Starting Humira, any advice?

Starting Humira next week, any advice or info I should know going into this? Thanks

My GI and Humira themselves were very good at "holding my hand" when I started Humira back in February...from my experiences, all I can suggest is that you try both the gut and the thigh for injections and see which hurts less (everyone's different) they also suggest you alternate (for example, from right to left thigh each time you do an injection) and let the pen sit out a bit to room temperature so it cuts down on the stinging sensation as well.

I would hope your doc and Humira will guide you through the process as they did for me. I'm in Canada so our healthcare system allows for a nurse (for free) to come to your home as often as you need until you're comfortable enough doing the shots yourself. My nurse was great because although I had my initial 4 loading doses done by a PC (I've had reactions to IBD meds in the past so Humira requested I see a doc for my very first time) but the nurse came to my home for my 2 shots and did a great job at training me on how to do them myself and actually asked me to do them myself while she was there so I could see that it's really not difficult.

I honestly never thought the day would come that I would willingly give myself needles (I really hate needles) but I've been doing it with no issue to date.

Best of luck and I hope Humira helps bring you out of IBD hell for good.

You might want to ice the injection area prior to the injection, some people complain of pain from the injections, I never really had pain but I always iced before I injected myself.

Have you tried Remicade yet? Most people start with Remicade and if they have issues then they switch to Humira or Simponi.

My daughter has been on it since Dec. she just turned 18. She has failed everything else including Remicade. Humira has been a wonder drug for us. Never know for how long but we will take a day at a a time. No issues with injection other then a little pain after and sometimes a nice bruise. Which maybe caused by pushing to hard while injecting. She takes once a week in the arm. Note: she also takes Immuran. Best of luck to you

Nurse mom and dad. We give it to her. An ice pack on the arm for 15 minutes first.

Have been in contact with Humira, my cost should be $5 so they say. Should be good to go soon, if insurance company doesn't drive me goofy first. When they denied Remicade they said Humira was preferred drug, doctor sent in Humira prescription and of course pharmacy called and said they denied it. So Humira people are lining everything up now said, I should be good to go next week.

Today is the day finally, 40mg pen X4. Mixed feelings, but my symptoms seem to be tilting the scales to the worse last few days so just in time I guess. Thanks for the advice.

Well the pens were painless let them warm for maybe 30 minutes, did the 4-40mg loading shots will do 2 more on the 23rd then one every two weeks. I did nap quite a bit yesterday but most days I feel run down anyway. Feel a little sore but I think that was from doing a few things in the yard Thursday.

Now I get to taper off prednisone, which I glad for because during this flare I have lost about 20 pounds that I didn't need anyway, but now have gained a few back in the last couple weeks since my appetite has returned.