Botox Treatment #1

"Blood, blood, blood!"  -Ricki's Disney quote for the day from Zootopia 

In August Ricki's neurosurgeon suggested that it was some of her tumors that  were causing her migraines and that because of their location the botox treatments for migraines could possibly help. Unfortunately insurance can slow down the process and finally 7 months later... Ricki was able to get her treatment yesterday. It requires 32 injections and Ricki opted to be sedated for the procedure. We have never had a nurse come in when she is going to give an IV and bring in a towel and put it on Ricki's lap and say "I am a little messy when I do this" I assumed she meant she was messy with all the papers from the packages for doing an IV. Little did we know what Ricki was in for... The veteran nurse was teaching a new nurse and was explaining things as they went. They asked Ricki where she preferred her IV and she showed them where she liked them.  They did the usual prick and it didn't work so they tried again. Second time they pricked and after a considerable amount of digging gave up and went to the other arm.. Third prick was making me sick and it wasn't even my arm as I watched her keep moving the needle around in Ricki's arm trying to find the vein. I was relieved when she finally found the vein. However my relief was short lived as I began  seeing blood from Ricki's arm shooting all over and landing on the white towel she had laid on Ricki's lap... Ricki has been through a lot over the years but this has never happened before.  Poor Ricki went into shock and about passed out.  They had to give her oxygen and had her lie down. I couldn't understand how they salvaged that IV but they taped it all up and said it was good. I walked back with her and the anesthesiologist began putting the sedation medicine through the IV. He told Ricki it would sting - which again she is all too familiar with. She kept telling them it was really hurting but they kept putting the medicine in anticipating she would drift off to sleep-but she never did because it was all going into her arm and not the vein:) So... IV #4  the anesthesiologist was awesome and had it in with no problem.  Within seconds the medicine went in quickly and she was good to go for her treatment. 

Ricki awoke from her treatment feeling great.  As everything wore off she did have some pretty miserable nausea which they had anticipated. It breaks my heart how we fix one thing but there seems to be a trade off. 

This morning has been great so far with minimal head pain. It is kind of sad but a 5 in pain is where Ricki is able to function and push through things. So when I say minimal it is still not gone but she is able to get up and do things. It would be so wonderful if some day she were pain free but we will take it at a level where she can function.  We are hoping this Botox is the answer to keep her there.