Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I just wasted a dose of Humira.

After sitting here for over half an hour trying to build my nerves, I finally hit the button, screamed, and pulled up on it before the needle even went in. This isn't working, it's extremely painful and I'm scared of needles. Not a good combination. After my failed attempt at the injection, I broke down in tears.

Where do I go from here?

Oh Scarlet, I'm so sorry. I really am. Don't give up though. If you have to, have your nurse do it. Call them on Monday and let them know what happened. Was this the first time you got injected with the Humira. Did you get your first shot at the Dr.s? I got my first injection today and I had the nurse do it. I was very nervous too. I have to give myself injection's for migraine's so I was a little used to it, However, I have never injected myself in the stomach! I just told myself that if my mother who has to inject her tiny little self daily with insulin then I could do it too. It wasn't near as bad as even my migraine injection's. I laughed at myself after she did it because I was so nervous. In two week's when I have to do it myself, I'm sure I will still be nervous but I think it will just take some getting used to. I feel your pain though. Bless your heart, you did try. Call the Dr's okay?

Pea

I've been taking Humira for a few months now and I've always done it myself. I lose my nerves a little more and more every time I do it. Last time I almost lost my nerve, but held fast. This time I lost it completely and broke down in tears. It hurts REALLY bad and leaves a sand dollar sized welt that lasts for days.

Oh wow, okay, that would hurt! My injection left a little spot of blood but no welt's, rash or anything like that. Have you told your Dr. about this?

I once tried a Migraine med that delivered through the skin without a needle. Boy oh boy did that hurt and left a huge bruise. I called the Dr. and told him to give me the shot's. I would just call your Dr.

Does anyone else on here get these welt's?

If it is that hard could you do one of the biologics like an infusion just once a month or every 6 to 8 weeks. I know there are people terrified of needles and I use to be one of them..I guess after 3 kids, multiple floroscopy SI injections, blood tests, infusions Im kind of use to it now..might make it a little less stressful if someone else did it.

Good luck!

Did you ice the injection spot beforehand? I hold an ice pack on for 15-20 min before I inject while I am waiting for my Humira to become room temp. If you call Humira, they will send you a replacement Humira pen. The first time I injected was in the doctor's office with the nurse helping me. The second time, I was too slow and the fluid squirted all over my leg. Humira sent me a box of 2 pens. It gets easier with time. Do you have someone else who could help you with the shots?

Sorry to hear you are struggling with this. Like Lisa says, maybe an infusion type med would be a good choice. Hugs to you, Scarlett.

For those who got replacements after having problems....that's good to hear, just before I start Enbrel. When I had to take Imitrex for migraines, it was $50 for each injection. I screwed up one of them and cried about the waste, which really put the migraine into high gear. Ended up in the ER that night. I'll remember to ice the spot before injecting Enbrel.

My son wasted his second Enbrel shot... just messed up when he was handling the needle.

We called the number on the box and they sent us a replacement for the one dose-- free. They faxed something to the doctor to get the Rx for one replacement dose then shipped it out to us within a couple of days.

My guess is Humira does the same thing.
Mary

Hi Scarlet, I'm glad you found the courage to push the button but sorry it turned out the way it did... Ironically, my grandbaby Ali walked by and pulled my Enbrel auto-injector out of my leg before I knew what happened & about 80% of the shot squirted all over me....there's no way to put it back into your leg once it has been taken out... OUCH!!! I've been on Enbrel for years, literally(I did the clinical trials in the 90s) and I can tell you that you've already been thru the worst already(by pulling it out)...that's MUCH more painful than the actual shot...you'll get the hang of it, good luck...

Well, apparently it DID go in, but it probably only nicked me because I pulled up right when I hit the button and didn't even feel it go in (and it's usually very painful). The only reason I'm thinking this is because there's a dime-sized itchy red mark where I made the attempt. Anyway, thanks for the support. I'm going to first try calling my doctor on monday and see if they'll let me get an early refill. I'm on Tricare, so I didn't actually pay anything for it, but I'm still sick at the thought of wasting $500 of taxpayers money If that doesn't work I'll try calling Humira. I'm just worried I'll get a talkin' to when I explain what happened, because when I first started the treatment, the nurse gave me a full lecture on being careful with it because of how expensive it is