Scared and Frustrated.

[Alexandria.J]

I just found out today that our insurance won't let us have cimzia which is what i was supposed to start on about a week ago.. Now they are tying to see if I can be on Humira. This means i have to have the shot every two weeks vs every four..

I am scared because i have been searching the web trying to get some information on it and almost every story I read the person had some pretty bad side effects from it. I was already nervous to have to have a shot and now I won't be able to stop thinking about the side effects.

I feel like i have very bad luck when it comes to these things. When theres an opportunity for things to go wrong most likely they will. I made my peace with being on cimzia and now having to change i feel like everything is off balance.

 

[Emily]

No! Don't let the 1 in a bazillion people using horror stories turn you away. If anything Humira is more tried and true than Cimzia, and many people on the forum agree that Humira is one of the most agreeable biologic drugs. It is relatively mild and many (like me) have great success with usually zero side effects (I don't have any). I think it's a great drug and I hope you try it. I just did my injection 5 minutes ago. You will get used to it fast good luck in your decision, I know it's a toughie put I am very happy on Humira!

 

[David]

Hi Alexandria,

I've moved your thread here to the Humira forum since you already had one in Your Story and this is a good home for this thread I'm sure many of the folks here can understand your feelings all too well and maybe comment on them.

*hugs* to you.

 

[beth]

Humira is very good, both from efficacy and side effects. My GI consultant doesn't think it's mild, it's perhaps not on quite the same level of 'The Nuclear Option' that Remicade is but it puts people into remission and maintains them there with few side effects or nasties later.

Sticking yourself with a Humira pen is easy. The worst bit, IMHO, is the big click it makes when you fire it. A few seconds later it's all done.

Dont forget the internet will be full of people who had problems, not all directly related to Humira as correlation is not causation. Few people post how wonderful something is unless they are trying to sell it to you....

 

[DougUte]

I had problems self administiring Humira, so I have had my wife give me the shot. Yes, it is painful for a few seconds when administered, but well worth it. I am doing sooooo much better with my crohns it is almost unbelievable! Now it would take a team of wild horses to keep me from taking Humira.

 

[suschex]

I am so glad to have found this stuff on Humira! Looks like I will be starting it in a week or so. I was feeling really worried but feel much better now. I have been so sick for so long that I am not sure I can even remember what it feels like to be healthy!

DougUte -
How long does it take to feel better on the Humira? I have been on Pred. 40mg/day for 17 days (since being diagnosed) and am not really feeling better at all yet. I almost feel excited thiking about Humira now after reading your experience!

 

[DougUte]

It does take some time to get feeling better. You have to be patient. I kept wanting to be better overnight but it doesn't work that way. Humira has to build up in your system. Even after 3 or 4 months of being on the regimen I had times when I had to make the run to the bathroom. It would happen when it was getting near the time for the next shot. My G.I. told me to stay the course, because Humira seems to close that gap over time, and I really think it is doing that. That gap is getting smaller all the time, and before this last shot, I had not "D" at all. It is the first time that has happened. I really like what the Humira has done for me.

 

[bjeffrey]

I decided after 10 years of my doctors asking me to take Humira that i would.

Humira has not put me in remission, although, I have been able to maintain my weight for the last year. The Self injection pen is easy to do, once you get past any fears. It is easy or else "they" would not let us administer it at home. Humira took a few weeks to see results. Like any medication, you weigh the side effects from the benefits.

best wishes