My Botox Experience
Hi everyone! I had been considering getting Botox for a while. I saw so many horror stories online so I kept pushing it off until I really couldn’t take it anymore. While I was considering my options, I thought that a day-by-day account of someone’s experience would be very helpful. That’s why I figured I would share mine.
I’m 30F with a neurogenic bladder. I was on mirabegron for about 6 years before doing my first botox injection (100 units) about 2 months ago. TLDR; I love it. What I’m sharing is just my experience, and different bodies will react differently. Please consult a doctor for any medical questions/opinions. If you have any questions about my specific experience, I’ll answer when I can.
Day 1: First time ever getting Botox. The procedure itself was easy. A nurse got my vitals, tested me for UTIs, drained my bladder with a catheter, and then pumped in some numbing liquid through the catheter. I didn’t feel anything. I had to wait for about 25 mins for it to take effect. After that the doctor went in with a tiny probe and camera, and did the injections. That part only took 5-10 mins. Some injections were a little painful (similar pain to a Pap smear, only lasted a second) but I didn’t feel others. After that they had me pee and I was able to leave. I felt normal for the rest of the day but felt a burning sensation. The doctor had warned me about it but said it will last around a day or 2. They gave me an antibiotic as a preventative measure for UTIs.
Day 2: I still feel that slight burning/tingly sensation but less than yesterday. I took my mirabegron today (last dose, bridge). No leaks or urgency to report. I stayed home just in case.
Day 3: tingling is still there but I have less urgency and frequency. I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable than I did on meds. Sometimes it takes me a minute to start peeing though.
Day 5: I already feel a considerable difference in how frequently I go. I haven’t had any leaks since starting, including while doing high-impact sports. I was able to go to a 2.5 hour concert and not have to use the restroom once. My flow is getting a little slower and it takes me a few seconds to start peeing once I sit on the toilet, but nothing major/no retention.
Day 7: I went for a 1-week follow-up visit at the doctor. They did an ultrasound of my baldder, asked me to go pee, and did another one to see how much I emptied my bladded. They confirmed that I had no retention. Sometimes I need to push to make sure I fully void my bladder and the doctor said that this is normal and that it will start decreasing with time. That night as a test I had a soup for dinner, 1 hour before bed, and I didn’t wake up at night to use the restroom. I still can’t believe it.
Day 22: A little less than a month into it, I got a UTI, but it was manageable with antibiotics. Still going on strong though. Only 2 small leaks because of the UTI.
Day 60: I’m about 2 months into it. My flow is pretty normal. I had one other UTI but overall I feel like I did before OAB. I occasionally leak when I do intense sports (over 1h of running) but it’s manageable with a pad. I don’t have urgency anymore, and I don’t wear pads unless I’m going to exercise for a long time (i used to wear pads daily). So far, it’s been a lifesaver.