I'm A Huge Advocate For Botox For Migraines And Here's Why
17 days. 408 hours. 24,480 minutes.
That’s the time during the month that I used to battle severe migraines. Chronic migraines are something I’ve struggled with for years. They started when I was younger, after I’d been diagnosed with #Lupus. I’ve been living with Lupus SLE for 21 years, since I was 13. My kidneys were attacked and over the years I’ve been on and off numerous drugs, chemo’s, and treatments. I’ve experienced different ailments and issues which mostly were able to be remedied. But the one thing they could never get a handle on were my migraines.
When my Lupus severely flared again in 2009, what came back with it were horrific migraines. I was sick for a couple years, trying different drugs while my kidney function decreased, but my migraines were the one consistency. I failed multiple drugs for #Migraine prevention, treatment, and rescue. The final straw that made me stop medicine and search for remission on my own, was that I had a 6 month migraine that would not go away. With it, came the cloudiness. On top of the migraine, my head always felt congested, I couldn’t hear well, I couldn’t function, I would finally get relief from that congested feeling by tipping over and turning my head upside down. I was convinced the severity of the migraines was from one of the immunosuppressants I was on, but my doctor told me migraines weren’t a side effect. I ended up in the ER again 2 weeks after my Valentine’s Day spinal tap, and stopped all my medicines. 4 days later, the migraines stopped.
Fast forward to 2016 when my migraines came back more frequently and more aggressively. I was still under the care of the neurologist I had worked with for years, and I kept failing medicines she’d have me try. I had been hearing so much about Botox as a preventative treatment for migraines, but for some reason this doctor couldn’t get it approved with insurance. The official description for the treatment is: “BOTOX® prevents headaches and migraines before they even start. BOTOX® prevents on average 8 to 9 #Headache days and migraine/probable migraine days a month.” (www.botoxchronicmigraine.com) I always believed in my mind that it was a treatment I could benefit from.
To those of you who suffer with migraines, I stand with you. I offer you my support and understanding because I know how debilitating they are. Migraines require seclusion, dark, quiet. For me, I would find that certain factors triggered mine. Whether it was a change in the weather, lack of sleep for days on end, or forgetting to eat all day (I know, I know… who forgets to eat?) My migraines would cause nausea, pressure sometimes so bad that the only release to even move or attempt to function was vomiting. I needed darkness, cold, quiet, and to be able to rest. I found that the one medicine that was able to bring me a sliver of relief, was Xanax. The couple times I tried taking it in the middle of a migraine, it helped me fall asleep, which was exactly what I needed in that moment.
But I needed serious help because living with migraines this consistently was no way to live.
So, based on the recommendation from a woman that works in one of my favorite coffee shops, I found another physician, who is very well known in the world of therapeutic Botox treatment. When I finally got in to see him, I had been averaging about 17 migraine days a month for a few months. This doctor was able to understand my history, assess my experience, and get Botox treatment approved through my insurance. Most importantly, this man is just one of the coolest docs I’ve ever had. Super down to earth, refined, interesting to talk to, but most importantly, an overall good physician, who explained everything and gave me time to answer questions and concerns.
Botox for migraine treatment typically consists of 31 injections all over your head and neck, and is administered every 12 weeks. I was a bit nervous for my first treatment appointment, but when I got to the office, the doctor made me feel so comfortable, he asked about our trip to Europe, then had me sit down facing him, and JUST like that, needle in my forehead… and it was okay. No big deal. It was the needles in the scalp that creeped me out a bit. It’s weird to feel needles go into your scalp, but unreal to feel (and hear) the liquid shooting in. Wow. Some side effects from the injections were a post-injection headache and soreness around the head and neck. I always prefer to have a driver because I’m prone to getting dizzy after treatment as well, but I’ve had to drive myself and it’s been fine.
My doctor told me patients typically see results in 2-3 treatments, but I was one of the lucky ones who benefitted immediately. Over the 12 weeks that followed my first Botox treatment, I had about 6 low scale migraines that never progressed into full-fledged horror. 6 in 3 months is much more acceptable that 17 in a 1 month.
It’s been a year that I’ve been getting Botox to prevent migraines, and I am so happy I found this doctor and that this treatment has been working so beautifully for me. It’s probably one of my favorite appointments despite the minor side effects because it’s about 15 minutes and you’re done. It’s gotten to the point where if I ever do feel one coming on, I can usually pinpoint the trigger. But the best thing is that they’ve never gotten to the severity that I had lived with for so long. Bonus: because they inject it in your forehead as well, you benefit from having less wrinkles… and come on now, as we age, a little simultaneous maintenance with our pain relief is an ultimate win.
If you suffer from acute chronic migraines 15 days or more, that last more than 4 hours, and you’ve failed multiple drugs, please talk to your doctor about Botox treatment. It’s the best decision I made and one that has provided me tremendous relief.