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...
Today I took my first injection of Enbrel. The anticipation of giving myself a shot was more stressful than the shot itself! I used the "Sure Click" and it was quite easy. Fortunately, someone awhile back postedon this site that they liked using the "Sure Click" injections, so I made sure that my prescription was written for it. And it makes giving myself a shot a breeze! If you are about to go on a biologic where you need to inject yourself, I recommend the "Sure Click" if it is available. So far no redness at the site of the injection and no strange side effects! Of course it is only day one! And in three weeks I get to start weaning off the prednisone, yahoo!
deleted_user
Good luck kiddo, hope the enbrel is the "shot" you needed, no pun intended. The sure click is very easy to use, although this las box of enbrel for me has had the pens eject button sticking and it takes several tries to get it to work. The humira also has an easy to use pen but I have found the enbrel stings a little less than the humira. Good luck with the drug. People who have success with it seem to feel better pretty quickly. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. hugs, marcia
LynnRivers
I'll be doing the same in about two weeks. First time on a biologic.. we should compare notes. I got the sureclick too.
deleted_user
I am not sure where you gave yourself the injection, but I have noticed that it does not sting or bleed as much if inject in your stomach. Enbrel has worked for me and I wish you luck that it works for you also.
KiddoGal
I gave myself the injection in the thigh. It stung just a tiny bit. Yes, LynnRivers, we definitely should compare notes! Are you going on the Enbrel also?
Caspiana
In Japan they don't have sure click which is a shame because I have heard that it makes it easier. I use a syringe and it hurts!! :-( I'm glad your first time went well. That is really good news :-)
purplekitty
I am not on Enbrel any more, but I am with Aharmony on the stomach being the least painful area to inject. Thigh - ouch! Back of the arm - double ouch!
TerriH52
I have been on the sure click for 3 injections. I personally prefer the syringe type as far as the pain goes. I have only been doing it in the thigh area. The first 2 just stung a little but the last one was worse. When I was on the other type of injections they didn't hurt at all unless I gave them in the arms. The stomach area seems to be the least painful with less redness and swelling after. I am going to try it next week. I have been on Enbrel since Nov. 2008 and it has worked great for me. I am on 4 MTX a week and no Pred. for about 5 months. Good luck with it! Terri
LynnRivers
Yes KiddoGal I'm going on Enbrel too. I think the Enbrel instructions recommend the top of the thigh as the easiest place to give yourself the injection. But once I get the hang of it I'll definately try stomach. I've got lots of cushion there LOL! I think they recommend avoiding the 2 inch area around the navel. All I'm waiting for is the call from my Doc saying that MSP will pay for it then I can fill my script. Apparently a nurse trained on Enbrel will phone me and come to my house and show me how to use it. Not that is sounds all that difficult.
KiddoGal
The top of the thigh was really easy for me. My doctor had me do a test run with an empty "Sure Click". It was really easy. I don't want to sound to optomistic, but seriously, I am feeling better today. My knees are not stiff and I am not getting out of the car like and old person today. I can tell a difference already. I took the shot about 28 hours ago. The knees are still a bit swollen, and I don't feel 100% percent, but I have been doing a lot of chores today. So far, so good!
deleted_user
I loved being on enbril! I had tried all kinds and that one finally worked!
LynnRivers
Did my first Enbrel injection today! Yippy! Turned out not to be quite as easy as I'd hope. When I got home from the pharmacy I opened the box and discovered they had ordered the wrong thing! They were regular pre-filled syringes not the easy Sureclick. I had already opened it so it wasn't going back. I did okay and got the needle in but then discovered I didn't have enough strength in my thumb to push the plunger down. Luckily I wasn't alone. I found that the needle didn't hurt but the liquid (injection) stung a little bit at first. So far no reaction at the injection site and I feel fine. I won't have anybody around next week to help me so I'm gonna have to go into my GP and get him to do it for me. I phoned up the pharmacy and gave them heck. I quite specifically pointed out that I wanted the sureclick and why. Good thing I only got one month filled.
Rosemo
I just took my 4th injection tonight. When I picked up the first script from the pharmacy, I asked if there were any side effects he would report. He said some people get the feeling they have the flu in a couple of days. Sure enough I did feel flu-ish, with general achey-ness and overall yuckiness that lasted a day. I'm glad he mentioned that or I would have been alarmed I was getting sick. I did not experience that in subsequent injections. But last week I must have hit a vein in the front of my thigh and it bled and made a purple bruise the size of a quarter for a week! I alternated to the other thigh tonight, but since reading the responses to you post, I think I'll try the stomach next week. My thoughts were the stomache would be more tender an area, but it sounds like others have better luck with that location. Good luck to you, hope it works! - Rose
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