Botox: Stories

I am surprised that you saw benefits of the botox on your face, because I wish I had seen that on me, ha. I just had my first round of botox for daily severe migraines but my Dr. kept the injections close to my hairline. She does my second injections at 6 months. I thought she would say at 3 months but she said that the protocal is at 6 months. I hope she is not being too conservative. My migraine is actually worse the second day after the injections. Thank you for giving me hope because I have tried everything and nothing has worked so far.

I went through every medication that you can think of and felt like a lab rat as well. Thankfully my insurance pays for the Botox and I was able to enroll in the "BOTOX - Partnership for Access" program that's supposed to put your co-pays on a debit card that you can use for other medical expenses. I haven't received the card yet, but I'm hoping I do soon. I had my first Botox injections at the end of Feb, beginning of March 2013 and I've seen no change in the frequency or duration of my migraines. After the first injection I had a severe migraine that lasted for 2 days with a lesser migraine that lasted for another 3-4. The doctor and staff at the neurologist's office who've had Botox for migraines have said they all saw a difference after the second cycle, for me this is at the end of May. Here's to hoping! I saw the invoice for my Botox and my doctor's office charges $2400 for the Botox and $200 to administer the Botox.

I have had migraines since I was 11, I'm now 35. They seem to have gotten worse in the last ten yrs. I was up to 300mg of Topamax a day and 100 mg of noritrptylan. I have went through all the meds Imitrex, Migranal, Depakote, you name it I tried. My migraine.es come on rappidly and very intense. Vision problems, vomiting, shakes and light sensitivity to name a few. About 3 yrs ago I started getting Botox every three months. The FDA recently approved 200 cc, about 35+ shots for migraines. Takes about 2 weeks to work and last about 7 weeks and then the last three weeks before my new injections the migraines get pretty intense. I give myself dehydrogotamine injections when I get a migraine and take 3 ketorolac pills with each shot. They seem to help but I'm up to 2 shots per migraine. It's a lot of needles but I don't know anything else to try at this point.

I am so happy I found this web site! I am scheduled to go for Botox in a few weeks due to chronic migraines. I have tried 27 different meds (some prophylactic and some for acute pain relief) and nothing has worked. I now have a prescription for Oxy, Fiorinol, a muscle relaxant and Zomig nasal spray. They "somewhat" work but the side effects have been wreaked havoc on my liver and stomach. I have been very nervous about getting the Botox treatments done. I had pretty much come to the conclusion that there was NOTHING left for me to do and that this too would be a bust. Now that I have read some of these posts and heard that it has been successful for some it gives me hope. Luckily I am in Canada so our Health Care system is a bit different. Botox is not covered but almost all Insurance Providers accept it as a viable option and don't put up much of a fuss about covering the cost. My Neurologist just wrote out the prescription for two bottles of it and some saline and I went and picked it up from the drugstore. Thanks for all of the info! Hopefully it works!

My neurologist charges me almost $4000.00 each time I get Botox for my migraines? My insurance has paid about one half of that. Does anyone else get charged that much? I am curious as it seems like a lot of $ and I could get it done at a plastic surgeons office for much less. Any thoughts?

After nearly 10 years, countless MRI's, CT scans, neurologist visits, etc....I will be having botox next week for the migraines. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see if it works! I suffer not only migraines at least have of the month, but daily headaches also. My last neurologist in Wi., who had me on about 6 different meds (i have been taking topamax for years), basically told me if those meds didn't work, I would be referred to the Diamond Headache Clinic, and was told I would have a large bill and miss extensive time from work. I almost felt like it was a threat from this doctor, and basically I "needed" to make the new meds work. I'm sure all you migraine sufferer's have also been on the wonderful merry-go-round of meds, or just plain being told there is nothing else they can do for you...so you'll just have to deal with it. I now live in Ga., and was referred to a pain management specialist, and I am so encouraged! Hopefully Botox will deliver some great results for me

Could you please let me know who your treating physician is? I am new to the Tucson area and am trying to find a new neurologist/headache specialist. I've had debilitating migraines almost every day for years, although I currently take 5 differrent preventative meds every day. I have exhausted virtually every other treatment option (triptans, ergot, caffeine, pain meds, nausea meds, antidepressants, antiseizure drugs, beta-blocker, calcium channel blocker, trigger point injections, steroid injections, spinal facet injections, vitamins, aromatherapy, etc.) Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

My insurance approved my Botox before I had it. Now they are trying to say it was not medically necessary. How can they do this and now I'm stuck with almost 2000.00 bill. I already paid 130.00. Enough to start my headaches back up. I was taking three imitrex shots daily and having chest pains from them. But the insurance claims they were not medically necessary. Wow!

Margo Zargo, I just read your Sept. 8th update! It made me soooo happy to hear your migraines have been helped!! I can only imagine the improvement in your daily life!! I also have to complement you on your attitude. Its great that even though you are still dealing with some other discomforts and headaches you are still able to see the good this has done. I really hope something is able to be done so you no longer have neck or back stiffness, and perhaps with your second round even the normal headaches will be minimized - hoping!! :)

i am having the botox injections today.does anyone know, what im i expecting to notice anything different ,when you first get them ,i am so nerveous , im just so scared something will go wrong, i hear about the droopy eye lids ,and still people having bad headache , is it worth it and does it hurt, i said 31 injections in the head is a bit much i think,why so many injections, and what should i expect . the first couple of days

I love Botox. I just had no idea it could be used for migraines. I used to suffer from horrible, excruciating headaches. But since I gave up milk ( I use Silk milk now) and meat ( I still eat fish and sea products) I had not have one headache in 5 years. I also don't eat fast food anymore

Long-term use of Botox has saved me from frequent, agonizing, migraine headaches! I survived a serious head injury (auto accident) that left me deaf in my right ear, fractured my skull in two places and left me with post-tramatic seizures and headaches. I suffered through headaches and my seizures lasted for 5 years then subsided. Frequent headaches were part of my life and I would often end up in the ER getting injections of Imtrex and Flexeril. 12 years after my accident (at the age of 30) I was introduced to Botox for cosmetic purposes. To my pleasant surprise, I noticed less and less headaches. I have regularly (every 4-5 months) received 30-40 units of Botox on my forehead and above my eyes and at the temple to alleviate my migraines. The biggest thing I notice is that once I get to about month 3, my headaches return with a vengeance! I have a Rx for Trexamet which, although it works, it certainly doesn't prevent the horrific headaches from occurring and ruining my day (or my job, etc). The medicine makes me feel tingly and knocks me out for nearly 8 hours after I take a pill. The downside is of course, the cost. I pay $11 per unit to receive my injections from a NP. She does a far superior job to the plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgeons who have injected me in the past. Nurses are always cheaper and tend to give shots regularly (hence their better technique). Surgeons are just that, surgeons, so they have little expertise in just giving shots.
I spend (out of pocket no insurance) about $800-$1000 a year to get these shots and although I have had to go up to 6 months in between because of budgetary constraints, I always return to the shots as soon as I can afford them because there is simply no substitute. I understand insurance companies make you go through all kinds of hoops to get the cost approved (plus I don't get headaches in the back of my head or back of my neck and don't like the idea of getting long needles put into the back of my head just so I can save a couple of hundred dollars). I hope this information is helpful as I don't know anyone (besides myself) who has actually used botox for 12 years and is a chronic migraine sufferer.

This is first site I've checked for Botox treatment for headaches. I had Translabyrinthine surgery to remove benign brain tumor in January 2012. I have had constant head pain ever since. Surgeon says I shouldn't have pain after this type of surgery .... I beg to differ. I am now seeing neurologist and after not getting relief from several preventive meds he is suggesting Botox and says that he has great results. it is now with insurance to get ok'd. I also have some minor paralysis with right eye and right side of mouth. Wonder if Botox would help this. I usually did not take anything for headaches previous to the surgery and it drives me crazy to take meds on a regular basis. But I am also thankful for them when the pain goes to 9-10. Right now Cambia Potassium powders give me relief but can only take them 9x a month. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and will share mine. Good Luck To All, Kathy

I just had botox for migraines. My forehead wrinkles are better. I am having headaches still but the type headaches seem to have changed. My right eye is swollen in tbe corner. Calling my Dr tomorrow. I had the shots 9 days ago

I have had a second round of botox for my migraines. The first round my regular pain management doctor did the injections and with no problems. The second round was done by his partner because doctor # 1 moved 3 hours away. When I left the office I felt fine with little pain. I can say it has relieved the pain but by the second week my eye lids are drooping so bad I can barely see. What should I do? I see him again for a check up next week. I am having eye pressure pain in my right eye and it feels swollen. I really don't know if I should go to the ER or call my doctor before my check up. I am wondering if this will go away.