I know I've mentioned this in the past, but the needle I use once a week is huge. It contains an interferon compound called Avonex, an intramuscular injection. Briefly, I switched over to Rebif, a subcutaneous shot with a nifty auto-injector (administered 3 times a week, in various sites including the ass, which stained my sheets in a slightly disturbing manner somewhat reminiscent of Barton Fink's blood-soaked bed, but I digress), and then returned after I saw that Rebif was not as effective for me.I have a problem with interferons in general, because truthfully they simply delay the inevitable. As a matter of fact, "interfer[e]" is right in the name. It's a "treatment" that's "chronic," which sucks if your MS is as active and resilient as mine.
Use the Q-Tip for scale, and then you'll realize what I jab into my thigh once a week every week. It's huge, and technically not hypodermic, but it does conjure images of that scene in "Pulp Fiction" where John Travolta revives the ODing Uma Thurman by plunging a huge needle filled with adrenalin into her heart. Really, it's not that bad, but that snippet runs through my mind every Thursday night. (I switched recently from Friday, so as to get over the imminent flu-like side effects--chills, headache, and extreme weakness--before a Metric concert.)
Seriously, though, it's huge, and a bit unsettling that the process doesn't bother me anymore. I just stabbed myself, and I'm used to it. Welcome to the world of chronic illness. Diabetics do the same thing every day, and those with hepatitis also have to deal with interferons. Nevertheless, diseases such as these are not nearly as debilitating as MS, so if anyone tells you they have diabetes or hepatitis, think of this needle, remember that I have to use it every week, and scoff at their plight. A spray of saliva would be good, too.
I know many people have to deal with much worse. But still. Come on. That needle is fucking huge. Luckily, I had Little Teeth's frantic "OHM!" to prompt me to plunge with repeated incantations of "I don't mind it."
R
(By the way, we/I love you, Ammo...)
