Ministry of Silly Walks and Other Fun Side Effects

It's been more than two weeks since I started the stupid Copaxone. I still hate giving myself injections, though the intense burning has mostly disappeared. I still get some stinging, but it's usually gone within about 30 minutes.

Oh, my, ev'ry night
Glinting silver and glass shine

Take the plunge, each night

I've had some interesting site reactions, though.

One night, the site swelled. I think the medicine sat under the skin instead of dispersing (maybe?), and I had a round-ish thing that looked like a giant hive. It was about 3 inches across, and was what my mom would call a “mean red”. It looked hideous, but I didn't have any pain or itching. By the next day, it was gone.

One night, I gave myself a shot, and the next morning I had a really ugly bruise in that spot. That didn't hurt, either, but it took forever to go away. I can still see faint remnants of it.

I get itchiness at the injection site sometimes. Also, sometimes clothing will irritate the site. That's especially fun when I inject in my legs, because then I look like I work for the Ministry of Silly Walks.

I try not to think about having a minimum of 49½ more weeks of doing this. A year is the length of the study, but if it's working (and I have no reason to think it's not-at least not yet), I suppose my doctor will keep me on it.

I still have more energy than before I started the shots, so that's huge. Before the shots, on a day like today (overcast and drab), I would struggle to get out of bed, make coffee, keep my eyes open. While I'm not skipping through the house, I'm making my to-do list for today, and not feeling overwhelmed.

I really noticed yesterday that my balance problems are still lurking.

I see the doorway

It's never moved in ten years

Wobble, bruise ensues

I am reading more, but I still need to reread passages to figure out words because sometimes the letters are missing chunks.

Letters missing chunks

Vision blurred, yet it's all clear

Nerve damage, you bitch

I'm still pretty tingly, especially at night. I'm exceptionally itchy, not just at night though it's far worse at night. The heaviness in my legs isn't subsiding, but I've discovered I can make it much worse (I won't do that again) by wearing the wrong shoes (a valid reason to go shoe shopping).

Still I forge on, just like all of you do. We are all dealing with something. I'm not different, not special. I just choose to make my fight public. Maybe someone reading this might smile, or work up the courage to call their doctor, or try that medicine.

Remember, I vowed I would never give myself injections ever again.

http://tryingtofindmynormal.blogspot.com/2015/08/ministry-of-silly-walks-and-other-fun.html