By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

Modern day pandemics aside, we’re fortunate to live in an age when there are continual advances in medicine. More forward momentum in the pursuit of migraine and headache treatment has occurred within the past two years than we’ve seen in decades. New injectable drugs help prevent migraine and others promise relief during migraine attacks.

Injections for migraine are not new to me. I received about 30 Botox shots every 90 days for longer than most people even had their headaches. Let's just say, it was for an extraordinarily long time.

A few years ago, I was awaiting another round of shots to the head and noticed my tummy was in knots for some reason. The nurse came in and told me they were trying a new brand of Botox, which basically means they found a cheaper version. This meant you sometimes get a batch of the medicine you've become accustomed to and sometimes it was a mystery combo, mixed with “similar” fillers containing the "same" active ingredient of botulinum toxin.

At the last session, I'd gone in for my regularly scheduled shots and got one of the worst migraines ever instantaneously. This was out of the normal for me and it led to almost a yearlong cluster that forced me to pause my med school pursuit and nursing career. I still have yet to bounce back from it.

They claimed I could have possibly received a “bad batch,” which I accepted due to how many times I've gotten this treatment with little to no adverse effects. Things cannot always be perfect, right? 

I wonder, however, still living with the repercussions to this day, if it was an adverse or allergic reaction to something.

Adding to my doubts is that I had been waiting on the doctor for over 45 minutes. Don't mind me! I don’t have anything else happening in my life, not like they even bothered asking. 

While waiting, I looked over at all the syringes full of who-knows-what and realized it just didn't align with me, my purpose or path anymore. 

I have nothing but good things to say about Botox, as it sincerely helped me for many years. It's one of the only things that ever has. But as we all must understand, no one knows the long-term repercussions of consistent use of any treatment option. 

Honoring the fact that we would all do just about anything to lessen our pain, I willingly took well over a thousand shots out of desperation for even a small fraction of relief. But what it often boils down to is trading one problem for another, even without being aware of it at the time.

Regarding a lot of the options out today, we are the guinea pigs and lab rats. There's no way of knowing how they could interfere with our well-being over time.

Earlier that same week, I was at a different appointment and they were inquiring about medications I take. By then, I had phased myself off nearly everything and Botox was the last traditional path I hung onto.

I told the nurse that, she replied and I quote: "That's probably for the best, I cannot tell you how many have come through with liver issues and kidney failure from their exposure to consistent prescription drug use." 

I’m proud to say my approach to healthcare is entirely holistic these days. Most providers are not extensively trained on how to treat pain, that's why they call it practicing medicine. They're only human as well and everyone is different -- thereby resulting in different outcomes for everybody -- hence the one-size-fits-all approach not working.

I share my Botox experience not to suggest anything or to instill fear, but to show that we don't always know what we are doing and it's no one else's responsibility to inform us. It is your body and your life. I urge you all to take control and remain curious, ask important questions, and don't eat everything that's fed to you. 

Unfortunately, we are living in a time where our best interest comes only after a check has been written. But by that point, as in my case, the damage may have already been done. I left that office and don't plan on ever going back.

Remember that every patient cured is a customer lost. Look out for and protect yourself!

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headache and fibromyalgia. 

Mia is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook advocacy and support group, and Peace & Love, a wellness and life coaching practice for the chronically ill.