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
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