Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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nomorera 01/24/2013

I got my first prescription of Humira yesterday. Nurse said it would have to be pre-authorized and could take up to a month to be pre-approved. Two hours later the pharmacy called to tell me it was ready to pick up!
The nurse said that has NEVER happened in as long as she has been there.
Also Humira is picking up 95% of my copay and all of the copay on my MTX.
In the world of living with this disease this is really great news for me. I picked up the scrip last night and go in to have my TB test read then get my first injection and instructions on how to do it myself.
I am a needle phobe so this is going to take alot for me to administer myself, but I know I can do it.
I am so tired of being in pain I hope it works.

One side note is I have the BEST boyfriend around. After the Dr. appt on Tuesday I cried knowing I was going to have to go on the biologic and I didn't want to tell him for fear he would decide he didn't want to date me anymore with this disease and such (we've been together 8 months). Then I realized that's his decision not mine and if that's what's best for him....blah blah blah.
Last night I had him over for dinner and asked if he wanted to hear about my appt. He said "sure" and really did want to know but didn't want to pry. So I told him, and he listened very intently and asked a lot of questions. Then I said maybe I should have discussed this with him and let him be in on this decision with me but I really hadn't wanted to talk about it with him on Tuedsday. His reply was " You share with me what you want, when you want, don't feel pressured on my account." I was so relieved and thankful that he wasn't upset or hurt that I hadn't come right to him. We talked some more about the side effects of the meds, etc, then we went on and had dinner and talked of other things. He is so supportive and I am so grateful.

Have a great Thursday and thank you all for your support. We'll see how my first injection goes tomorrow!

ILoveHuskies 01/24/2013

I do my shot of Enbrel (same pen as Humira) in my thigh. I found that if you leave it out for about 30 min it doesn't sting as bad. I try to do it on my upper thigh were there is less muscle. Try not to dwell on thinking about it too much. Just wipe with the alcohol wipe. Then just push the pen down on your thigh and click. You don't see the needle at all. There is a safety on the needle that is why if you don't push it down hard enough it won't work. I thought it would be hard but after a couple of shots you will be a pro. I will be honest with you sometimes it stings a little and sometimes it's not that bad. Some people say icing the spot helps. The pen will click when it is done. The instructions say to count to 20 slowly. I know you will be fine. You seem like a strong person. If you can follow the diets, you can overcome this. I hope it works for you. It could make you 95% pain free if it works.

deleted_user 01/24/2013

That's great news! Don't let that BF get away, my hubby has yet to go on one appointment with me nor does he want to hear about it.

MKP1952 01/24/2013

I do not know how your insurance works, but here is how mine went. I got the script from the Dr. Brought it to my normal (hospital) pharmacy, who then told me I had to bring it to a Walgreens to be filled. So, went to Walgreens. They had to contact the insurance co, to make sure it was OK. Next, they had to send the order in to their "specialty" pharmacy. I did not know what this meant, thought that since it was so expensive, it was special.

The Specialty pharmacy is located half way across the country. They will then call you up, and arrange to have it over-nite shipped, and will set a day that works for you. I live in a small town, I an around most of the time, told them they could leave it at my house, without a signature.

You will not see a needle, with the click pen. Maybe you can ask the nurse, when you get the injection lesson, if you can get some sort of numbing cream for the injection site. Maybe your boyfriend would like to go to your injection lesson, and he could help you give your shot?

Suera, my husband is the same way - has not gone to an appointment, or wants to hear about it. If I tell him I need/want this, because it will make things easier for me, he is all for it, get what you need. But, that is as much as he is comfortable hearing about.

nomorera 01/24/2013

thanks everyone. How long did it take for the Humira to start working? Did anyone who's used this get sick the first few days? Questions I will ask tomorrow at the Dr. but its more important to get input from people who are on it.
My bf will not do the injections, he's as squeemish about needles as I am so I will get it figured out. Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have much fat on my legs at all. I am thinking my stomach may be a better site?
Oh well I'll find out more tomorrow. Thanks for the input!

lycesq 01/25/2013

Humera didn't work for me, but I hope it helps you. Wishing you all the best.

Hugs!

GunaDieAloneInPain 01/25/2013

thats great.

my psoriasis and PA were kinda under control for a while but a few months ago it just got worse, nothing was working anymore, orinments meds.

went to the derm the other day and after seeing me he immediately said i need injections.

went for my tb test and blood work. so hopefully ill be able to get the Enbrel and that insurence will approve it.

cause my quality of life right now is pretty bad. i can barely get out of bed in the morning anymore cause my feet, ankles, hips basically everything hurts so much.

i need to get this and i need it to work. almost like a last resort. it effects every aspect of my life that i need it or idk what ill do anymore

debRAinOC 01/25/2013

Since MTX and naproxen didn't do much for me, I added Humira in 2008. It took several weeks for me to feel any improvement, but I slowly kept getting better. About 7 months later, my rheumy said my RA was still active--I still had morning stiffness/pain and some swelling. However, 3 days after that appt, we evacuated our home due to a wildfire, and after carrying luggage to our second-floor room at a hotel, it suddenly dawned on me that I had trotted up and down the stairs several times without any pain. That's when I realized how much the Humira was helping me, especially my knees.

I'm currently in remission and have stopped all other meds except Humira. The only side effects I've had are a couple of welts at the injection site (and nausea once, but that was probably injection anxiety, which I still experience even after all this time). I still have pain because of joint damage, but Humira has been my wonder drug. I hope you have good luck with it too.

nomorera 01/26/2013

Thank you Deb for that shot (pun intended) of hope for me and Humira. I had no side effects after my first injection yesterday which I also found was much easier than I had expected. I woke up at 2am on Friday morning with anxiety about the first injection.
My fears are usually worse than the actually event as usual.

I also increased the MTX to 8 tabs yesterday and amazingly or coincidently today I have had NO pain in my knees all day long!!!
The doc said 6-8 weeks to see results from the Humira but maybe the MTX finally kicked in some? I am cautiously optimistic about the outcome of all of this. I wish I had surrendered to my doctor long before now but it takes what it takes.

bcatz 01/26/2013

Be super careful and watch your liver enzymes. You might not need to go up on your MTX. Really! I found enbrel to work within a week.

How long have you been taking the MTX? Have your liver enzymes moved at all? Sorry, I don't want anyone to go through the scare I did...it shouldn't have happened. My liver enzymes started moving up from month 2 on MTX. If the humira does the trick, maybe you can go way down on MTX. (I know combo dmards is best)

deleted_user 01/27/2013

Looking forward to hearing how the Humira works and wish you the best.

ILoveHuskies 01/27/2013

Maybe after a little while on Humira you won't need the MTX. It's always much better if you only have to concentrate on one medicine to take. Hopefully this med will be all you need.

nomorera 01/27/2013

I had my liver enzymes and bloodwork checked on Tuesday and started the Humira and add'l MTX on Friday. I go back in 2 weeks for another lab. I have only been on MTX 6 or 7 weeks. Really no side effects for me, except I get the chills the day after for a few hours. Nothing serious and I've mentioned it to my doc.
This is day 2 with NO pain in my knees and NO anti-inflammatories. Huge Huge Huge!!!! I still have pain in the bottom of my feet, but not bad. I am going to try to get in a workout tomorrow after work.
Thanks for all your support.

deleted_user 01/27/2013

You can workout? That's great! I've been on Enbrel for five years now and I can't even imagine working out....I'm happy to be able to stand in line at the grocery store. Maybe I should think about switching to Humira!

bcatz 01/27/2013

As I've said or eluded, watch the enzymes with your MTX. Even if they are creeping up in the normal range, if you find the Humira to be working (and I do think that's what's up versus the MTX, in my opinion, but you will know soon if it just keeps getting better) then see if you can cut your MTX down so that you never have enzymes go out of range.

I think you are on to some major life style improvements! I hope it works for years and years!

nomorera 01/28/2013

Bcatz I so respect your input. My rheumy is very good about keeping a close eye on my bloodwork. Last time I was on MTX I started showing signs of anemia and possible blood in my urine. I got scared and went off of it but she was not quite ready to pull me off at the time. I trust her with this so yes, we will be watching the liver enzymes very closely and we will be discussing any changes in liver values. She is very good at calling me when my bloodwork comes back to let me know where I'm at.

Day 3 no pain in my knees and the swelling and pain in my hands are better. My feet are still sore but even that is better already. I am looking forward to full remission and I am keeping a positive attitude that I can get there one way or another!

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