Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 > Well I am four shots into my enbrel. I have a question to anyone else > on this. I know it takes a while to work but how long. I also am on > Brextra just so you know. I want to ask another question, I have been > told that brusing at the injection site is normal, does this happen > to anyone else. I am giving it to myself in the stomach. If anyone > has any helpful hints for me I would be greatful. I hope if you are > having bad weather in your area it is not affecting you to bad. It > has been raining here (Michigan) today and even my vicodin is not > helping. Take Care all. Jeff Jeff - I was on Enbrel for almost 2 years before it lost effectiveness for me. It took about 4 weeks to really kick in (I was also on methotrexate and vioxx at the same time) but when it did, I felt great. I managed to give myself a good bruise almost every time I injected - either in the stomach or on the leg. I usually did the Enbrel injections in my leg and my methotrexate injections in my stomach. It's been cloudy & sunny but dry here in Oregon today and I was able to plant my veggie garden. I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow! Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 Jeff, I don't take Enbrel but on another board I follow (http://www.arthritisinsight.com/cgi-bin/wsmbb/wsmbb.cgi?SB+KYWRJLLXVS/AKFCLKZQUN+config) people who do take Enbrel sometimes get help within a week or two but usually it is a month or two. They say that bruising is lessened if you let the Enbrel warm up for about 15 minutes before using and ice the area for the shot for a few minutes before and after the shot. Also they rotate among the four quadrants of the abdomen. Also many of them find the Enbrel needles to be large and dull and prefer to buy smaller needles. Some find that a second DMARD such as Methotrexate makes the Enbrel more effective. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: jeffgrocka Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 7:00 PM Subject: My enbrerl. Well I am four shots into my enbrel. I have a question to anyone else on this. I know it takes a while to work but how long. I also am on Brextra just so you know. I want to ask another question, I have been told that brusing at the injection site is normal, does this happen to anyone else. I am giving it to myself in the stomach. If anyone has any helpful hints for me I would be greatful. I hope if you are having bad weather in your area it is not affecting you to bad. It has been raining here (Michigan) today and even my vicodin is not helping. Take Care all. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 Hi Jeff, I'm at the same point at you.....4 shots into the Enbrel. Different people have different response times. I already feel less fatigued and quite optimistic at this time. I'm also on methotrexate and on plaquenil. They say it might take up to 6 wks to start to feel benefit. Please keep us posted. I hope you have a good response....be patient and hang in there! Best of luck, Sandy From: "jeffgrocka" Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: My enbrerl. Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 02:00:59 -0000 Well I am four shots into my enbrel. I have a question to anyone else on this. I know it takes a while to work but how long. I also am on Brextra just so you know. I want to ask another question, I have been told that brusing at the injection site is normal, does this happen to anyone else. I am giving it to myself in the stomach. If anyone has any helpful hints for me I would be greatful. I hope if you are having bad weather in your area it is not affecting you to bad. It has been raining here (Michigan) today and even my vicodin is not helping. Take Care all. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 Hey Jeff, I have found that the needles supplied by Enbrel are very, very dull. How dull? As dull as C-Span, or PBS on membership drive week. Even duller than a two hour car ride with your mother-in-law. I have found using insulin needles work a lot better. Letting the vile sit for about fifteen minutes to warm up works well too. I rotate between my thighs, stomach and arms. If you are married you will find that letting your wife give you the shots in the arm gets you out of a lot of trouble. She seems to enjoy it. It doesn't do much for the bruising, but it's cheaper than flowers. It took about a month or so for me to feel better. The first thing I noticed was I had a lot more energy. After six months we took x-rays and it showed some of the RA had actually reversed itself. That's very rare but it happened to me. Good luck. Let me know if I can do anything else for you. Woody > Well I am four shots into my enbrel. I have a question to anyone else > on this. I know it takes a while to work but how long. I also am on > Brextra just so you know. I want to ask another question, I have been > told that brusing at the injection site is normal, does this happen > to anyone else. I am giving it to myself in the stomach. If anyone > has any helpful hints for me I would be greatful. I hope if you are > having bad weather in your area it is not affecting you to bad. It > has been raining here (Michigan) today and even my vicodin is not > helping. Take Care all. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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