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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/29/2018 4:48 AM (GMT -5)
Happy New Year all! Finally, I began Humira yesterday with the 4 shots from pen type syringes. It was SO easy and quick; much easier and more comfortable at home than sitting in the ole infusion suite for 4 hours in the past. I'm really putting a lot of hope in Humira. I've been in a flare for approx. 3 months now and am SO tired of it, and all the anxiety that goes along in my case. I know...not doing myself any favors by stressing every time ...lets go to--anyplace...is mentioned. If anyone has any suggestions about using Humira, whether good or bad, please let me know. Good luck to everyone in this coming new year and I wish you all good health, comfort, and happiness. Thanks for sharing in the past as it really does help to know we aren't alone with this crappy illness. Be safe all.
Posted 12/29/2018 5:58 AM (GMT -5)
Last week was 6 weeks on Humira for me. I get an initial response a few days after the shots that lasts for 3-4 days and then things slide back until the next shot. Hoping things are starting to change as I am seeing less blood and stool is getting more like pebbles all week this week rather than completely unformed or diarrhea, Shots are easy and no side effects. Been in a mild to moderate flare fr a year now that got worse since Septemeber so hoping I am on my way out of it now

Good luck and keep us posted n how you are doing!
Posted 12/29/2018 4:42 PM (GMT -5)
I hope humira is your solution.

Some say icing the spot before using the pen helps reduce the sting (if you feel one). Injecting into areas with fat is easier and involves less pain. Going into muscle tissue is less comfortable.
Posted 12/29/2018 7:49 PM (GMT -5)
I iced the spot and it helped a bit. I made the mistake of trying it on my thigh once -- never again. The stomach was a lot more tolerable. Keep a symptom diary so you can tell if it wears off between doses. I found it was wearing off after about 9 days, so I went to weekly before I developed antibodies.
Posted 12/29/2018 9:42 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you ALL. Mine stung a little, but not enough to be bothersome. The Drug company's nurse told me to ask my doctor to prescribe citrate free Humira from now on...not supposed to sting at all. I can deal with a sting MUCH better and the anxiety that goes along with UC. I shall surely try the ice and thank you for your input. Since I have 'old man' legs, I used my fat belly. LOL Really didn't hurt at all. I'm putting a lot of hope into the Humira. I guess time shall tell. LOL Good luck all, and happy new year!
Posted 12/29/2018 10:46 PM (GMT -5)
Suchatravesty, how long did it take you to get to where it worked for 9 days and then wore off?
Posted 12/29/2018 11:07 PM (GMT -5)
CCinPA - well, I was a bit of an oddball. The first loading dose (4 pens) worked well. Then I did the second loading dose (2 pens two weeks later). I was fine. Then just before my week 6 dosage (my first regular), it wore off a bit. The doctor told me to go weekly, so I did a week 7 and a week 8. Then by the end of week 8, my symptoms were coming back and I was in a lot of abdominal pain. Turned out I developed antibodies.
Posted 12/30/2018 10:37 AM (GMT -5)
Humira frequency is variable. Should the effect wane between shots, ask about decreasing the tine between shots. Some do weekly.
Posted 12/30/2018 2:22 PM (GMT -5)
I had an experience not unlike CCinPA in that I started having some suuuuuuuuuper mild improvement after my second loading dose which would ultimately deteriorate as I moved toward my next shot. The duration of minor improvement would decrease after each shot until I was back at square one with no effect after my last shot (about 14 weeks). They checked for antibodies and drug levels: levels were good, no antibodies. It just didn’t work for me. Since my drug levels were good and my improvement was never very good and had diminished entirely the doctor didn’t even want to bother with trying weekly.

Definitely take the pen out of the fridge for about an hour before injecting. Helps a bunch. I also found my stomach to be more comfortable. Good luck! I tolerated it very well—no side effects at all save for one hive at the injection site one time. I really wish it would have worked.
Posted 1/17/2019 9:21 AM (GMT -5)
I’ve been on Humira since the fall of 2016. It’s worked great for me.
It took eight full weeks for it to start to work, but then at the beginning of that week...it was like someone flipped a switch and I went into remission.

Occasionally I still have mild flares that can last 2 or 3 days. But it’s my fault when they occur. It happens with Poor eating choices.

There is only one complaint I have had with Humira. I can’t stand the pain of the injections. 10 seconds of hell for me. And that’s even with applying a numbing cream one hour before injection...and leaving the pen out for an hour before go time...

Has always felt like 10 seconds of someone putting a blow torch on the fatty part of my upper thigh.

Well...I am VERY happy to report...I used the “new” Humira with the smaller needle this past Monday ...and I could hardly even feel it during the injection. I actually wondered whether or not I did it right....it was THAT painless.

Anyway...so thankful for the new Humira pen.

Wonderful!

Post Edited (Rusty Barr) : 1/17/2019 7:28:46 AM (GMT-7)

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