Help, change in meds! | Arthritis Information

 

I will be stopping enbrel today so that mybody can rest until I take my first Humira injection on the 31st of May.  Has anyone ever gone off all meds and if so how did you manage?  I am not looking forward to being stiff and sore like I was a year ago, ever again.  That thought has me worried.  maybe I have become too emotionally reliant on meds.
I am also concerned that Humira might not work for me.  I know it's a chance we all have to take with med but I have had a life for the past few months and I am afraid of a set back.

I have not had any bad side effects with enbrel not a thing, no pain when injecting, nothing.  I am worried about having pain injecting Humira.  Maybe I am wimping out here, I don't know. 

Remind me why you are going off the Enbrel if you were doing well on it? Aren't you use to the injections from Enbrel? Will you be taking MTX as well?

I've taken Humira since December; now on weekly injections (As well as MTX 22.5) and I honestly think I could be one of those people you see on their commercials. I'm convinced it's the ticket for me. It's taken me a while to say that. I had to give it a good three month...close to four before I really thought it was making a difference; even then I had to switch to weekly before I could give it rave reviews. I sure hope you are as successful as I have been.

I'm managing better now than I have since I was dignosed I think. I sure hope it continues. I hear some folks say that for a couple years and then it tapers off....but I've got high hopes!!

Best of luck to you with the switch. I hope it's an easy transition for you.

I have to travel quite a bit with my job and I was finding that travelling with meds is hard.  My dr suggested a med that is suppose to be the same as enbrel but with injections every 2 weeks instead of 2 times a week. As my travel is usually a week and a few days to two weeks the change made sense.  Also  on enbrel my hands have continued to get worse while my knees are at best ok most days.  When I first went on enbrel I would say I was pain/stiffness free compared to today.  I was willing to make the change but as I read up on Humira I am getting worried. 

I was on Methotrexate pills and then injections.  I couldn't tolerate either, all I did was vomit and my liver was showing signs of trouble so they took me off it.  The only med that I have been taking since Feb is enbrel.

Has anyone else ever had to stop one med before strarting another? I guess my real reason for panic earlier today was the fear that I would have to go through the pain I went through before I was first diagnosed.  I felt like I had lost all dignity as a human when I couldn't even use the washroom on my own, couldn't clean myself, couldn't cook/feed/dress myself.  I never want to be like that again. 

Am I being greedy/selfish wanting/hoping for more?
I have been off both mtx and enbrel a couple times due to elevated liver enzymes and infections.  The first time off i was a bit stiff, but did better once on meds,  Last time it was a little better, there is some stiffness, I used a heating pad a lot on my stiff joints..meme

I have also been off Enbrel for a couple of weeks 2 different times because of infections. It didn't get that bad during the time off meds. Hopefully, you will have an easy time of it. Good luck.

BarbBy any chance did they give you that cool lil travel pack with Enbrel? It kinda looks like a lunch bag that has the ice pack thing underneath  and it has a container for the needles. I dunno if you have tried using that. Just sucks to get off it if you are doing well on it :( No, nothing but the meds with the syringes and alcohol swabs came with embrel. The company that makes humira send me a welcome pack (an insulated bag) that included a sharps container, booklet, cd and journal.

   I hurt my wrist getting out of the bath tub, nothing big but as it was swollen before the bath, I iced it and the swelling went down quite a bit.  I do hate the cold but I have been taking extra pain meds because I am off all RA meds while I wait to start Humira on Tuesday.  I tried the ice on my knees and wrists as well as my fingers and got enough relief to fall asleep last night.  My hips are another story, I have had a sore right hip for months but last night, my left hip started acting up.

Are the hips affected by RA?
The hips are *definitely* affected by RA.  My hips are the worst pain I have, daily.  I hope you get through the no-med time ok and the humira kicks in quickly!
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