Botox Appointment

Yesterday I went to Gillette and got Botox in my neck along with the top of my shoulders. I had to get transportation to take me all the way to St. Paul which is about 30 minutes away because the Gillette in Minnetonka (10 minutes away) closed. When I called last week to schedule the ride, they told me that they’re having all passengers wear masks. I also was told that I needed to wear one going to the clinic as well.

I hadn’t been out of the house, other than my daily walk and rolls with Brody, since the use of masks were required. I was fine with it and didn’t think much of it until about 10 minutes before I was to leave. My nurse got one of my cloth masks that I had and I was about to put it on when it suddenly dawned on me. How was I going to wear it and drive my wheelchair at the same time using my sip and puff straw?

After a minute of questioning myself I had to do some quick thinking. Luckily I had some paper masks in the house. My nurse cut a tiny hole in the middle of the mask just big enough for the straw to fit in so I could still drive my chair. One problem was it restricted my vision a little bit, so it was harder for me to figure out navigation wise where my wheels were. Also, I didn’t realize how hot the masks are. It’s a good thing I only breathe out my mouth and not in as well.

The appointment itself went well. I don’t feel instant relief; it takes a few days for it to kick in. I scheduled my next Botox appointment for this October.

Jenni

Injections Again

I went to an appointment to get Botox injections again today. I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years now, and I’m starting to feel it wear off faster than usual. The last couple of times they used an added drug that helps with pain along with the Botox. I found that the drug they added helps make it last longer. This is a good thing since I still have to wait to get injections every 3 months.

Also, PHS came out to my house and removed my PICC line. It’s too bad that the process for taking it out is so simple yet putting it in such a hassle. I have to transfer onto a table at the hospital so they can use an ultrasound machine to place it. When they remove it, someone trained can just take off the bandage and it easily pulls out.

Onto a different topic, I believe I’m developing seasonal depression during these winter months. It’s so difficult for me to get outside, take Brody for a walk, or even go to places other than doctor appointments. It doesn’t help when the weather is bad or I’m sick with a respiratory infection. Hopefully it’s just a phase and once the season changes so will my feelings.

Jenni

Repaired

I had someone wrap a piece of electrical tape around some exposed wire on the cord to my microphone. It works! I'm hoping that it was just a one time glitch and that it doesn't happen again. I was so frustrated yesterday trying to get it to work. That's my main mode of communication, not to mention how I do my home work for class!

Last Friday I had Botox injections in my neck and shoulders. It'll take a few more days before I'll start feeling the full effect and for my muscles to loosen. On Sunday I went to church in the morning and then watched the Super Bowl. I wasn't really rooting for any team, but I was watching the commercials. I actually didn't think they were that funny this year compared to other years. Yesterday I went to my psychology of religion class. I'm really enjoying the discussions.

Jenni

Update

On Monday I went to the doctors to get more Botox injections in my neck and shoulders. It's so nice to have my muscles loose again. The downside is that in three months I will have to go back because it will wear off. I also got my H1N1 flu shot.

Yesterday I had my interpersonal communication class and we had a quiz on chapter 8 which was all about listening. I got 15/15! I guess that proves something, I know how to listen. I have a six page fiction paper rough draft due on the 14th for my online creative writing class. I'm looking forward to writing it. I got great reviews from my teacher on my creative nonfiction paper that I turned in about a week and a half ago.

This afternoon I got in the standing frame with my physical therapist, Nicole. Usually the nurses and PCA's just get me in but lately I haven't been able to get up to 90° before my blood pressure drops. Nicole wanted to try to figure out why I could only get up to about 60°. I had a feeling this would happen, but I ended up getting up to 90° in about 20 minutes. Half the time it takes me to get to 60° when I do it without her. We figured out that it was probably due to the fact that I do the standing frame in the morning because that's the time I have a PCA. Today I did it in the afternoon. I had been sitting up in my wheelchair all day versus just getting up from lying in bed all night long. That's partly why my blood pressure had been dropping.

Jenni

Wrinkle Free

Well, I got Botox again today. I suppose I don't have to announce it every time I get it, being that it's every three months, but some people like to know. They don't just use it to get rid of wrinkles anymore. It is also used to loosen tight muscles. Although every time I go, one of my nurses wants the leftovers.

This time they just injected it into my neck muscles starting at my occipitals (the base of my head, top of my neck) all the way down to my rhomboids (along my shoulder blades). Those are really the only places that are extremely tight and painful. I've come a long way in tightness since the first time I got Botox. I'm pretty loose now in most places, except for my neck and shoulders. It takes a couple of days before it kicks in and loosens everything up. The bad thing is that it wears off pretty quickly and I'll be back for more injections in three months.

If you want to read my other posts on Botox, type in Botox in the search box in the upper left-hand corner of the page. They will so conveniently just pop up for you.

Jenni

Botox Again

Yesterday I went to a doctor's appointment to get more Botox injections into my tight muscles. This time he focused on my neck, shoulders and tight feet. The needles don't hurt. Everyone's surprised that I don't use any sedatives or numbing creams. I am hoping that these injections work to loosen my muscles. If you would like to read the post on why I get Botox click here.

Jenni

Why I Get Botox

I'm wrinkly, why else? Just kidding. Turns out Botox is used for more than just cosmetic reasons. It is injected into tight muscles throughout the body to loosen them and relieve pain. I use Botox for just that reason. Because of my injury and the fact that I can't move my muscles, I get extremely tight in my neck and back and it's usually associated with pain. Botox is one way that I am able to relieve pain and loosen my muscles. The other ways are physical therapy and massage therapy.

I get Botox injections every three months at Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul. Some of the places that they have injected it into are my occipitals, neck, pectoral muscles (major and minor), upper back and shoulders (specifically my upper trapezius and rhomboids), hip flexors, latissimus dorsi, and my left calf and foot. Don't worry if you don't know all of these muscles, I didn't either until I started getting injections in them. I find that Botox is very helpful and I notice a difference just two days after getting it.

Jenni