One of the things that really stinks about being on an injectable medication is the fact that you have to get a shot on a regular basis. For me, this is once a week. Now, for someone with over 25 hours of tattoo work and countless body piercings under his belt, you’d think this would be an easy thing. No. The self-preservation instinct in me is pretty strong. I can get other people to do this for me, but doing it myself is brutal.

For the first two years, I did this by myself every Friday night. I’d sit in the bathroom and just shake, holding the syringe in my hand. When I’d be out with my modified friends for a weekend, sometimes I’d get my friend Evan to do it. That’s was huge. Evan’s dad has MS, so he has become a pro at giving shots.

A few months after I moved to Providence, my friend Frank offered to do it for me. That guy moved a mountain. The burden that was lifted off my shoulders in one sentence was immense. There have been a few weeks when Frank has been away and someone else has filled in. Recently, my friend Mike (aka Miyagi) did it. I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. After the injection, we had a few beers and life was good.

I trust Frank, Evan, and Mike explicitly. Having them do my injection is nothing. We chat while they’re prepping, and when they’re ready, I tilt my head back and let them go. Frank and I have this down to a science. He always seems to get it when I’m exhailing.

For somebody who is new to MS or injection therapies, I strongly urge you to find a “care partner” who will help you with this. It’s helped me to get over one of the biggest hurdles I face.