Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Humira Shot

when i picked up my dose. they gave me this leaflet...it talks about choosing a injecting site,
"Choose a site on you thigh or stomach"
"For each injection use a site at least 3cm from the last spot"
"Rotate between thigh and stomach"

And pretty much says get in touch with your doctor or emergnecy at hospital incase of bad reactions etc

So I just got off with the Humira Nurse. They are giving me my next two injections free....as well she said it might be 1) either the batch 2) My sister suggested because I have lost about 35 lbs since Sept it may just be because I don't have as much body fat?? The nurse said that could be the case. Anyway, bottom line, I am going to try some stuff the next time I do it - as well I get a shot next week to make up for the Humira a wiped up off my kitchen floor.

A:)

It is not a reaction it is just VERY PAINFUL when I inject. I have never done it in my thigh so I am going to try that next time.

Although I must tell you I am not that excited about it......hmm wonder why!

Sometimes I am reminded how this whole thing sucks A$$.

A:)

Thanks for the adivce all!

Hi A,

I've had Remicade, Humira and now on Enbrel.

Didn't see much difference in discomfort between Humira and Enbrel as far as the injection. The main thing I learnt was to make sure the syringe was left out of the fridge for at least 20 minutes to go to room temperature.

I also found (for me) that the stomach was the best place to inject. The thigh always seemed to be a bit more stingy...and yes, I'm a wus!

James

Hi James,

Did you change from one TNF to the next because it stopped working, because you couldn't tolerate it, or was there another reason? I'm just curious what led you from Remicade to Humira and now to Enbrel.

I had an allergic reaction to the Remicade....but there was a huge difference between that and what is currently happening.

I barely get a red patch around the injection sight.

I called the Doctor too....so I guess we will see.

A:)

Hi Wendy,

In hindsight, I think it was because the rheumy had treated the AS with the Remicade, but was still trying to fix the daytime pain, which now I'm pretty sure is the fibro component. So he switched me to humira for a while, then when that didn't help, onto enbrel.

Enbrel keeps the night time pain, nausea and fatigue (AS)treated (moderately), and Lyrica helps the fibro - I've found a happy balance - shame I have to keep upping the dosage every thee months...

All the best,

James

Hi Jimmy - that makes sense. How do you determine what pain is AS and what is fibro? And how did you get a firm diagnosis of fibro? It seems a rather vague disease that's hard to pin down.

James....you have to up the dose of your Lyrica every few months or what???

I finally accomplished doing a self-injection a couple days ago. Until then, I was worried I'd also lose a dose (feel bad when it's a $1,000 per shot on the health care system). It only hurts me like a bee sting, but I'm really pain tolerant (we trapeze artists train for pain). The interesting thing is that the shot actually hurt MORE when my pharmacist friend was doing the injection. My self-injection hurt less because I was controling it. I'm very low body fat too, and stomach really hurt too. I'm shooting up in the side of the thigh. I can grab a little fat there.

Good luck. I know Humira is scary, frustrating, but I also know that I've been almost out of severe flares for 2 months now.