I bought my Humira injections for the month which cost me 0. after my insurance covered the rest BUT that's not half my problem....I'M TOO SCARED TO START WITH HUMIRA! I feel absolutely awful until noon when my pain meds kick in. I just wish there wasn't so much frightening information about Humira. I just read an article from the UK that is entitiled "Humira-700 deaths". You can read it at www.eu-citizenship.com/index_en.php . I also know that my mind will probably start to emagine that I am starting with some sort of severe illness if I take the injection. Has anyone overcome such fears? If so, what did you do to convince yourself to stick the needle in?
Your fellow friend diagnosed with RA in 2001 Can someone wake me up from this bad dream and give me my old life back?
Caroline, I too am afraid of a bad reaction to powerful meds. All sensible people know that there are risks.
We also know that without treatment this disease will cripple us. We do not know how bad the crippling will be. But we can guess that the furure crippling will be at least as great as today's pain.
That scared me more than the side effects especially for the biologics. Hundreds of thousands have used this med without any real bad side effects. Think instead that you have a chance at a more normal life - maybe you will be a poster child for Humira. It was worth the risk.
Have someone you trust 'stand by' in case you need help. Take that small risk for a chance at of great benefit.
I had gotten to the point where other medications were not controling my RA. Besides the fact that I was in pain a great deal of the time and having difficulties managing everyday task; my joints were erroding. What was happening was only going to contiue to get worse and I did not want to take that chance. Disability from RA can happen fairly quickly when untreated.
It's a hard decision to make and reading articles like you've posted it certainly should be said that it's not a decision to be taken lightly. No doctor should prescribe these medications unless it's absolutely nessesary. It's been my experience that doctors only prescribe them when they feel like it's the only option available.
If you can manage without them....I'd certainly advise you to not take the medications. BUT; if your life is continuing to steadily go down hill like so many of our lives have; I'd only ask that you give it serious consideration.
It's not an easy choice to make. We've all been there.
Good Luck.
This is what I tell myself and others who are scared to take medicines...
If you are allergic to OTCs and without thought take some, you could die!
Do be aware of side effects and do be aware of your body. Don't stress over a reaction that could happen in regular, every day life.
Caroline...I was the same way when I had to start MTX....I actually broke into tears just driving down the road! Then when it was time to get Enbrel, I was excited at the prospect of a potential wonder drug, untill it was time to actually take it. With the Humira, I was fearful, because I had horrible migrains with the Enbrel and I worried it would be the same with Humira. It wasnt. I had no side effects. It just didnt work that well for me. So now I face Rituxin....and I am a nervouse wreck. One minute I will decide I am being silly and I should go for it. The next minute I am declaring the stoppage of all of my RA meds, convinced that the meds are causing my illness.
Honey...I am a nurse...I am supposed to be level headed about this kind of stuff! But the truth is, it is scarey. You just have to make up your mind to do it. If you really have strong concerns, you should call or go see your doctor and discuss those fears. That is my plan for tomorrow.
Good luck, I hope your fears are eased soon!
Fatalistic as it may sound, something's going to kill me at some point, so I'll battle the disease I currently have as best I can and worry about what might be next if and when it happens. Good luck with your decision and your fears. You'll find a good answer for you. We all have to make our own choices based on what we feel is right for us.
In the end I had to choose between having pain all the time and not having pain. I just wasnt functioning without the meds. Today I'm back to my quilting. Last week I painted one of the bedrooms. I am hoping I can stay this way with my meds. I have always been a very active person. I dont know what tomorrow brings but today is what counts.
I realize I can have a reaction but I will deal with it then.
Good luck, you will make the right decision for you. We are all different.
Barb
Caroline: I have been taking Humira since last Oct/Nov.--almost a year. It is scary to have to inject yourself. The leaflet and the commercial are enough to scar the wits out of one. My first injection was with a nurse with me. I noticed no side effects and felt the same. Then as time went by, I noticed little things, like I could move a certain way I was unable to move before the Humira. Slowly my life was returning to "normal" again. I could get up steps but I could also come down them. My last thing I noticed and it was a huge gain, I could squat down to look at something in the garden or pet one of my cats. I had not been able to do that in 4-5 years. My blood was tested every month for kidney and liver function. Now it is every 6 - 8 weeks. I haven't been sick but I am very careful about being around people who are, I wash my hands often, use anti-bacterial wipes often, try to keep my hands out of my eyes or mouth. Consider taking the Humira. All I can say is so far it has helped with my quality of life. I would urge you to try the Humira but you have to make that decison yourself. If you are still undecided, maybe the doctor's office can have you talk to someone who has been taking it for awhile. That might help your fears. Hi Caroline, I cannot give you your old life back but I can tell you my experience and let you make your own mind up. I have had RA at least 9 years now, it wasn't too bad to start with, just in hands and feet for a couple of years. I took Sulphazalazine then and Ibuprofen. After a while this stopped working and the RA spread to other joints I was put on Methotrexate and I felt like you. I was very scared of Methotrexate, it is a powerful drug used in much larger quantities as chemotherapy. After four years my RA became unbearable I had to take Prednisone and painkillers all the time. I was offered Humira. I was very dubious (I hate needles and I am a big baby). I delayed starting it for almost a year until it was either Humira or not walking or being able to do anything! Once I had made the decision to start Humira I felt relieved. Then when I had my first jab my husband drove me home from the doctors where he had been taught how to inject. Within 20 minutes I could feel a difference, the next morning I could get in a bath without help, I could wash my own hair, and lots of other activities etc. I feel as if Humira has given me my life back. I can't believe the difference I am me again. All drugs have side effects, I have now stopped everything except Humira. I blamed lots of things on Methotrexate but I still have those things now I have stopped it so they were probably due to RA and not the drugs. I still detest the jabs but they are worth it. I really must stop now but if you want any more info please let me know. Must just add Humira doesn't always act as quickly as 20 minutes, some people don't see any results for much longer.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com