Hurima

[limerick boy]

humira

Hi all, John here from Ireland. Ive been reading the forum for about a week now but only registered today. I was diagnosed with chrons in july and after a an MRI and some blood tests my consultant has decided to put me on Humira injections. I have to say the thought of self-injecting is really freaking me out as I absolutely hate needles and im really worying about it. Does anyone have personal experience of taking humira and how they felt? Is there any bad side effects? Ive lso been prescribed some steorids for a fistula because the consultant said surgery can be ineffective. Hopefully the steroids will help ease the problem. Its been a tough year but the future should be better. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys

 

[Astra]

Hiya John
and welcome

check out our Humira Club Thread, just type it in the search box up on the blue line, all your questions will be answered there
stick around, lots of friends here for you, all paddling in the same boat!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[limerick boy]

Hiya John
and welcome

check out our Humira Club Thread, just type it in the search box up on the blue line, all your questions will be answered there
stick around, lots of friends here for you, all paddling in the same boat!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

Thanks Joan. Thats a really good club. Really good tips and advice. Oh ya sorry to everyone about the wrong spelling, its been a long day.

 

[Nica]

hi John,

I have been on Humira since July. I use the pen, if fear of needles is an issue go with the pen you never see the needle. Honestly the injection takes about 10 seconds, yes it stings. I have someone else give me the injections now because of the anxiety I got doing it. ( I sat there for 15 minutes trying to push the button and my thumb wouldnt move!) If you have someone around who can do them that may be the best way for you.

Make sure you take your shot out of the fridge for about 20 minutes before injecting. Some people say stomach hurts less than leg ( I have scar tissue so cant do stomach), some say ice the spot before you inject, I did not find icing to be helpful but made it seem to sting more. Humira is helping my crohn's so I find it worth the issue of self injecting. Also, I know in the states you can have a nurse come help you with the shots till you are more comfortable...

 

[ChefShazzy]

Hi John; I've been on Humira for almost 11 months, and I still get anxiety about the injections. I use syringes. Some people find the pen easier, but I prefer having more control over how fast I inject the medication. I usually inject in my legs, I find it less painful, and I ice the site to numb it. I find the most painful part is not the jab, but the stinging after the medication goes in, and taking out the syringe.
I get injection site reactions, so I take 30 mg of pred on injection days to help with the itching and swelling.
But, I haven't had a bad flare since January, so it just might be working! See you around the Humira Club!

 

[limerick boy]

Thanks for the replies and advice guys. My consultant said she will be sending a humira nurse out to the house in the next couple of weeks and they will show me how to do the injection but the nevres are still really bad. It's great to hear though guys that humira is helping with the chrons and gives me hope it will have the same affect on me.

 

[limerick boy]

Hi guys, looking for a bit of info. I have to go to the hospital on friday and my GI said they will be starting me on the humira. They mentioned something about a loading dose or something like that. Could anyone tell me what they mean by a loading dose? They will be mentoring my heart rate and blood pressure as well in case im having any reactions i think

 

[Manzyb]

Hey there!

Your loading doses will be 4 shots of the humira pen/syringe in one day. they had me space mine out, one shot every two hours, then if i remember correctly (its been 4 years since loading dose) the next week you take 2 more shots, then you go to the normal one shot every two weeks, or whatever your doc prescribes.

It sounds a lot scarier than it really is. When I initially did mine, they monitored me too since I had a bad reaction to the remicade.

Hope all goes well!!

 

[countrycoffeehouse]

To be honest.. and I am not afraid of needles or injections.. have had to many so I got over that a while ago. But this shot STINGS! and even after you do it there will still be stinging.. I had tears come to my eyes the first time.. i used the pen. You will get used to it but even after 1 year it still stings.. I choose my stomach because I am skinny and have a bit more meat on my tummy then legs.. Good luck! and it is a great drug while it worked for me

 

[limerick boy]

Thanks guys for the replies. I will let yee know how I get on tomorrow when I get home. Hopefully it will go well and the pain wont be too bad!!

 

[limerick boy]

Oh man im so annoyed! Was heading out to the hospital a short while ago, when my mother got a phone call. My GI's secretary said not to come out to the hospital because the humira nurse, who was supposed to be travelling from Dublin, never got the fax about the details and wouldnt be able to attend. I was ready for the injections and everything and now I will have to wait untill I get another appointment. That could be a good while with the Irish health system, like why are all the humira nurses based in dublin only? I had to take the day off school and my mother the day off work. Sorry about the rant guys but im really annoyed

 

[abo]

Hi john,you will feel like a new man when you start to inject yourself with the Humira pens.i was very nervous at the start but the results were great.As mentioned by another member of this forum remove the pen from the fridge at least 20 minutes before hand to get to room temp.It always helped me to ICE the area that you are going to inject before and after,don't worry all will be OK,
take care
Abo
on Humira 2 yrs

 

[limerick boy]

Hi john,you will feel like a new man when you start to inject yourself with the Humira pens.i was very nervous at the start but the results were great.As mentioned by another member of this forum remove the pen from the fridge at least 20 minutes before hand to get to room temp.It always helped me to ICE the area that you are going to inject before and after,don't worry all will be OK,
take care
Abo
on Humira 2 yrs

Thanks abo for the advice.Ya ive heard a lot of good feedback about humira and hopefully it will help me as well. I was really syched up about the injections this morning and was really disappointed when they rang to cancel. I would prefer if the nurse could just come to the house but they want to monitor me in the hospital with the loading dose because of my age. Being 16 has it advantages but this unfortunately isint one of them

 

[jkd1111]

I have done both Humira and Remicade. Humira is so easy and convenient. It didn't hurt me. I used the pen and could have not been happier. Used the cold pack first for about 15 minutes then just did the shot. Never felt a thing. Sometimes there was a slight sting if I didn't take the Humira out of the fridge early enough but that was because it was cold and not room temperature. The needle in it is like the little tiny hair like needles that are used with diabetes shots. Not a big deal at all. The only reaction I ever had was slight bruising at the injection sight if I happened to hit a vessle....again, no big deal. The whole shot process takes about 10 seconds. Doctor should give you a sample Humira kit with a fake pen so you can practice. Just numb with cold pack, pinch about 2 inches of skin on stomach, place pen in the middle and press the plunger. Done! Make sure to ask for the fake pen so you can practice as it has a pretty good pop that can startle you when you press the plunger. Just remember to press the pen down and keep it pressed down when you press the plunger otherwise the needle will not go in (it is really small) and then you have wasted your dose.

Only reason I went back to Remi is the Humira just didn't work as well. Otherwise would never have changed.

 

[limerick boy]

Hi guys, just said I would give yee an update. Was at the hospital today for my loading dose and it actually wasnt that bad!! I did one of the injections myself and it went quite well. I had the injections in the stomach, it was a bit sore for a while but it went away after a while. Im really happy now and not that nervous about the next dose. Its been a good day.

 

[beth]

Cool! well done.
Hope it works well for you.

 

[Zoodles]

Congrats! Glad to hear you did it. Hope the next set goes even better.