HI,
Just wanted to intro myself, and say hi. I've purused the board and love that there's so much info here!
I was diagnosed with RA nearly 3 years ago (this coming Feb.) and since that time until last month have been on Remicade and methotrexate. 4 weeks ago (my decision) I had my rheumy switch me to Humira. Just go so tired of the infusions, and ready to do something different for a while. Still on the meth (haha) and folic acid (of course). Up till now, I've never had to pound the prednisone, but I've noticed since I've been on the Humira (two shots now, 3rd coming this friday), I've had to take it more often. Can any of you guys tell me how long (if ever) it will take to feel as good with the humira, as I did with the remicade? I know every body responds differently, and I dont want to pass judgement on the Humira until afer I've been on it at least 2 or 3 months. I'm not having a flare, but the stiffness is worse now than when i was on the remicade.
anyway, thanks for letting me be a part of your little group. its always encouraging when i'm reminded i'm not the only one living with a chronic pain disease.
Welcome to the board! Happy to meet ya. Hope to get to know ya and see many more posts from ya in the future!Hugs,
Pip
Hey there, Melissa!!
Anyway, I can't answer your q, I mostly just wanted to say hi.
Linda
Hi and welcome! I use Enbrel so don't have an answer but someone will soon.Hello hello! You're right, it's going to vary from person to person. Hopefully it'll only take a month or so! Good luck with it!!! Hi Mel..welcome!Oh, I don't know what to think about the switching from Rem to Humira. I'm on 500 Rem right now and would like to extend the time (every 4 weeks) or take less of it. I can understand you wanting to get off of the infusions. I will be very interested in what other people say about this, incase, I want to switch some day, too. Lynda < =text/>_popupControl(); Welcome!!!! Glad you found us!!!!
I did well on Humira til my RA decided to not do well on it anymore lol. Now I am set for my 3rd remicade infusion on Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!!!
Hi Melissa,
Welcome to AI.
I am on Remicade and have not tried any other biologics.
Welcome Melissa!!!!!
So glad you found us!
I could not take Humira, Enbrel was my lifeaver after I did the antibiotic therapy. I have no insurance so I cnanot be on anything just yet and also my bloodwork came back fairly ok last year. Whenever I get insurance again I will be able to see what my blood counts are.
So glad you found us here. This board has been such a huge help for me, many well versed individuals here that are more than happy to help anyone which is a relief in itself.
I am sort of the "hats of to all the Dr.'s" person, mine have been wonderful with the exception of one terrible RD here in Michigan...he was so bad my sis went into an appt. with me and that arrogant a** would not even come in the exam room when she was there....says a bunch I will tell ya!
Hope you join in and post often!
jode
Hi Melissa, glad you found us.
I have been taking humira for almost a year now. I noticed after the first injection that I had more energy. After about the 3rd or 4th injection, I noticed my morning stiffness was a lot less than before. Pain is better now but I still get "weather related issues" if it rains, gets too cold, or too hot, I feel it.
Like it was stated before, it varies from person to person. I wish you well.
Hi Melissa, I have just started on enbrel.So far it has been working really well. Still daily pain but the heavy all over pain and fatigue have gone. AllyHi and Welcome, Melissa. I'm not sure why you would switch from a biologic that was working to one that may or may not work. I'm on Remicade and wouldn't change unless it stops working. I wouldn't be sure that Humira would kick in. Am now tapering off Pred. and don't want to ever have to increase it because I'm flaring. When and if Remicade is no longer working then I'll think about Humira. I went straight from Enbrel to Remicade. Remicade helped me a little after the 4th infusion and it really kicked in after the 5th. Lindy
Hi Melissa, welcome to the board.
I was on humira and it took a while to work but I came off of it as i kept getting sinus infections. It helped slightly for my RA but I decided to switch to enbrel and am waiting for it to arrive.
I hope you get some relief with the humira
Take care
Lisa
Welcome Melissa.Melissa,
I was on Humira for about three months, and it did not help that much. I will also have my third infusion of Remicade on Halloween, and I think as it builds up in my system...I will love it. So, I guess it is a backwards example, but no I did not get the relief from Humira that I have from two infusions of Remicade.
I know that some people get more from Embrel, but for PA Embrel is not effective if you have psoriasis as well, so not an option for me.
Welcome and please hang around...you can share any time you like, because you are definitely more into the process of building your life back than I am. Thanks, shel
Hello Melissa,[QUOTE=LinB]Hi and Welcome, Melissa. I'm not sure why you would switch from a biologic that was working to one that may or may not work. I'm on Remicade and wouldn't change unless it stops working. I wouldn't be sure that Humira would kick in. Am now tapering off Pred. and don't want to ever have to increase it because I'm flaring. When and if Remicade is no longer working then I'll think about Humira. I went straight from Enbrel to Remicade. Remicade helped me a little after the 4th infusion and it really kicked in after the 5th. Lindy [/QUOTE]
The main reason I switched is because my Dr. bill was getting pretty high. Even though I have a WONDERFUL (!!) mail in program for the meds (I get three treaments for only , or three months of Humira or whatever I need) I still have to pay for a large portion of the services for the infusion and the blood work. I pay on my bill every time I go and as often as I could, but after 3 years, I owed about ,200. With the Humira I only have to go to the Dr. 3 times a year as opposed to every 7 weeks and there's no infusion charges. Its giving me an opportunity to pay down my bill. The last time I had an appointment, I got called in to a private "meeting" with the billing department and got the speech about paying my bill down. I had been debating back and forth for several months about switching to Humira anyway because I was really really tired of the infusions. Our little tay-ta-tay that day was the deciding factor for me, and I had my doctor write me a scrip for it. That was back in July. Since then, I have managed to pay my bill down to under ,000 and hopefully will have it down to nearly nothing by the spring. So even though I am so very very blessed to have this wonderful mail-in program to get my meds (thank you God I have excelent insurance BCBS Federal Plan), I am still strapped with the residual dr. bills. It's all about the money eh?
Hi Melissa, You're right it always comes down to the money, not what's the most effective. It doesn't matter if it's the insurance company not accepting liability and paying, or the doctor's office who squeezes every cent out of a procedure.
I hope that Humira kicks in soon and you continue with the same relief that you had with Remicade. It would be nice to know that you have two biologics that work! So far I have one that's working just ok. Humira may not be far off for me. Take care. Lindy
Hi Melissa, welcome, no questions are stooopid, there's loads of people who know loads of stuff here. Everyone likes to support each other... its a special family here. Hi Melissa!Welcome aboard Melissa!
Welcome to the jungle! It feels that way sometimes with all the ups and downs with these treatments. I hope it works out for you with your current meds...