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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
        
(Message started by: tessa_c on Feb 26^th, 2006, 5:42am)

Title: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by tessa_c on Feb 26^th, 2006, 5:42am

im a little afraid of needles. but i can deal with the stat dose especially due to the ch's. i understand how to do the trick just a little nervous about poking myself then then poking the thing thats poking in me.

anyone have any suggestions.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by totka2 on Feb 26^th, 2006, 7:18am

I tried it and love it.
Make a try with a common (sewing) needle: ~~pick it gently~~ touch your skin with the needle and you will be found some point where you don't feel the smart.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by burnt-toast on Feb 26^th, 2006, 7:31am

Tried it, tried it and tried it again without benefit. In my case it didn't work but I know it has worked for many folks here.

We all seem to respond differently to treatments - it's kind of a gotta' try it and see if it works for you disease.
If if doesn't work, don't be discouraged - keep working until something does.

Good luck and best wishes

Tom

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by Jonny on Feb 26^th, 2006, 1:22pm

Im not to fond of needles myself,....... ok, I have tattooed sleeves, but that needle hardly breaks the skin ;;D

Doing the tip is like anything, once youve done it a few times you will be a pro at it. Of course its better in the arm, but that dont mean you cant use it in your thigh. Lots of folks use the thigh as the inject site.

You will get the hang of it, I promise :-*

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by purpleydog on Feb 26^th, 2006, 9:38pm

I use vials and syringes... I've also taken the cartridges and released them into an empty sterile vial. Talk to your doc about getting the vials, I've found my insurance will cover a lot more of the vials per month, I've gotten up to 25, where as they would only cover 4 stat dose injections. The needles don't bother me, it may be just getting used to it, as Jonny said. If it helps you, you'll make the decision.

Good luck!

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by tessa_c on Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:46pm

thanks im going to ask about the vials. i think that i either read on here or on ouch that the fda approved the 4mg imitrex. i asked my neuro about it and he wrote a script. but the pharmacy told me that they could not even order it. i called my blue choice about it and they said that it had to be approved by the doc.

and i like the thigh for injection better. it makes nasty bruises on me though, so its easier to hide.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by Gator on Feb 26^th, 2006, 11:58pm

Using the StatDose kit is about as subtle as an aircraft carrier landing. I don't care for it, but I use it when I have to. It is less painful and less likely to bruise you doing it the Trex Tip way and you'll be able to kill at least twice the attacks with the same amount of trex.

I prefer the vials and syringes myself. You can get the 31 guage .5 cc short needle syringes, preload them and put them in an hard eyeglasses case. I keep about 5 loaded in the kit at all times along with alcohol wipes and a spare vial. With the small needle you barely feel the prick and do not suffer from bruising.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by Jasmyn on Feb 28^th, 2006, 9:41am

Needles... it is a mind over matter thing.

If you decide to go for imitrex then that little needle can never hurt as much as CH. ;)

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by tessa_c on Feb 28^th, 2006, 9:10pm

gator,, i talked to the nurses (or whatever they are) at my neuro. and they said that the doc doesnt trust the vials. but then again they are about as much help as a advil.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by Gator on Mar 1^st, 2006, 9:45am

That's just so much BS. What's not to trust? I've never had a problem with trex from the vials. In fact, the vials frequently have more than 50 units. Most of the time I've noticed there are about 60 - 65 units which means a lot of people can get three aborts from a vial where they may only get two from a statdose kit.

Don't ask the nurses or whatever they are. It's been my experience that the nurses are pretty clueless about CH and it's treatment, especially if the doctor's knowledge is lacking. If it's something you want to try, tell the doctor to prescribe them on a trial basis and if you like it, then you can make it a permanent thing.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by wing_nut on Mar 1^st, 2006, 10:01am

As the beast woke me up at 1:30am with about a KIP 9, and I reached for my Stat Dos pen, I couldn't even imagine trying to draw trex out of a vial with one eye tearing and closed, and me wanting to do laps around the house. I must say KUDOS to those of you that can do it. Maybe when insurance stops paying for my Trex, I will have a different view, and will be forced to use the needles.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by purpleydog on Mar 1^st, 2006, 8:47pm

That's why you have syringes loaded in advance. I always have several in an eyeglass case, and also in my bed table. Otherwise, I can't deal with it either.

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by pfunk on Mar 1^st, 2006, 10:34pm

Was very hesitant to use needles at first as well. But when I got the first TREX shot from the doc, and realized how good it worked, I decided that I'd inject it in my eye if it'd make the pain go away any faster. As far as stat-dose pens, I prepare the needles as soon as I get the pack so I don't have to try and do it when I'm pretty much blind in my right eye. Also, Jonny's right again, I often use my thigh though the arm/shoulder-deltoid region seems more effective.
Hang tough, it will get better.

Pfunk ;)

Title: Re: imitrex tip.... tried it? liked it?
Post by tessa_c2 on Mar 2^nd, 2006, 2:19pm

gator

i have a follow-up last day of this month, so ill ask him then. and from the past couple of phone calls to the office i can tell that the women up front dont know what they are talking about. i just got the needles from the nurse where i work and they are a HELL of a lot smaller than the ones in the stst dose. so i think that i just malke me a couple of needles that way until i find out.

its just starting to be a pain in the ass. the las doc that i had the nurses were pretty good, but it was the doctor that sucked. now its the other way around