Issues before/after Humira???

[jmktwo7]

Hi All,

This is my first post, but I was diagnosed in 2010 and have been back and forth with meds. Yesterday was my second round of Humira, I saw no side effects after the first round (4 injections) and nothing yesterday (2 injections 2 weeks later). This issue I have started Sunday about 11 days after my first round of injections. I became very bloated and the gut wrenching pain in my stomach came back. Normally I have this pain on my right side, this time it is on my left, same pain, different area of the body. I thought the Humira worked for the first 10 days, but these pains are the same ones I had prior to being diagnosed, very bad. I did the injections yesterday and feel slightly better today, but I can definitely tell that my stomach is not right, fairly bloated and the pains are coming in waves, mostly when I'm standing up or walking.

I just wanted to see if anyone else has had anything like this in between injections? I put a call out to my Dr, but I figured I'd see what everyone else had to say on this topic.

Thanks in advance!

 

[KayleighMeek]

Hello and welcome to the forum,

It may be too soon to notice a big difference with the humira if you have only just completed the loading doses sometimes it can take a little while for it to start to really benefit you, I was told around 2-3 months by my GI.
If you do find that having the injection every two weeks isn't working as well and you start to feel bad towards the end you may be able to go up to weekly doses. I had to do this and it helped a lot whilst I was taking humira.
It can be frustrating but sometimes we have to wait things out have you been given any other medications to bridge the gap like pred?

 

[MikeinBklyn]

Be patient. It takes a little time to really have a positive effect.

Good Luck

 

[AuntieEm]

Keep track of how you are doing on the humira. My GI waited until 2.5 months into it to move me to weekly dosing based on my log. It was clear way before that but he is ultra conservative.

 

[lblair]

Auntie Em

Did you see any relief in the 2.5 months??????

 

[AuntieEm]

Yes I did Lisa, but by the 6th day I would start downhill again. It did take 6 weeks to get to that point (where it would work within 24 hours then wear off by day 6). Some have immediate results when they start, but it took me a lot longer and I was ready to give up several times before it started doing anything. By week 8 it was pretty obvious to me (of course I was the one living it) that it wasn't lasting long enough. My GI started dosing weekly after week 10.

I am currently in a minor flare and having some issues they are looking into. I am to call tomorrow for a follow up with my GI but they did have me skip the last dose. I began in November of 2012 coming out of a partial obstruction and major flare while on a steroid taper after having to quit a clinical trial for another drug that had helped for the previous 2 years (though not remission).

 

[lblair]

AuntieEM I'm seeing that it seem like when I took the 1st 4 shots I had 2 good days. and then down hill from there. After taking the next 2 shots of the 15 day I had 2 good days and down hill from there currently in a flare started last night after dinner and con't through the night and into today feeling a little better tonight but it sucks!!! I will call the Dr tomorrow I just wanted to give it a week or so he told me it could take up to a month to start to see changes!!! I wonder if the GI just know what we are going through you are right we live it!!!!!!

 

[AuntieEm]

I was so ready to quit off and on that first 4-6 weeks on humira. I wasn't seeing the results off the top that so many others were seeing either. It took time for me to get to the 6 days of relief. It was MISERABLE! I'm glad I did and I'm glad my GI finally listened and changed my dosing since I NEVER went the 2 week interval with relief.

I had horrible fatigue and headaches in addition to the big D and cramping bloating. Clear liquids and the heating pad were my best friend. My GP helped control my migraines which I already had issues with prior to humira but the injections had made worse. That was my deal breaker if we hadn't been able to control them I wouldn't have left the bed.

Everyone reacts differently. Some quicker. I think that's why they always tells us it takes several months so we won't be disappointed. But it's a LONGGGGGGG wait!!!!!

This current flare is really minor compared to what I've had before. I did get sick easier this past winter which did land me in the hospital on IV antibiotics. If I catch a true flu, I go down fast and hard, even though I get the flu shot. That is something new for me.

Overall I've been happy with it, though I do not feel I've reached full remission. Maybe it's still going to take more time. I've still never felt 90-100% But even 75% is so much more than I've been.