My experience with Botox

 My experience with Botox has definitely been a good one.  I have benefited greatly from it, with both my chronic migraines and chronic daily headaches (it  helps with the tension in my shoulders and neck, and with my TMJ).  I do still get migraines and daily headaches, (the daily headaches which are from my P.O.T.S.).  The difference is, now when I get a migraine I can continue with what I am doing, they don't immobilize me like they used to, and they don't come as frequent.  I first started getting Botox back in 2010, since then I go once every 3 months (4 times a year).  The whole procedure takes about 15 minutes, most of the time is prep, all the shots go pretty quick.  And yes it is a little painful getting them.  When it gets injected into my muscles, I can feel the liquid going in (and sometimes hear it) and it burns!  It goes away after about 5 seconds, and its nothing like a migraine so its bearable.

  Immediately after Botox I get pretty sore, and after about an hour I get sleepy.  When I go to bed that night I find it hard to find a comfortable position because of the soreness and the location of the injection spots.  That can last anywhere from 4 nights to about 2 weeks.  Within 2 days, I'll start feeling like I have the flu which can last me 3-12 days, coming and going.  I also get worsening of both my headaches and migraines, which slowly improve over the next 2 weeks to a month.  I do get darkening around my eyes as well, that goes away in about 3 weeks, (that is why I love me some concealer).  That's about it for negative side effects on me, other than not being able to move my forehead (or my eyebrows, they can stay where they are) but to me that's a positive.  It can take my Botox anywhere from 2 weeks to a month for me to feel any change with my migraines.  And it usually lasts for 2 to 2 and a half months after it starts working.  But it isn't always the same outcome. Sometimes it works sooner, sometimes it lasts longer, it just depends, (and for some lucky people you only need 1 set of injections and it knocks your migraines out completely).

  People always ask me the same questions once I've told them I get Botox for my migraines (don't take it the wrong way, I don't mind when people ask me questions, I actually appreciate it).  The first question everyone asks me is, "does Botox really work?".  Well you already know the answer to that one. The second question I get is, "where do they inject you?".  Now that one takes a little more time to answer.  I can't say I know 100% where they are all injected, (since it all goes pretty quick and since I can't turn my head like an owl) but I do have a good idea.

  As you can see I am not an artist when it comes to drawing.  But you can get an idea of where they are all injected.  I get 22 injections total, but that does differ depending on the doctor.

  As long as I'm talking about my experience with Botox, I thought I might share some tips.  First and foremost, I think it would probably be a good idea (if you're getting Botox for the first time) to take someone along with you. Not only if you have a reaction but if you need someone to step in and help you, (I actually need someone to drive me back after).  The doctors say you can continue with your day without a problem but its better to be safe than sorry.  Secondly, you want to wear loose fitting clothes or something comfy, at least on the top half of your body, (ladies, be careful with those lovely bras too) the last thing you want is something putting pressure on your injection spots.  You can ice the spots afterwards but the ice can act like a brake petal for the Botox, (says my Botox doctors).  So what I like to do is ice it for 10 seconds and then take if off for about a minute, and I'll repeat this a few times.  The last tip I have is, be patient! It takes some time for Botox to kick in and start blocking your nerve endings.  When I got my Botox for the first time it didn't really help that much, but by my third set of injections I could definitely feel it helping.  If it doesn't help right away, don't freak or write it off, give it a little time.   And it does differ from appointment to appointment. So for those of you trying Botox for your headaches and or migraines (or for those of you who already get Botox) I wish you good luck and better migraine days!