I got my first Enbrel injection on Wednesday. I can't tell a big difference yet but do seem to feel a little better. We tried to put in my stomach but I guess I am just a little to fluffy around the middle for it to work so had to put it in my thigh. It did sting a bit. Ouch!!!!!! I just hope I can do it for myself next week. Hope the enbrel works for you! Good luck next week!
Hello! Quick question about your injection. You mentioned that it didn't work when you tried to give it in your stomach...can you elaborate on that? What was the problem? I'm thinking about starting Enbrel and wondering what else I should consider before starting this medicine. Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Phatgirl
Evidently because I am chubby around the middle it made it hard for the injector to lay flat on the skin. But hey, I do seem to feel a little better today. We have October Fest here this week-end and I worked my shift at our church yard sale and hit a few of my own and came home not as tired as I ordinary would have. So maybe there's hope with this Enbrel. I sure pray so. Good luck if you decide to try it phatgirl2.
Hang in there! I've been on Ebrel for 8 months now and love it! It's all I'm taking for my RA now....no Prednisone, no Advil, no nothing!
You'll get used to giving yourself the shot. The thigh hurts the most for me, while the stomach works the best (for some reason the right side doesn't hurt at all, the left only hurts a little).
Overall I am extremely pleased and hope you will be too!
Usc90grad
Interesting about the left side.... When I was on Enbrel, I too only had pain in the left side!! What's with that??? Maybe because I am right handed??[QUOTE=Kathi M]I have done the injections twice by myself now and I dont know wht I am doing wrong....the time I did it at the doctors office I never felt the needle but I sure do now.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! any suggestions[/QUOTE]
Ice your injection site until numb and make sure the bevel of the needle is facing up. Some injection sites are more sensitive than others. I never inject in my stomach because that is more sensitive to me than my thigh. There is a post here that someone doesn't like to inject in the thigh and prefers the stomach. Maybe move your injection site to a different place each time to figure out which one hurts you less.
Hope this helps!
I did my second injection myself yesterday. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I did it in the right thigh and it didn't seem to sting as bad as the left side. I'm just praying it really makes a difference in how I feel. However, today I did have the energy to meet my grandaughters class at a local farm for a field trip. So maybe some progress, I wouldn't have felt like it two days ago. Thanks for the encouraging words usc90grad.Roxcy, Enbrel has improved my stamina a thousand-fold. I was on mtx and naproxen for years before I finally started on enbrel a few months ago...the mtx made me nausiated and the naproxen put me in a permanent fog. I started enbrel and within the first week (hubby says it was day 3), I felt so good I stopped taking naproxen, and weaned myself off mtx! I don't know if it's the enbrel that has made me feel so alert, or if it was going off those other meds...but either way, I feel like a new person. I often laugh and say "what arthritis?" when friends I haven't seen in a while ask me how I'm feeling.
I'm not taking any single day for granted while I feel this well....I know that nothing lasts forever and for some reason one day I may have to go off enbrel. I don't like to think about it, because going back to the pain would be devastating...so I just enjoy every day to the fullest, and I'm doing things today I haven't done in 10 years!
That is wonderful Claire. I too am on mtx, but have only been on it for about three months and I am looking forward to stopping it. I have also experienced some nausea with it. I take Naproxen as needed and lately Have Needed. I am so looking forward to feeling better and better longer. I have five grandchildren and love to do things with them but just haven't felt like doing like I use to do. I still have tried but just worn myself out most of the time. My grandaughter was so excited when she saw I made it today. Thank you so much for the reply.
Joy is the echo of God's life within us.