I got Botox for Migraines
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I have Chronic Migraine
I’ve talked about my migraines for a while now on my Youtube Channel. It’s no secret that I’ve been struggling for years.
I have chronic migraine. I have abdominal migraines. I also have Hemiplegic migraines (mimics a stroke). I’m super fun, guys 😂
Over the years, I’ve tried all kinds of medications from Aimovig as a preventative to Emgality, to Ajovy, and all kinds of medications for pain management.
Bottom line…my body isn’t responding to the preventative medications like it should.
On an average month, I have 15+ migraine days out of 30. I’m almost always in some level of pain, even if it’s manageable. I’ve just learned to push through it. Most of the time, you’d never know I was in pain, and I honestly try not to tell others that I’m in pain. I don’t want people pitying me.
But, it’s getting exhausting, and my doctor recognized that.
At my last visit, we had exhausted all options.
See my latest health update.
I’ve Tried Everything for Migraine
My doctor told me it’s time for Botox for migraine.
I had been putting it off for years. I couldn’t get past the thought of a bunch of injections in my face, head, and neck. About 30 of them, to be precise.
Botox for migraine works by blocking chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry pain signals from your brain. It’s also FDA-approved for people like me, who have more than 15+ migraine days a month. It’s for the extreme chronic sufferers.
I have tried almost everything for migraines; beta blockers, anti-depressants (no, I wasn’t depressed, it’s for the side effect of migraine relief), Aimovig, Emgality, Ajovy, aspirin (which gave me an ulcer), every other over-the-counter drug out there, essential oils, glasses, ice, breathing techniques, different diets, vitamins, and everything else you can think of. It just got worse.
If you start to ask me, “but have you tried….”, I’ll stop you right there. Yes, the answer is yes, I have. So please, don’t DM me with your supplements or vitamins. Yeah, I’ve tried it. No, it doesn’t work. And for those of you asking “wait, people actually do that?!”…yes. Every single day I get 5 DMs from MLM representatives trying to sell me items from their “health companies”, swearing it’ll cure me of a brain disease. Sigh.
Back to the Botox.
Botox for Migraines Injection Sites (and what it’s like)
Check out this poster that was in my doctor’s office. These are the main injection sites. My doctor started with the ones on my face.
Honestly, it was probably good that she did that, I was the most nervous about those. It was good to get them out of the way first. Those shots were in the first 3 images in the diagram below.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The needle was super thin, the thinnest needle I’ve ever seen or had any experience with. I take several injectable medications. My husband gives them to me at home, or sometimes I can give them to myself.
The needles for those auto-injectors are pretty thick. There’s no way I’d be able to handle a needle of that thickness to my face…so when I say the needle is thin, I mean hair-like thin.
After my face, my neurologist moved to the sides of my head. On the chart, this would be the temporalis and occipitalis injection sites. She moved my hair just a little (I have a lot of really thick hair). These two sites were definitely the easiest. I barely felt these two sites at all.
Then we moved to the back of the head, the cervical paraspinal. This one wasn’t too bad either. I got through this site relatively easy.
The last injection site was the shoulders, or trapezius. This was the hardest area, worse than my face. My doctor had trouble with the needle in this area because my trap muscles were tight. In fact, they were so tight that my muscles were pushing the needle back out. Maybe I need a massage? The last injection, the trap injection closest to my shoulder on my left side, was the one that hurt the most. I winced, though I tried not to. I didn’t want to make my doc feel bad.
Note here: I made this out to be way worse in my head, so I was definitely nervous. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I had dreamed up in my nervousness.
From my Instagram stories. I documented what it was like.
What’s next after getting Botox for Migraine
After the procedure, which really only took 5 minutes, my doctor gave me some instructions.
First, she wanted to make sure that I didn’t rub any of the injection sites. I have to admit, this is kinda hard right now. I had it done 8 hours ago, and the sites are tender and sore. My first reaction is to rub the areas to help myself feel better.
Next, my neurologist wanted me to know that I may not feel any different right away. It may take a full cycle to get relief, and that is normal. I’ll be using my normal medications and preventative medication in the meantime until we know the Botox is taking effect.
She also told us that eventually, I’d build a tolerance to this brand of Botox (botox has several versions and brands). When that happens, I’ll switch to another brand. The root medication is made by several companies, but we all know “Botox” from the commercials and cosmetic procedure.
I may have an added cosmetic side effect. There’s a small chance that I could get a droopy eye or wonky eyebrow, but it would sort itself out. Blurred vision is also a temporary side effect. I experienced none of these symptoms. My neurologist gets this procedure done for her migraines, and she had a wonky eyebrow for a while the first time she had it done.
Bonus…it actually will help with wrinkle control in the injection areas. It’s just an added bonus. Not that I’m getting it FOR that reason (I’ve never even considered it), but it’s a side effect that many women like.
Last, I’ll be going back in about 12 weeks for another cycle. It’s like a 3-month preventative.
Color Theory with the Impressionists for Families
How it Feels After Getting Botox for Migraines
I can only document how I personally felt after the procedure. As of writing this, I’m 8 hours post procedure.
Because I have Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, many things (like stress) can set me off. I’ve definitely been nauseous since the procedure 8 hours ago. My neurologist treats my CVS (it’s a neurological issue), and she wasn’t surprised at all that I was nauseous in her office. She attributed it to stress. The Botox itself wouldn’t have that effect. Essentially, I did that to myself. Whoops.
The injection sites on my face and left temple area are all sore and throbbing some. It may not matter, but I’ve had a migraine for about 3 solid weeks, so it’s not really surprising that it’s painful for me.
I’ve had a little bruising (see pic in the above area for the bruises) on my face, but they are tiny. I can easily cover these with makeup in the morning if I still see them.
Those are the only things I’m experiencing at the moment.
I pray that in a few weeks, I can report that I am feeling some relief.
I will update my Youtube and my blog soon when/if I feel a difference. I know some of you are also considering this procedure. Hopefully, I can be of some help through my personal experience.
Until next time,
Soli Deo Gloria,
Mandy
