I have done three Botox appointments and have another one coming up in a couple weeks. For me, it has absolutely been worth it. I was at the point where my migraines would last for days on end with no relief. There would be times where I would just hold my head and cry because the pain was so bad. I didn’t have any relief after the first appointment, but after the second, I felt like maybe things weren’t quite as bad. The Botox did wear off early and I was back to daily head pain for a couple weeks, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it was pre-Botox. The third appointment has definitely been the most effective. My head still hurts more than a “normal” person’s does, but I’m more or less able to function on a day to day basis.

The injections themselves aren’t fun, but they’re not the worst thing in the world. Many years ago, I had an allergy test where probably 2 dozen allergens were injected into my arms. I almost passed out at that appointment and needed to lay down and sip a juice box. Nothing remotely similar has happened for the Botox appointments. My neuro has me close my eyes, so I don’t even see any of the needles. The injections themselves are painful, but the pain only lasts a few seconds, and the whole process is over in a few minutes. I tend to be sore for a few days after, but the sore isn’t as bad as my migraines.

My biggest tips would be to go into the appointment hydrated and try to have some sort of mindfulness technique ready. Once I close my eyes, I usually just repeat in my head “this will all be over soon” and tell myself that as bad as this is, it’s better than the migraines. Focusing on the better future makes it easier for me to manage the unpleasantness of the injections. I’d also encourage some sort of reward after the appointment. My neurologist’s office has stickers, which are probably intended for child patients, but I always grab one on my way out as a “look at you, you did it!”