Captain Deb has a Botox appointment!

[Captain Deb]

Seriously Laz, dear, you have got to talk to your doc about the Botox.  I don't know if you can get it paid for in the Landownunder, though.  Do you guys have cheap drugs like in Canada? Where are most of your headaches located? (I know, in your head, smartass.) I mean, this stuff has totally eliminated any pain in my temple or forehead. I think it has helped tame down the occipital ones, too, although not completely.  My next round should get even better results and the doc said he could increase the dose in the upper neck.

Hugglez and Kissies,

Capt Deb

[moe]

Yea!
So glad to hear that the botox is working! Fingers crossed for continued low headache days!
Maureen

[Larry]

Howdy doody Deb,

So pleased that the botox has worked for you. My headaches are mostly centred around the incision area, they then move to the back of the head, to the other side and then to the forehead/behind the eyes. Well, something like that.

I don't know if it is covered but I'll check with my quack on saturday - need to get a referral for blood test and some other stuff (re mad cows).

Just on the drugs, not sure what you mean by cheap but for neurontin, i now get the script to be 2X300mg packets. The cost of getting a twin pack of 100 is virtually the same as getting a single pack (go figure) I pay $100 for a twin pack - thats 200 tabs of 300mg. I get $50 back from my health fund so for $50, I get about 6 weeks worth of treatment

cheers


laz

[Captain Deb]

Them's cheap drugs, Laz!  Here, once your insurance co pays out $2400, the coverage stops and you are on your own.  When I was on neurontin, my coverage stopped in April, but I was on a few other pricey ones, too.

Got the bill for my Botox:

Office visit  $85
Injections in 2 areas  $400
Botox    $595

Medicare picked up most of it and my total bill was $153--waaaay cheaper than 3 months worth of meds.

Laz, I sure hope you can try this--you can be a Vulcan, too!

Live long and prosper,

Capt Deb

[bell]

Hi Deb,
I am so so happy that you are getting some relief.  Hopefully the rest of us will get relief with the help of all of your suggestions. 
Stay headache free  ,
Bell 

[Larry]

I've been likened more to a Klingon than a Vulcan.

they are scarier - with a forehead that looks like its undergone surgery!

Laz

[Captain Deb]

8 weeks post-Botox and STILL no behind the eye/surgical site (mid-fossa)headache!  He injected my surgical site twice. Going to see my neuro next week to give him the good news.

Capt Deb

[moe]

Great news, the "no headaches" continue! Are you pinching yourself?
Maureen

[opp2]

That is so great to hear. I'm happy that you are having headache free days!

[Captain Deb]

I'm not having exactly "headache- free" days, but the ones that crawl up from the back of my head and lodge behind my eye are just staying in the back of my head.  I went to the doc on Thurs and he said next time (April) they will do a few more occipital injections to see if they can dampen down the back of the head ones. Botox is a little cumulative as well, so I'm hoping for the best.  Still using Imitrex which works if I can get it down in time--problem is that some of these headaches go away if I lay down for a few minutes and some get worse and I can never tell what is going to happen.  All I can say is I'm doing far better with Botox than without it.  Now if I can just get my durn back healed up I'll be good to go!

Capt Deb

[Larry]

Getting yopur back healed up - thats a simple fix - Stop diving of the chandellier!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, I'm glad the botox is helping.


laz

[Captain Deb]

Hi y'all--your favorite pinhead here!

This past week I had another series of Botox--three big syringes full and about 15 injections.  He concentrated on the lower occipital region this time since that was the place that most of the headaches remained.  I can feel that occipital nerve firing up when I'm getting a headache right at the back of my head about mid ear level.  He said he could not inject that area as it is mostly bone there, but he did inject the base of that particular muscle which is probably entrapping the nerve.  So far so good!

I also finally got to a spine specialist who diagnosed me with sacroilliitus and sent me to his specialty clinic just around the corner from where my stepson and daughter-in-law live--very convenient if I have to go back.  They did 2 floroscope-guided injections into my scaroilliac joint.  I thought I was going to jump off the table, even with the local anesthetic! Yikes!!  Then I had to get in the car and drive 3 hrs home.  Was in major pain mode all last night but it's much better now and should help me get back on my feet and into the gym.

Good Luck to , all of you precious ones out there dealing with post-op headaches--they do get better with time but don't hesitate to find a headache specialist if you feel you aren't having luck with your surgeon--remember, their specialty is evicting the brainboogers and not necissarily dealing with the after-effects.

Hugs,

Capt Deb

[Jim Scott]

Good Luck to , all of you precious ones out there dealing with post-op headaches--they do get better with time but don't hesitate to find a headache specialist if you feel you aren't having luck with your surgeon--remember, their specialty is evicting the brainboogers and not necissarily dealing with the after-effects.

Thanks for that good advice to headache sufferers, Deb.  It's great to learn that your doing so well, too.  Congratulations!   



Jim

[Lizard]

Capt Deb you are the best and I really appreciate all your posts, I've got to be your biggest fan. Are fans allowed?  Oh no...anyway I can relate to you and the headaches...I am now on the Botox route after the occipital blocks worked for the neck and back of the head pain as well as most of the positional type (ie morning headaches), but like you I have the behind the eye pain and on the side of the head and down the surgical site.  Supposedly the insurance I have will cover it as long as my Dr submits a letter of medical necessity.  Thanks to Pattycakes I found out that the particular Dr I am going to will fight to get the Botox covered, which is so exciting.  And like you said only we look forward to being stuck with needles 
ha ha...and Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!

Liz

PS Ever been to Antigua, we love it there and they have a fantastic sailing week!  good times...

[Captain Deb]

I have been to Antigua quite a few times during my boat bum days and have done ASW as well. Got to sail on some incredible boats including 73 foot "Escapade" legendary Rhodes with Captain Gill. http://www.syescapade.com/ Did 2 legs as helmsman--WOW!!!  Was there on a really cool 78 foot yawl built in 1925 in England. Loooooove Antigua, especially during sailing week.

Capt Deb