep-fit has become more difficult because of aches and pains. I'm still in transition from my before-beb life and now, and being older (although I've had it for 6 years--I'm a slow learner!!!). I enjoyed knitting the 4 pairs of mitts, but don't feel I'm good enough to tackle much more. I'll keep looking for a hobby that r e a ll y interests me and I can do - all suggestions on this bb were very helpful and gratefully received. Best wishes.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: Keeping Me Busy?
Hi, June I am glad that you had a nice Anniversary.
When my grandgaugther was going to college she played piano
for the dinner hour at a Japanese restaurant.Sometime she would bring some home.I liked the one made with beef cant remember what it was.Colleen in IL Who has not seen my grandaugther since last Christmas. I really miss her
Re: Keeping Me Busy?
Hi Colleen, sorry you haven't seen your grandaughter for almost a year - where does she live now? People move around the world so much now don't they? She must be a good piano player to have played in a restaurant. My husband plays in a traditional jazz band - part time. Tomorrow he is playing at our church for our women's Christmas luncheon - he'll play carols, and is a bit nervous as its so different from playing in the band. He'll be good I know as he's been practicing a lot and I've enjoyed that!I had shrimp and scollops at the Japanese restaurant (so did my son) and my husband had the chicken (he has high cholesterol) - along with lots of fresh vegetables and rice. For dessert we were presented with ice cream complete with a candle - actually there were 7 people at the table and we were all celebrating something, so we all got the dessert. June inToronto (beb/meige) who has one more day before she leaves for Vancouver, then Seattle.
Re: Keeping Me Busy?
June my grandgauther is in San Francisco she is a second year medical student.She helped with college playing at dinner clubs and givinglessons.
Before beb i could do a zillion things at one time had a lot of energy
now i will do one thing and rest then maybe do something else.Beb has changed a lotof things but i always tell myself that it could be worse
then i know that i will make it.
Colleen in IL who wished she had her tree up
Re: Keeping Me Busy?/ june
scarves are much easier to knit than mittens! with all the abolutely beautiful yarns they have now and large knitting needles, that could be a fun project. i know you are searching for something other than this , but thought i would add this suggestion.
Re: Keeping Me Busy?
Have you tried yoga or simple walking. Like you for 5-10 weeks at a time my eyes are closed and I am so bored. Talking books don't help me either. Unfortunately eating does. I try not to overdo it. I know there are things I could do--clean out drawers etc. but I can't think of anything "FUN" . If you find it let me know. Shopping would be occassionally fun if I could drive with my eyes closed and look around with my eyes closed. Actually, I can hold up one eye lid sometimes for a slit . After shots I can see pretty good for a few weeks. Ann Doyle
Re: Keeping Me Busy?/ann
ann, the zooloft must be doing you some good. depressed people usually don't want to shop OR they shop too much. maybe the taping thing could help you also.
--modified by kathy at Tue, Dec 18, 2001, 07:16:59
Re: Extending Botox?
Hi June,
Todayis our daughter's 31st birthday. Our kid's birthdays aren't that far apart, and they aren't that far apart in age. Her husband's birthday is the 23rd, and her daughter's birthday is the 18th, so with Christmas, we have a lot going on. We're taking all three of them to dinner tomorrow night
I had a massage and adjustment yesterday, and was sick today, but I can walk better than I have been able to for two or three months.
I hope your new device/machine works well for you and your hubby.
Happy Anniversary...we just attended a celebration tonight for some friends who have been married 60 years.
Evelyn in rainy, grey, cold WA.
Re: Kid's Ages/Massage/Etc. Etc.
Hi Evelyn,You do have a lot going on with a number of birthdays, etc. Glad you can at least walk better now - I guess the massage and adjustment made you sick? I know the one and only time I had a complete massage I had a migraine afterwards - never attempted it again, although I've been feeling lately that it might help my back - I need to get a doctor's note to get it done though and somewhat covered by insurance. So far, the tens-type acupuncture machine hasn't done anything for either of us. For a while after each treatment, for me, it does spread the pain (no more pain though) across a larger area, then comes back later on to its `normal' place in my groin and hip. For my husband it hasn't done anything - but then he tried acupuncture year's ago and it didn't help his peripheral neuropathy, which is much more severe than my back pain. We have to keep trying though don't we? - we plan on taking it when we travel this coming week - give it about a month before we make a decision to return it or buy. Take care Evelyn - enjoy your times out and the Christmas Season. June in Toronto (beb/meige)
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