I am starting my Enbrel injections this Friday
Mike
I think so Cristene. I just got back from rd. Whole thing made me nervous. He saw my limp and said he wants me to get hips x-rayed right away. I showed him my gimped little fingers and he said "Don't worry about that, we are going to get it under control". Then he extended my disability until Dec. He also took me off of mtx saying my liver enzymes were elevated. I am getting sooooooo nervous. I wish I could say I was doing this whole thing with no trepidations but I am really feeling anxiety. Maybe I just need to "absorb" it all. Friday afternoon is first Enbrel injection.Mike
lol MIke. I might have to get a really really really long needle and i'll do it for youRoxy sorry to hear about liver enzymes. Enbrel and all the bios work best with MTX.
I can't (won't) tolerate MTX so I've been taking Arava with Remicade. Not as well tested but I'm doing fine. Way more expensive than MTX.
I just want you to have all the big guns so you can get your life back quick. Enbrel really is a wonder drug for many. I know one lady who parked her wheelchair at the end of the 1st month. Hasn't been in that chair for 3 years!
Those of you that are on Enbrel. Does it take your pain away or I guess does it help with pain with your pain. I live in horrific pain. I have a pain pump that is suppose to take care of my legs. I still have alot of pain there but I also have chronic pain in my low back, hips and then down my legs. I was just wanting to know if the Enbrel works that way.
Roxy, I got my first Humira injection 45 min ago. Did not hurt at all. So far, can not even see where injection site was. I chose abdomin, since nice prednisone fat there. My caregiver gave to me. She was more nervous than me. If my bad hands ever improve, I'd like to try myself. Would rather be independent. Anyway, just wanted to share with you. You'll be fine, I just know.I am so happy for you Hula.
[QUOTE=Hulagirl]Roxy,
I got my first Humira injection 45 min ago. Did not hurt at
all. So far, can not even see where injection site was. I
chose abdomin, since nice prednisone fat there. My caregiver gave
to me. She was more nervous than me. If my bad hands ever
improve, I'd like to try myself. Would rather be
independent. Anyway, just wanted to share with you. You'll
be fine, I just know.[/QUOTE]
Yay Hulagirl! Hopefully you will feel better in your hands. When
I had my first humira injection my hands were killing me. The next
morning they weren't stiff and there was much less pain. When I went
back 2 weeks later, my RD said some people feel relief right away, some
it takes up to 3 months and the first place they feel better is in the
hands. I hope you have good results.
Hated needles myself but I've been myself the shots for just over nine months now. I find it helps to let the shot sit out for about 20 minutes first to help bring up the temperature. Doesn't sting as much. Some people ice the area first also but I've never bothered with it. The shots are nice because they don't take as long to work as some of the other meds. It wasn't a "miracle" drug for me but it sure has helped considerably with the fatigue and the stiffness. Good Luck!
Why does it all have to be so complex?
Still working on puter fix, so bear with me for the few and far between posts.......everyone
Yay!! Hulagirl!!
I'am so HAPPY for you!! I sure to do hope that Humira works GREAT for you!
I miss ya, But I know you are having computer problems still. I hope that gets worked out soon!
(((((((((((((HulaGirl))))))))))))
Roxy, it is beyond easy, and I despise needles.
Take the syringe out of the fridge about a half hour before hand. You want it to warm up. I usually rest my syring over the edge of my coffee cup, I want it BODY temperature, not room temp. Imagine plunging into just room temp water.
Ice your tummy, you want it RAELLY cold. The tummy is the best spot to inject.
Take the needle and press the plunger in so you remove the air at the tip.
Pinch up a roll of flab about the size of your thumb and a finger.
Hold the syringe at a 45 degeee angle and SLIDE it into your skin.
Release the skin and hold the syringe comfortably. Begine injecting slowly, counting as you go. I usually inject to a chant, "my toes won't hurt, my ankles won't hurt, my knees won't hurt, my hips won't hurt, my hands won't hurt, my thumbs won't hurt, my wrists won't hurt, my elbows won't hurt, my shoulders won't hurt, my jaw won't hurt." about the time I get to jaw, I am done injecting.
Remove the needle, dispose of it, and place the ice back over the injection site.
Finish your coffee.
Its actually very simple. you can do it. Ally sits on her little chair and watches me, and makes smart comments..
Kathy, Those are the best instructions yet. I like the finish your coffee part