Question
Hello all,
This is my first time posting to the message board, so hello! It was also my first time getting botox on Saturday. Lo and behold, I am one of the statistics who promptly came down with a respiratory infection the next day...
Yes, I read all the literature and the information about side effects. But now I am suffering, at the busiest most stressful time of year for both my job and the holidays! Boo hoo.
Just curious because it seems so strange: how in the world can Botox cause a respiratory infection? Can the presence of the toxin cause your immune system to go haywire? Since it is produced by bacteria, can the live bacteria still be present and directly cause an infection?
Thanks!
fuchsia

Answer
Hello all,
This is my first time posting to the message board, so hello! It was also my first time getting botox on Saturday. Lo and behold, I am one of the statistics who promptly came down with a respiratory infection the next day...
Yes, I read all the literature and the information about side effects. But now I am suffering, at the busiest most stressful time of year for both my job and the holidays! Boo hoo.
Just curious because it seems so strange: how in the world can Botox cause a respiratory infection? Can the presence of the toxin cause your immune system to go haywire? Since it is produced by bacteria, can the live bacteria still be present and directly cause an infection?
Thanks!
fuchsia

Answer
i dont even know what i have. i got botox on dec 5. immediately, i had headaches. so far, my headaches went away. my neck and shoulder pain is now bearable. my pinched nerves feel a bit better. but, im having panick attacks about 2x a day, particularly during the day when i go outside. my throat is dry. sometimes my ear get sharp pains. im dizzy. is that a flu or respiratory infection? not one i have ever had before. im pretty nervous. ive called my medical doctor, my eye doctor who administerted the botox (it was for blepharospasm), allergan...and everyone doesnt understand how my low dosage (16 units) could cause any side effects. so, on top of being told i have a flu, im made to feel like im crazy.
what the heck is "flu-like". an infection is not "like" something, it is or it isnt. i find that term disturbing. u either have a flu or u dont.

Answer
Hi Fushia,
My sister received Botox on Feb 4/06. A small amount in her upper lip in conjunction with Restylane to fill in the lip lines. She was already coming down with a chest cold, but shortly after the Botox injection she had to go to the hospital outpatients and was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection and is on anti-biotics to fight it. She did not make the link to the Botox, since there is a flu going around the schools (she is a teacher).
So it's difficult to say if her condition was made worse by having Botox done or not, but it is something to keep in mind for the future. Especially since I have also reacted to my Botox injections and am experiencing lower lid droop and dry eyes. Perhaps certain lack of resistance runs in families and this may not be a product we can use without side effets.
Loving, living and learning,
Lady Canuck