Ahhh starting Humira next week!! :(

[SunshineSmile]

Has it helped anyone??

Any side effects after your first shot??

Is it easier to use the pen or the syringe??

Sorry lots of questions, just nervous about injecting myself!

Thanks a bunch!! <3

 

[PsychoJane]

Hello!
I've been taking Humira for over a year now. It did work great at the beginning, unfortunately not so much anymore. In general, it works quickly and it improves greatly the symptoms in the first weeks even though it may takes up to 3 months to see the results. The great results came with side effects on my side. I had several skin manifestation that were psoriasis like. These skin manifestation are relatively frequent from what I understand, I've seen a few on here but even with that, It really worth trying it as a treatment option. Just keep an eye on things that would be wrong (normally, I think a nurse will come to explain you the injection and so on? Is that a service that abott offers automatically for you as well in the states?). She will tell you about everything and nothing you should keep an eye on. Try to not be too stressed about them, they are protecting themself after all and yourself on the same occasion. What I did to chose between the pen and syringe is that I asked for 2 of each for the first injection since you have to get 4 the first time. That way you can see what is better for you. The syringes have the advantage that you can chose the rate at which you inject which might be good, but it is psychologically harder as you see the needle and and need to convince yourself to puncture yourself. The pen, on the other hand, requires less "thinking" I would word it that way, you pinch your skin, take a deep breath, swear a bit(10sec) and then its over. It is particularly uncomfortable though. It hurts, I won't lie but it is totally acceptable. The results worth the pain.

I hope this helps you and that it will work and induce remission quickly for you.

 

[Slim Johnson]

Hey Sunshine,

I have used Humira. In the beginning I had some relief. Although there seemed to be a period of days just before, and after the shot, that I would feel the symptoms intensify.

I don't think there were too many immediate side effects that I can recall, aside from the weakened immune system. There was a subtle change in my skin tone.. Don't really know why.

I also tried both the syringe, and the pens. For me, the syringe was better. This was because I had some terrible anxiety from the pen, and the impact of the injection. The pen would impact my skin so hard that it would bruise my belly most every time I gave myself a shot. This caused me to flinch a few times, wasting the pen.. you only get one shot with the pen, if you miss, goodbye humira dose... Been there, done that.

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this: After about a year and a half on the stuff, I started to notice a strange feeling in the lymph nodes in my neck. They were becoming larger, and harder to the touch. It also was losing it's efficacy over time. I ended up taking a shot every week, rather than every two weeks, at about 14, or 16 months. A few months after doubling my dose frequency, it lost it's benefit altogether.

Once I was off the Humira, it was a couple of months before my lymph nodes felt more normal. I also went through a terrible resurgence of symptoms.

I hope, for your sake, it goes better for you than it did for me.

 

[Desiree49]

I noticed a difference before the second series of shots. I am switching to the syringe because the pen freaks me out. I have not noticed any side effects besides occasionally getting a welt at the injection site. GL

Edit: I noticed you are in Orlando. I used to live there and DH went to UCF.

 

[PsychoJane]

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this: After about a year and a half on the stuff, I started to notice a strange feeling in the lymph nodes in my neck. They were becoming larger, and harder to the touch.

I hope you did consult about the lymph node...? That's generally not something you want to just let happen without knowing the reason why it's happening...

It also was losing it's efficacy over time. I ended up taking a shot every week, rather than every two weeks, at about 14, or 16 months. A few months after doubling my dose frequency, it lost it's benefit altogether.

I'm pretty much there... it lost most of its efficacy after 8 months-ish. They judge it is still working as the disease is localized but I am not so sure about it... So we are trying to make it works again with methotrexate... who knows...

 

[SunshineSmile]

Thanks everyone so far on the feed back you all are amazing
I think I'm going to get the syringe, because I think the pen will freak me out. I like to be more in control of it I think. I really hope I don't get any side effects, and that it works for a while for me. but we will see!

Desiree, I live like down the street from UCF! What a small world! i wish you still lived around here, it'd be great to know someone with IBD around here. What's crazy is I see you live in VA, and my family lives up there in Arlington, near washington dc!

 

[SunshineSmile]

OH! how do you know how much to put the needle in your skin with the syringe? like how deep do you have to go?

 

[bjraggie10]

Hey Sunshine,

Good luck! I just started Humira about a week ago, and I saw very quick improvement in my condition. None of the previous medications I took were helping, so it was welcomed relief for sure.

I was nervous about injecting myself with the pens also, but it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had someone give me the first two, and then I gave myself the second two. I'm concerned about the side effects too, but (knock on wood) I haven't seen any yet - I didn't even have a reaction at my injection sites. I hope it works for you!

 

[Slim Johnson]

I hope you did consult about the lymph node...? That's generally not something you want to just let happen without knowing the reason why it's happening...



I'm pretty much there... it lost most of its efficacy after 8 months-ish. They judge it is still working as the disease is localized but I am not so sure about it... So we are trying to make it works again with methotrexate... who knows...

You bet I told the doctor!! With lymphoma being a known side effect, he was the second to know (second to yours truly) what was going on. It was one of the contributing factors to giving it up.

After Humira, I went to Cimzia for a couple of months. It had no effect, so I gave up altogether on the biologics. I am now 5 weeks post op, and on LDN.

Let's hope the new meds work out for you. I totally understand the challenge with medications.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Good luck with the Humira
They will teach you how to inject and you will be able to ask plenty of questions. Keep us posted on how it goes, I hope it gives you the relief you really need.
x

 

[Emily]

OH! how do you know how much to put the needle in your skin with the syringe? like how deep do you have to go?

The syringe has a pretty short needle, I just put it all the way in, but occasionally I put it in half way and it's pretty much the same. As long as it's not too shallow in there. And good choice with the syringe. The pen SUCKS!
The pamphlet that comes with the injections has good instructions that are easy to follow. But either way, you'll most likely be taught by a nurse how to do it in the beginning.

 

[Miss Underestimated]

Abbott has contracted with nurses here to come out and teach people how to inject themselves, but I took my pens to my Dr's office, and his nurse helped me. It's easy, I just do it and get it over with real quick. No side effects here - I'm in my 4th month. So far so good.

 

[MikeinBklyn]

Just popped another round in about five minutes ago.

Sunshine, I wish you good luck with the H. Please be patient as it does take a little time to start working, everyone is different. I have had great results. We still will flare occasionally so don't abandon ship if you do.

Do a search on injecting Humira. I like most others let my pens sit out for 30 -40 minutes and just do it. Yeah, it stings, yeah it hurs some.....but if it works then it's a small price to pay!

Oh, I've been injecting for 2 years.

Good Luck!

 

[Jeepin it]

Has it helped anyone??

Any side effects after your first shot??

Is it easier to use the pen or the syringe??

Sorry lots of questions, just nervous about injecting myself!

Thanks a bunch!! <3[/QUOTE

I just started on Friday the 13.2012. I took the first four injections with the syringes. There is pain. I wouldn't say it hurts though. With that said. I am switching to the pens.

 

[SunshineSmile]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful feedback! This is all so helpful!
I hope this is my 'miracle drug'!! *fingers crossed!
Just saw my doctor today and she's ordering it for me, I'll be having a nurse come out to my house I think on Wednesday or Thursday this week to give me my first 4 shots. So, hopefully things go well!

 

[Jeepin it]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful feedback! This is all so helpful!
I hope this is my 'miracle drug'!! *fingers crossed!
Just saw my doctor today and she's ordering it for me, I'll be having a nurse come out to my house I think on Wednesday or Thursday this week to give me my first 4 shots. So, hopefully things go well!

Goodluck with it. I got my first 4 shots 4 days ago. I am already seeing a difference. My problem was trying to get my insurance to cover it. Took almost 2 months to get approved.

 

[Scifimom]

My next injection is tomorrow. I use syringes there are no pens available in Greece. I pinch the skin with my left hand (I am right-handed). Hold the syringe like a dart arrow with my right hand and poke with an angle of 45 degrees approx. Needle all the way in, push, take off, discard. I am on Humira since November 2010 and in remission since January 2011. I am having major headaches once or twice a week, my hands look wringly and I have blurry vision (especially when I am tired). My GI says none of the side effects is serius enough to take me off the drug.

 

[littlemissh]

I have been on it for 9 weeks and am starting to notice improvement. I haven't needed a transfusion in about 4 weeks, just iron infusion and my hb is at its best at 90 for many months. My pain is less frequent as are number of BMs.
The Humira booklet gets you to complete the Harvey Bradshaw score when you start and each injection. Mine was 20 at beginning (8-9 severe disease) and was 9 today so much better. May even get my nasojej tube taken out in 3-4 weeks time!

I use the pen as I don't like the thought of injecting...just press the button and in it goes...does sting for sure but only for about 10 secs. Stomach much less painful than legs for me.

My only side effect so far is muscle cramps for a few days after the injection, possibly more bm's for a couple of days after also.
My white count is below normal much of the time so I have to have bloods checked before each injection...though I am also on a small dose aza (this also gives me low count so can only stay on little dose).

Don't regret for one minute being on it.

I really hope it works well for you Sunshine. I would just say be patient. I was expecting to be better after the first loading injections! I think you are in the similar situation as me in that it took ages to diagnose so started off in a worse position and takes lonegr therefore to achieve remission.