Humira flare

[carrollco]

I'm on Humira 2x monthly and it has worked great for one year. I started flaring last week (have been under huge stress) and am wondering if I should wait to see if it clears or call the doc. No fever--mild diarrhea--some blood--elevated pain level--but not horrible. A friend of mine says she just waits it out--that it never gets bad and usually goes away.

Any advice?

 

[PsychoJane]

My advice would be not to wait for too long. Your Gi may consider rising the dose to weekly shots for a few months or adjusting a concommitant therapy. It really depends what your blood works look like. It might only be a random episode but you have to keep in mind that for some of us, humira only last for a certain time and then it becomes less effective so I would not wait too long in order to avoid any further complications. Good luck Louann.

 

[bambam]

I would probably call, just to be ahead in case your flare-up gets worse. Even if it does end up just being a small flare because of the stress you're under, informing your doctor wouldn't hurt anything. And then if it does get worse, at least then you and your doctor would be working on it.

Hopefully though, it isn't too bad!

 

[carrollco]

Frankly, I'm scared to call. He said my next option was surgery. Everything else failed and Imuran messed up my liver and kidneys. *heavy sigh* If it's not better tomorrow, I'll call.

 

[TeresaPro]

i am flaring right now too, i don't think it is working as well as the remicade did,( i had to many side effects from remi)

 

[carrollco]

It just stinks, doesn't it? I mean I am so angry. I've gone an entire year without a problem. I do not want to call my doc as he said the next thing is surgery since I'm allergic to aspirin and can't take the Imuran stuff as it damaged my liver and kidneys. I still haven't called, I know I need to, but I'm in denial.

I know I know better, but hell. Maybe it will go away. I'm giving myself until Monday. Until then, it's white rice, white bread and liquids only. Maybe I'll get lucky.

 

[PsychoJane]

Don't forget you can try weekly shots to keep the disease at the bay. An other option you may have before surgery is trying methotrexate with your Humira. Maybe this would help your condition... it is not easy on the liver , but it's not the same type of component as the AZA, or 6-MP. But even so, sometime surgery is a gift and can bring up to several years of remission. Case by case as usual, but it can be great.

 

[carrollco]

I can't take methotrexate either because of the liver/kidney damage from Imuran. I did call and they said I could take a few days and if it didn't improve we can't talk about going to weekly Humira injections.

That, at least, is better than surgery.

 

[TeresaPro]

weekly...ug i rather not..

 

[sallianna]

I'm also on Humira and started having a mild flare a few weeks ago. I used to be on Pentasa, and had some samples still lying around in my drawer, so I took those for a few days and the flare went away. Now I'm back on Humira alone and things are going well. Any chance you could get on a lighter medicine like that for a short period to end the flare-up?

 

[MikeinBklyn]

Flares, they still happen even on Humira.........but they are less severe and short lived.

 

[carrollco]

Today I woke up feeling much better. Still a little painful, but no blood, thank God. So, maybe I will still have some flares, but they will be shorter lived. No need to panic. Except now I have those nodule thingies on my fingers again. (Can't remember what they are called.) They hurt. I will be extra careful eating this next week. *sigh* I guess this is a chronic disease. Dang it.

 

[Jimena]

Hey all! I have been use Humira since 2007, with little break on the middle.I use 2 injections very 2 weeks. Now i have little symptoms sincelast week. My stomach is sore, like burning feeling, nausea, heart-burn and lower back is aching after BM. I had diarrhea about week, not so much anymore.

I feel like this is end of a very good friendship with me and Humira :shifty:

 

[Patricia56]

Carollco -

Many Gi's handle flares like you describe by temporarily increasing the number of Humira injections or the frequency of them until the symptoms have improved. Then you go back to your regular dosing.

I suggest that you call them and let them know about the flare if your symptoms continue. They may want to do that or something else. Personally I would prefer to see my son go to weekly injections for a bit and then back to regular schedule than have him go on Pred.

The other option is to try a liquid diet of EN formula for a couple weeks or longer. If this is going to work for you you should see big improvement in a couple weeks and you can use it instead of increasing meds when you have a small flare.