LJ users with Multiple Sclerosis (original) (raw)

Hey everyone!

I'm a newbie not only to the community, but also to RRMS in general (diagnosed on the 4th of January). Started on Copaxone on the 26th of January. I'm a nurse, so I knew a bit about MS before, but not a lot....plus it's different to actually live it, isn't it?

It started with an episode of optic neuritis (and a few other things) in early December. Looking back, I'd had an episode of numbness/weakness/lack of coordination last spring.

And it's nice to know that the ongoing fatigue isn't just in my mind!

So far the Copaxone is going fairly well. I had minimal injection site reactions up until yesterday. Yesterday and the day before were injections in my arms. Both fine initially, but about 8 hours after yesterday's injection, both of the sites (day before too) plus the site on one of my arms from last week's injection, swelled up to about 2.5-3" in diameter. It looks & itches like my mosquito bites always are! (They do tend to be big...). Weird that it was delayed reaction?

I use the autoject for my arms & hips since those are harder to reach, and manually inject on my legs and abdomen.

I know the nurse who came out from Shared Solutions for my injection training said if it creates big lumps to try setting it to inject deeper, but.....this is more like a mosquito bite type thing than a lump...?

I've tried cold packs, but it only helps while it's on the site. I've also tried hydrocortisone cream (helps for a few hours), as well as fexofenadine (took it right before bed. Not my best timing...not sure if it helped).

Do any Copaxone veterans have suggestions? I think I may try manual injections next week to see if that makes a difference (or not)

Thanks!

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