Migraines and Botox
I finally had my neurology appointment today. In case you missed this part of my adventure, when I was in Atlanta in September I had an episode of syncope and collapse, which is a fancy medical way of saying I passed out. Clunk. Fell right off the chair at the restaurant I was dining at.
My heart checked out fine, so I have been waiting for the neuro appointment to tell me whether or not there is anything wrong with my head (some would say that I don't need a neurology appointment to provide the answer to that question...); but the answer is yes, I have a very rare form of migraines, called Bickerstaff or basilar type migraines which are often confused with strokes in their symptomatology. What is the likelihood? One in 500. OK so I know I am not normal!
And get this: One of the remedies is botox; yes, you heard that right, botox. So because I have migraine headaches, I now get to go for botox every three months, and the two for one special involved with that therapy is that my brow will become unfurrowed. Now you can't beat that!
But here's the funny part. I did have botox the end of October, because some of the derm residents needed a guinea pig to practice on and I volunteered my forehead for them to finish up the rest of a vial that had already been opened and would otherwise have been discarded (what! throw away botox?!?!?) I also promptly volunteered to let them practice on any other needed body part, hips and thighs at the top of the list...but anyway, when the neurologist said "lift your eyebrows" I had to tell him I couldn't because I had botox, to which he promptly responded that I would be getting more of that in my future (and my insurance would pay for it, I wouldn't have to be at the mercy of leftovers...). He said that was the first time anyone ever told him they couldn't' raise their eyebrows because they had had botox...and I get to go back for more.
So here's the question. Does that make me a totally vain person that I like my forehead better without lines and furrows? I admit I squinch my eyebrows together a lot when I can move those muscles, but I feel and probably look much more relaxed not being able to do so. What do you think? Is botox OK if you don't pay for it, or as medical therapy with cosmetic side benefits, or not?
My heart checked out fine, so I have been waiting for the neuro appointment to tell me whether or not there is anything wrong with my head (some would say that I don't need a neurology appointment to provide the answer to that question...); but the answer is yes, I have a very rare form of migraines, called Bickerstaff or basilar type migraines which are often confused with strokes in their symptomatology. What is the likelihood? One in 500. OK so I know I am not normal!
And get this: One of the remedies is botox; yes, you heard that right, botox. So because I have migraine headaches, I now get to go for botox every three months, and the two for one special involved with that therapy is that my brow will become unfurrowed. Now you can't beat that!
But here's the funny part. I did have botox the end of October, because some of the derm residents needed a guinea pig to practice on and I volunteered my forehead for them to finish up the rest of a vial that had already been opened and would otherwise have been discarded (what! throw away botox?!?!?) I also promptly volunteered to let them practice on any other needed body part, hips and thighs at the top of the list...but anyway, when the neurologist said "lift your eyebrows" I had to tell him I couldn't because I had botox, to which he promptly responded that I would be getting more of that in my future (and my insurance would pay for it, I wouldn't have to be at the mercy of leftovers...). He said that was the first time anyone ever told him they couldn't' raise their eyebrows because they had had botox...and I get to go back for more.
So here's the question. Does that make me a totally vain person that I like my forehead better without lines and furrows? I admit I squinch my eyebrows together a lot when I can move those muscles, but I feel and probably look much more relaxed not being able to do so. What do you think? Is botox OK if you don't pay for it, or as medical therapy with cosmetic side benefits, or not?
Labels: basilar migraines, botox, cosmetic botox, medical botox
posted by www.kathypride.com at
10:34 PM
7 Comments:
Aw shucks. My grandma looked 20 years younger after every time she had removal of a skin cancer on her face. Of course, one side looked young, the other old...it was kinda funny, actually. But she was beautiful until she left us last January....see my blog (someplace in October) for pictures of her....(Missing Grandma, and A Tale of Two Men)
www.reflectionsofgodslight.blogspot.com
Well, now I KNOW you already know MY answer! Of course it's okay to have medical therapy, EVEN when the result gives cosmetic improvement... I'd be a hypocrite if I said any differently. Because of breast cancer, I now have two symmetrical, perky, breasts of a woman in her twenties. Would I have done it if not for my mastectomy? No, I couldn't have afforded to. But should I suffer and die of cancer because one of the side effects is nice boobs? Of course not! So, enjoy your lineless forehead and thank goodness you now know what gives you these scary episodes.
I thought I knew all about migraines, but I never heard of your type. Is the botox just on your forehead? I have read that for my type of migraines, there has been some success with botox into the back of your neck -- into those muscles where my headaches always start.
Okay, I've got some major catching up to do here.
Botox, huh? Well, I don't see that you have any lines on your forehead, but if it's free...I'm all for that! :)
And if it's used for migraines (as long as it's not experimental), I say, "Yes." But how many times have we all been used as experiments in the medical field and didn't know it? I guess that's why they call it "practicing" medicine.
Personally, I LOVE every one of my wrinkles only becuase I didn't think I'd live to see the day. I never thought I'd see 45 years, much less 50 (yes, I'm a walking miracle), and I say bring the wrinkles on...
HUGS!
My niece has had her life shutdown for years because of debilitating headaches and has recently tried botox (back of neck) and it seems to be providing some relief. That seems like a bit of a miracle to her family!
Unlike Connie's previous opinion, I'm not so big on lines, wrinkles, etc., etc, so I just had my forehead tortured with botox. They told me I have "very strong brow muscles" and am "extremely expressive." I think that's another way of saying "get your credit card, this is gonna take another tube."
One of the things I love about drawing/painting older faces is that they have so much character! What a shame our culture is more focused on "beauty" than character...
Guess I've just known lots of Jesus-loving ladies who put some care into outer appearance. Just because a woman takes a few extra minutes to put lipstick on doesn't mean her focus isn't on the things of God. Where do we draw the line? I'd argue that outward and inner beauty can co-exist. I was in a Bible study once where this discussion became a plastic surgery-bashing fest. Many women (who love the Lord) were hurt that day.
I have beautiful friends with lined and unlined faces. As long as our hearts are trained on the One who created us with a desire to feel lovely, isn't it up to each woman to decide (within reason) what it takes to make her feel attractive on the outside...not fearing judgment from her sisters?
Absolutely. I just think it is sad that our culture "defines" beauty for us. I'm all for caring for the temple--and making oneself beautiful isn't wrong. I am coming at it more from the perspective of why are we letting our (ungodly)culture tell us that unwrinkled faces are more beautiful than wrinkled ones? Why are "tanned" faces more beautiful that untanned ones? (150 years ago, it was the other way around, and more healthily so). Why is dark hair more beautiful than silver? or blonde more beautiful than anything else? Why is thin more beautiful than curved? (Even 50 years ago, the women had flesh on their bones...the ones our culture thought were beautiful.). I think we put to much emphasis on "beauty", as beauty is defined by our culture.
One of the things that often happens at our women's group is that someone will come who usually does not come and they will be struck by the "beauty" of the women there--not that many of us are really outwardly beautiful (by our culture's standards anyway); but the love we have for each other and the hearts of the women to worship God--all this makes them radiant.
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