Humira arrived today - Advice?

[hersheywinter]

HI everyone,
I feel like venting, so here is my story. I have been dealing with CD since my early 20s and am 37 now. When my flare started in February I was 212 pounds now I am 158. I have been in and out of the hospital three times (each about a week) for low potassium. I am now taking 3 heavy doses of liquid potassium (think sweatsock) and it is keeping me above 3.5 for the past few days so I am hopeful. My CD is small intestine located and difficult to find since the damn insurance won't cover a capsule everytime I get sick.

They just found a wonderful new issue...a heart arrhythmia (Prolonged QT Interval) so stress tests next week. I am too weak for the physical one so I have to do the chemical one.

My humira arrived today, so I am excited to try something that may give me some relief. I just realized I spent almost the first month of my summer in the hospital. Now I'm just waiting for the nurse visit to initiate me into the realm of this new medication. Any advice or suggestions?

 

[tots]

Inject slowly!!

Lauren

 

[Scaryman]

I dont see if you got the PEN or syringe. But if if you got the pen then I'd recommend icing the injection site first. Its a little intimidating at first. But you've dealt with Crohns flares, you can handle a injection. Plan on being tired for the first few weeks.

 

[Patricia56]

Some people find using warmth before the injection feels better than ice. The same thing with after the injection - some use ice, some use warmth. So you might want to experiment with that until you find what works for you.

I would consider taking a premed of benadryl and tylenol to help with any side effects. Ask the nurse about that. You can take a tylenol PM.

If you can take the shot at night then go to bed you are likely to sleep through side effects if you have them.

Best wishes

 

[Patricia56]

Also Humira has a reputation of taking several weeks to months to fully kick in unlike Remicade which often has a very fast response.

 

[hersheywinter]

Thanks for the advice, I have the pens...looks like I have to wait through the holiday weekend before the nurse will arrive to show me properly. My potassium seems to be steady today at 4.1 which is good, so no hospital this week...but I have a feeling if the humira doesn't kick in quickly the potassium maintenance is going to wear me out...and I just wanted to be feeling a little more by myself before I have to teach my eight college classes in August...ugh...

 

[Patricia56]

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[jjk308]

The pens are simple. You don't need a nurse, just follow the directions as its just a subcutaneous injection. And yes, the stuff hurts, but the pain doesn't last very long.
I started during the clinical trial phase about 7 years ago. had to go up to weekly injections as at 9 days after I'd start cramping. But it worked far better than anything else (Remicade failed completely) with no side effects besides some nasal congestion, and trouble sleeping the next night after an injection.

Humira is beginning to get less effective this past year, and I'll switch to a non TNF biologic as soon as my insurance covers it. Luckily there are a couple of them just becoming available.