Injection's (Copaxone)

Tertle,

For a while I was really resenting my shots. I kept at them but I found them to be a huge slap in the face.  Every single night I had to push a needle into my skin to try to prevent this (censored) disease that is going to get me anyway.  That is where I was anyway.  I am better now.  I know that there is no predicting this disease but I want the very best chance I can at having minimal disabilities.  I am proud of you Tertle.  You are doing just fine......keep thinking and working things out.  It takes a ton of time but it does get better. Keep posting.  We are here to support you.

Ok so you are where I was.  I do the same.  I have a couple of perscriptions I take everyday and like you I take a load of vitamins and I found that everything I did reminded me of the fact that I have MS.  I am glad you are taking the time to really think about all this.  It really helped me.  I read a book that said when you find out you have a chronic illness (esp. one that is incurable) you grieve the loss of your healthy body very similarly to the loss of a loved one.  Shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.  They are all pretty self explanatory.  It seems that you are maybe stuck in the anger phase?  It sort of seems like you are rebelling by not taking your meds or you resent it..........that seems like anger.  So know that what you are feeling is totally normal. 

I started copaxone very quickly after being diagnosed.  I have been diagnosed for not quite two and a half years.  I am just to the acceptance phase.  I spent my longest phase in depression.  BUT heres the thing.......you don't necessarily go through the phases chronologically and you may find yourself re-visiting a phase at anytime.  I still get angry, I still get depressed and I still try to bargain.  But for the most part I am doing ok.  You will get there too. 

You need to be open to a couple of options.  You may need help getting to acceptance part.  You may need a self help book, or some therapy or a support group or something like that.  You are doing some of that here.  Check with your MS Society and see if they offer anything.  I know they can be scattered about but see what they have.  Mine offers short term counseling and you never know, you could get that via phone if the distance is too great.  If you have insurance, you can ask for therapy or counseling.  I would look for someone with either experience with MS or chronic illness. 

I also love the book MS and your feelings by Allison Shadday. 

Sheeesh sorry this is so long.  You may have entered another phase in the time it took to read all this..........the "shut up, I will take by shot phase already" 

Kiss the kid happy birthday for me!!!  Stress is a HUGE trigger for MS. You had MS lurking there somewhere and the stress of your father's death probably allowed you to flare and that began the diagnositic journey for you.  Hang in there and keep posting. 

Andy,

Don't worry about getting it all straight.  Just be aware of what you are feeling.  That is all.  Just feel it and know it is ok.  I call it "wallowing".  I get in a good mood, bad mood, anxious, mad, sad, short tempered whatever, I just notice it and try not to brush it under the table.  I talk about it if I feel like it, or not.  You are not expected to have this all perfected.......sheeesh that would not be fair.  I would not like you anymore.......I am not even close to having my crap straight.  Just try to think about how you are feeling everyday and take it one day at a time.  Find a way to release stress everyday too.

I am so glad the "spoiled brat" had such a great party.  I have big spoiled brats and they love the movie.  I like 'mater.  He is so cool. 

Hi there, I have not posted for some time now, just been off doing things I guess and forget to come in here to chat...

Copaxone.....I am on it too, and have been now for almost a year. At first yes, it was a pain inthe you know what, and between that and the fear of inecting myself, well, I figured I was in for a life of torment. Plus the darn injections hurt if u do not do it right. But after awhile, and a short while at that, it then became second nature.  Ive learned some techniques that helped alot, most of them self taught, but I must say that the support that you get from Shared solutions has been very good to me.

I don't look at this as being an isolated method of treament for MS, there are other disorders where daily injections are required....like a diabetic, for example, are on a daily injection program for life. So we are not alone.

But so far I have not missed a day (watch tonight Ill forget to do it)!!!! It takes time to adjust to something like this, but yo will, the more u do it, the easier it becomes, and the next thing you know, it is just part of your daily routine......and when u geet good at it.....it really is not a nuisance at all, heck I can be in and out in about 20 seconds......you will too, after you become adjused to your new, but small adjustment you have to make in your life....

Good luck on this, you'll do fine. Do you use the auto - injector?  I do...if I can help wtih any questions about the injections, I will try to help. dont forget about Shared Solutions!!!

Gary