That is wonderful news about your sponsor of the co-payment. They do this for a period of time to get you hooked on their therapy. I hope they continue with supporting you.

From what I have heard, Rebif has small needles, almost like diabetic needles. If this is the case, you are very lucky. I know Avonex's needle is long and big and really hurts. I couldn't give myself the shot it was so daunting.

Be sure to dose up with Tylenol or Advil/Motrin before your shot to help alleviate the side affects. I like the new 8-hour dose of Tylenol as it prevents me from having to wake in the middle of the night and redose.

Good Luck, you are doing something to help prevent future disability and progression of your MS.

i started rebif about 12 weeks ago, the needles are really small. i hate needles too! but i have gotten used to them, i just worry about site reactions. i always change my shot locations. i take an aleve when i take the shot and i dont seem to have any side effects. first time i went to the highest dose , i woke up with a bad headache (dont know if it was from the shot or not) but now i take the aleve and im fine so far.

Hi oleblue,
It's me, SharonMom. So you got your rebif today, all I can say is that I hope the Heavens help you. As you are in for a bumpy ride!
I say this because I was on rebif for over a year. The shots are very painful, and go into your body like liquid fire. And the side affects are not good. The day after one of my rebif shots, I would be SOOO stiff---like my body had been starched from the neck down---That I had to take 2 vicodins and a baclofen in order to walk without falling with my walker.
After a year of being on rebif, my body developed immunities to it but did not send me an e-mail. I noticed that I was getting worse because i was no longer able to drive my car. An MRI confirmed that I had several new lesions in my cervical spine.
I am now on copaxone, and while I hate having to have a shot every day, there are minimal side effects, and my walking ability has improved. I still cannot drive my car, but am hoping to be on Ampyra soon, and that this drug will enable me to drive again.May God bless you while you're on the rebif train!

I can so remember my neuro...usually very laid back and gentle in her approach...but when she told me about Rebif her exact words were, "You HAVE to stay on it. You HAVE to expect it won't be easy at first." She went on to explain why. I was scared to death but knew she meant business. I made up my mind it didn't matter what my reactions would be, I wasn't gonna mess with something this neuro felt was that necessary.

I do take two Aleve a half hour before the shot. I also learned to take it in the morning because if I take it late it keeps me awake. I have had only a few days in nearly a year that kept me in bed...Usually from flu like symtoms..especially chills.

In a month you will be a pro. I also didn't use their injector. I found it more trouble than it was worth. I just take the needle and do it. It does sting going in and I SING LOUD as I put the meds in...lol

I wanted copaxone to start but I let my neuro talk me into Rebif I did'nt want the side effects of rebif but his talk was so compelling I agreed to it. He said I could change if it don't work out. I've been talking to someone who just started so we can compare our experiences, she will be 2 shots ahead of me. She said 1rst shot no problems and 2nd shot a headache. It seems like every bad thing that can happen to someone happens to me and that is in back of my head I wish it would leave. I am also trying to compare my last flare which was the worst I've had, enough to slam the brakes on in life to whatever this shot can do to me and see which is worse. I also have to do what Medicare says I have to and that really ties my hands to which meds I can get I guess I will plan for the worst and pray for the best

Oleblue so have you started yet , I just had my 6th injection so far only a slight headache on first injection , what will you be using the Rebismart, Autoinject pen, or manual.I have the rebismart and have a real needle problem but its like dealing with a calculator you never see the needle search ytube for rebismart and there are a couple of people who have posted showing how to use it. It is extremely gentle and i dont feel it at all. I have had site reactions which come up about two days after. I have been putting ice on after each shotStill so scared about the dose going up first time to 22 which will be next week. One step at a time.

Hey Zadie;
Shared Solutions is a little confusing for me, They overnight my meds so I got them last Sat. on a holiday wekend, the nurse did'nt call to yesterday and said she will be out of town till this Sat. and wanted to know if I wanted to start on Sat. I told her I wanted the MWF days so she set up Monday at & 7pm. She said she will be here for an hour so as soon as she leaves I'll post my experience with that. Makes no sense that my meds will have been sitting for 9 days. Grand Rapids is supposed to be like the 2nd largest city in MI. what do they have 1 nurse. I have been following your post to see how you are doing. I suppose you read post #3 on my replies and I've seen nothing like that from you. How are you feeling?
Looks like rebif has been treating you right so far. I pray that this works for us. Are the marks going away and I also read today that you really need 1 to 2 hours to reach room temp. I also read today that if you tap the needle at the end you get a little drip to come out and it reduces the pain, I was going to show the nurse the posting and see exactly what he is talking about I'll let you know if I see any more tips like that, I should go find it and send a message and see if he has more to add. I'll post Monday after thenurse leaves, enjoy the weekend
Dave

I'm trying to think of something for your first experience. Did she tell you to have an orange available to make a first practice injection into? maybe she will bring one? or did she ask you to have one available?

have you thought about how you plan to rotate injection sites? she will ask you what your plan is before she leaves. have it ready to get her out of the house ASAP! ;)

i did up-down/ right side, then up-down/ left side: R. Upper arm, R. Abdomen, R. Hip(butt), R thigh. Then left side. Then back to right side. ect. Upper arm is done, by reaching over your head to grab the ear on the opposite -in the arm the shot is being given to so the under arm is exposed. it's really an "Ouch" when a subcutaneous shot is given into a muscle so you are looking for non muscle sites to give the subcutaneous shot into.

its a valid reason to over indulge now at all future holiday meals, you are creating fat sights to give your subcutaneouas shot into.--so you have a reason to grab that last piece of pumpkin pie ;)

I was on a PA too, and had to send in a re-application form every year, so i bought a Hewlett Packard C4820 All in One Printer-Copier-Scanner so i could make a copy of forms i mailed to the PA before i mailed them, its nice to have to to make a copy of my SS continuing disability form before i mail it back to SS. ...especially with winter weather in WI. it was around $150 about 4 years ago, i imagine its cheaper now and even cheaper during x-mas sales.

I'm a rebel or resented having to do the shots, so i bought a bottle of witch hazel to use as an antiseptic instead of alcohol, just because i wanted too...witch hazel is an antiseptic too and is right next to the alcohol at the store.

I heard much of the sting when giving the shot is not allowing the alcohol to dry before giving the shot.

I used an old Tide liquid detergent bottle to dispose of my needles, then when the plastic bottle was full i tape the cover shut with some masking tape. put it in 2 plastic bags as is required by walgreens and gave it to walgreens to dispose of the needles. as is required for needle disposal in the county i live in....from what i understand the laws for needle disposal are determined by counties--so ask about that. I did a search on solid waste disposal in my county to determine how i was suppose to dispose of the needles.

neesdle disposal a little trickier when on a PA program. they mail the meds to you. if you have to buy the meds from a pharmacy the pharmacy you bought the meds from will dispose of the needles. instead my meds came by mail so i had to locate the counties free needle disposal sites. the hospitals will dispose of them too, but walgreen is closer to me so thats where i did it.

Best wishes in your endeavors at becoming a pro at self injecting!

if the heron junkies can do it, so can you!