Starting Humira (hints/tips)

[TeresaPro]

starting Humira (hints/tips)

Well i was on remi but it seems it's mucking with my liver soo i am to start humira soon. I am going to get the spring loaded needle as i don't like to see the needle break the sink.
Any hints/tips when i start. I don't have alot of fat on me so not sure where or earth i am going to Poke myself, i was told that between the ears would not work...LOL
Kinda scared but i suppose the side effects are just as bad as remi, and other then the liver thing and my rash flaring that was about the only complaint i had.:heart:

 

[stevereds]

Hi Teresa.
I have been on Humira for over 8 months now. no side effects, But luckily I usually don't get any to meds I take.
I have no fat on me either, I find if you leave the pen you will inject with at room temp for about 30 - 45 mins, after you take it out of refrig... Then inject it hurts less. Also I find my thighs, the top part which have a little meat, hurt less than stomach.

When I inject my stomach I have to 'pinch an inch' so I have some fat to inject into to.
Sometimes the stomach stings a bit, sometimes it doesn't/
Each person is different I think on the are they like best. SOme like to inject in the stomach, some the thighs.

Also you arent inject in the middle of the stomach, but on the sides kinda. The pens of Humira and kit gives you all the directions you will need.

After 8 months, the injections don't hurt much at all, only the skin is sore for about a half hour after (and not alot) I do notice I get a lil extra tired on the days I take Humira...that is all.

Good Luck with it.

 

[TeresaPro]

Thanks I found that remi would make me sleepy too so nothing different there.

 

[LuckySeven]

Hello,

I have been on humira and methotraxate for the past 7 months now. I don't know if you are also taking methotrexate, but I do recommend that you ask for it as well. Put simple, what it does is lower your immune system so that your body does not fight the humira. Since remicade and humira and the only effective treatments for crohn's and that you've eliminated remi, it would be very important that your body does not fight the TNF inhibitor (humira) because eventually the effect of humira might be diminished.

Humira has been very good to me. I would say that after 2 months of humira I started feeling normal again. I have not seen any side effects. No rashes. I inject humira in my abdomen every two weeks. The best spot in my opinion is anywhere two inches from the belly button. I alternate every time (once to the right of my belly button, the next to the left). Pinch your stomach so that you raise the fat by about an inch and aim strait for the middle. I feel a pinch during the injection, it kinda feel like being hit by a paintball, but it's only for 5 seconds. After the injection I take a 15 minute rest and then I go back to doing what it is I was doing. I usually inject myself close to bed time.

Hope this helps, hope it works as well for you as it has for me.

 

[beth]

Working backwards along this thread is would be a good place to start reading: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?p=374518#post374518

 

[TeresaPro]

now i have read that you get loading dose of 4, since i've been on remi, do you think i will get loading doses too??

 

[LuckySeven]

I think that everyone who start humira gets 4 dosses the first time, the next is 2 dosses and then you maintain 1 dose every two weeks.

 

[MikeinBklyn]

4 - 2 - 1

Don't worry too much about it. Give it time.

 

[Emily]

Yep, 4 pens, then 2 pens, then 1 pen going forward.
The 4 injections in one day was so tough that the 2 felt like such a relief...
and then 1 every 2 weeks, really not bad! Just relax and teach yourself how to inject, you will get the hang of it!

Also I find myself to be most relaxed and ready for the injections at the end of the day, after a shower before bed. That way I feel clean, the day is over, and I don't have to walk around and do anything afterwards. I just go to sleep! That's the best time to inject in my opinion.

 

[KWalker]

I don't know if I'm alone on this one, but the pens hurt me so bad I would push it then pull it away as soon as it broke the skin and the medicine went everywhere! I found it really hard to do myself and even when I had people do it for me I needed to have somebody make sure I couldnt pull it out while they were doing it.

Not good.. I will NEVER go back on Humira!

Don't worry, you'll do great! lol

 

[Inwe]

I'm skinny as well, not really an inch to pinch! haha. So I opt for the upper thigh. Though do be warned... it can hurt like a son of a bitch! It's not so much the needle/pen that hurts it's the bloody meds going in the muscle. haha. Everytime I have it done I hear the needle snap down and think, "Oh, it's not too bad this tim...MOTHER EFFER!!" It's like a weird .5 second delay. You do get used to it though. It's worth it in the end. Remember to kind of pinch your skin too!

Though, if you have an unsteady hand like moi, I recommend having someone else do it for you. I'm not scared of needles or anything (i mean, at this point is ANY crohn's sufferer scared of needles? ), but the idea of doing it myself makes my hand shake like a leaf! Luckly good ol' mom does it for me

 

[KWalker]

Lol that's exactly it! Every time I did it I psych'd myself up then you hear the click and you're like "oh that's not bad at all" and before you can finish its like the worst feeling ever. I literally grabbed the nurses arm one time to make her pull it out, then it just goes to waste and you have to start over.

 

[TeresaPro]

I got my welcome kit today with a practice pen..lol looks easy enough although i still get the willies knowing what's to come..lol

 

[KWalker]

Let us know how it goes. I don't think the practice pen actually stabs you though.

I think the worst part (besides the pain) is that every single time it's as if its your first time doing it. For me atleast. It surprised me every single time I did it.

 

[TeresaPro]

no there is no needle in the practice pen.. but at least i can see the yellow window and there is a time delay! 10 seconds my butt!

 

[beth]

If you make it a big deal before doing the injections it will be a big deal...

 

[Debccmhc]

Started Humira on Monday. I was really nervous about the pain, but I have to say, that it really was not bad at all! I used the pens abd tried both thighs and stomach and think the stomach was much better. I was wondering if anyone had this happen...right after I injected the second dose, my sinuses seemed to fill up like being underwater and the roof of my mouth felt like I had burned it with hot pizza! The nurse suggested benadryl before the next time. I was in my doc's office and he monitored my BP and oxygenation and it was fine. Wierd, huh?

 

[TeresaPro]

thanks all..i am still waiting, and hoping it come soon, as i am bleeding again.. (pout)