Starting Soon - Quite Nervous

[Dan919]

Hello everyone. I'm new to posting on this site. I've found a bunch of posts full of great information.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in August 2013. After being diagnosed, I started taking Pentasa w/ Entocort. Unfortunately that was unsuccessful. I then started taking Prednisone w/ the Pentasa and felt back to normal. Since Prednisone isn't a long-term solution, I have just been taking Pentasa the last few weeks after tapering off the Prednisone.

My GI doctor and I have decided to continue treatment with Humira (I have already done all necessary bloodwork/tests). I have just been approved by my insurance company and I expect to start taking it soon...

I am quite nervous about starting this medication. Although I know that the Crohn's needs to be treated, the potential side effects of Humira that I have read about scare the heck out of me. I am a 25 year old male and plan on having a lot more life to live. I have read that people of my age/sex are more prone to the cancer side effects. I'm worried about working on one problem and starting a whole new one.

Anyone have any statistics or comforting information to ease my mind? I appreciate any responses!

 

[kel]

Ask your doctor about the rate of incidence of lymphoma associated with the administration of humira. It's extremely rare but I can't find the numbers through a quick google search.

 

[sam357]

Hi Dan,

I am 26 and began taking Humia a year ago.

I know exactly how you feel. Unfortunately the side effects can be awful and really are quite scary.

All I can say is that there are lots of people using Humira as it is also a treatment for arthritis, and a lot of them really benefit taking it. Luckily for me I had no side effects but then it also hasnt helped my Crohns much either.

My advice would be to try not to think too much about it and try it. You can always stop if you are not happy with it. Also I found that the doctors make you feel more relaxed as they really keep an eye on your blood tests and would take you off of the medication if they thought anything was looking odd.

Keep us updated on your progress :smile:

 

[Dan919]

I really appreciate the replies.

 

[pink&green]

Hello Dan and welcome, taking any medication can be scary so I under stand your concerns. Don't mean to scare you hubby was on Humira (08) but had a bad reaction to it he did fine the first few injection then started to swell up. He is now taking Remicade.

 

[sacandalaw]

Starting Humira, and getting scared of side effects. Dx'ed 7/12, did SCD diet until 1/14, flare up, lost lots of weight, so started 6 mp, Flagyl, and Levo, had terrible side effects. I have been on ertocort for the past couple of weeks and things have calmed down, making me rethink my decision to go on the Humira. Ouch! getting anxious!

 

[Dan919]

Heading to the Doctor's office tomorrow afternoon for my first 4 shots. Let's see how it goes!

 

[MikeinBklyn]

Coming up to 4 years on H. It has changed my life. I'm riding this pony till the end.

Good Luck

 

[Dan919]

To those who are worried about painful injections - it's not that bad at all. Just a little sting.

 

[nikimazur]

I'm 25, and just took the second two injections of the loading dose yesterday. I was on the lovely Pentasa/pred combo for a while, but I continued to flare, and lose weight. My Crohn's along with Prednisone has caused chronic liver disease. I am going for biweekly blood tests to monitor liver function, as well as antibodies. I'm was so paranoid, but I also realize that without treatment the disease will most likely do way more damage. I also work in biostatistics, and have analyzed the crap out of published clinical studies which has also calmed my fear. I have noticed that the two days following the injections I feel super run down and out of sorts. It doesn't hurt as bad as everyone makes it out, either.

 

[badbelly]

Count me in as another pred/pentasa user that ended up on Humira. I was really afraid of the side effects but as my guts got worse and worse after serveral bad flares/infections/obstructions I knew that NOT being on Humira was more dangerous to my health.

Humira doubles your chance of lymphomic cancer IIRC, but that doubled chance is still extremely rare.

I really hope it works well for you. Humira took a long time to start working for me, but my Crohn's symptoms are so much better right now. Side effect for me was anemia and fatigue.

 

[sacandalaw]

Recently started on Humira, was scared silly of the pain after reading some of these threads. Though it was painful, nothing terrible that I could not handle. So worth it since I am feeling much better. As to the side effects, God help us, what choice do we have!!!