Re: GINA OR PAULA, I need advise again !

[Guest guest]

Cindi,

I know you asked and a, but I thought I'd weigh in on this

questions. My rheumy gave me the choice of Remicade or Humira.

Although he did not suggest Enbrel (he likes the newer one's more) my

mom has been on Enbrel for years. The downside to Enbrel is you have

to take it twice a week (they are working on a once weekly dose) and

you have to mix it yourself. It takes a while for my mom to do her

shot each time, and she takes 4 shots for every 1 shot I take.

Remicade requires you to have to go to the doctors office or a clinic

for the infusion, which is why I did not choose that one. It's hard

for me to take the time off work (I try to save my days for when my

daughter is going to be sick or her school is closed, or to go visit

my parents). My mom has to switch to Remicade now since that is the

only one covered by Medicare and she's going on Medicare in

December. She is dreading having to go to the clinic. Driving wipes

her out and it's going to take the better part of a day to go, get

the infusion and drive home (she lives a good distance away). The

good part is that after a while, you only have to go once every 8

weeks.

I was afraid of injecting myself but the nurse assured me it would be

so easy, and she was right. You probably don't have that fear since

you already injecting mtx. The Humira is given every other week and

the injection comes ready to go (although some do take it weekly if

every other week is not effective enough). It takes me only a couple

minutes every other week to take it. I just get the syringe from the

fridge, clean the area, inject and I'm done. I've had great results

from Humira. I was a mess when I started taking it and having a

really hard time working and caring for Abbey. Although most can

take a few months to see results, I started feeling better after the

first injection.

Jennie

> HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

>

> YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

> TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

> AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

> HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

> PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE

ARE

> THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

> HUMIRA.

> I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

> WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

> ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

> SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Cindi,

I know you asked and a, but I thought I'd weigh in on this

questions. My rheumy gave me the choice of Remicade or Humira.

Although he did not suggest Enbrel (he likes the newer one's more) my

mom has been on Enbrel for years. The downside to Enbrel is you have

to take it twice a week (they are working on a once weekly dose) and

you have to mix it yourself. It takes a while for my mom to do her

shot each time, and she takes 4 shots for every 1 shot I take.

Remicade requires you to have to go to the doctors office or a clinic

for the infusion, which is why I did not choose that one. It's hard

for me to take the time off work (I try to save my days for when my

daughter is going to be sick or her school is closed, or to go visit

my parents). My mom has to switch to Remicade now since that is the

only one covered by Medicare and she's going on Medicare in

December. She is dreading having to go to the clinic. Driving wipes

her out and it's going to take the better part of a day to go, get

the infusion and drive home (she lives a good distance away). The

good part is that after a while, you only have to go once every 8

weeks.

I was afraid of injecting myself but the nurse assured me it would be

so easy, and she was right. You probably don't have that fear since

you already injecting mtx. The Humira is given every other week and

the injection comes ready to go (although some do take it weekly if

every other week is not effective enough). It takes me only a couple

minutes every other week to take it. I just get the syringe from the

fridge, clean the area, inject and I'm done. I've had great results

from Humira. I was a mess when I started taking it and having a

really hard time working and caring for Abbey. Although most can

take a few months to see results, I started feeling better after the

first injection.

Jennie

> HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

>

> YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

> TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

> AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

> HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

> PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE

ARE

> THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

> HUMIRA.

> I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

> WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

> ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

> SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I got really sick with the mtx too - I did find though that the folic

acid seemed to help the symptoms, and also that I did my injections

on Fridays so that I could have the whole weekend to recover before I

worked again on Monday. Also, in time, the symptoms became less

bothersome as my body became more used to the medication. I hope

that this helps and that you feel better. I know that the other meds

are very expensive.

in AZ

> HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

>

> YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

> TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

> AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

> HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

> PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE

ARE

> THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

> HUMIRA.

> I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

> WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

> ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

> SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I got really sick with the mtx too - I did find though that the folic

acid seemed to help the symptoms, and also that I did my injections

on Fridays so that I could have the whole weekend to recover before I

worked again on Monday. Also, in time, the symptoms became less

bothersome as my body became more used to the medication. I hope

that this helps and that you feel better. I know that the other meds

are very expensive.

in AZ

> HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

>

> YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

> TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

> AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

> HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

> PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE

ARE

> THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

> HUMIRA.

> I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

> WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

> ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

> SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Cindi, will you be staying on the MTX if you can tolerate the lower

dose? If not, then I would rule out Remicade. It would be to your

advantage to stay on the MTX with whichever biologic you choose, but, in

the event that you must discontinue the MTX, using Remicade without MTX

is not recommended.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] GINA OR PAULA, I need advise again !

> HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

>

> YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

> TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

> AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

> HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

> PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE ARE

> THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

> HUMIRA.

> I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

> WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

> ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

> SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Cindi, will you be staying on the MTX if you can tolerate the lower

dose? If not, then I would rule out Remicade. It would be to your

advantage to stay on the MTX with whichever biologic you choose, but, in

the event that you must discontinue the MTX, using Remicade without MTX

is not recommended.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] GINA OR PAULA, I need advise again !

> HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

>

> YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

> TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

> AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

> HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

> PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE ARE

> THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

> HUMIRA.

> I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

> WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

> ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

> SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindi

I am not , but I am in the pretty much in the same place as you. I go today

for my TB test to begin Remicade. After talking with everyone and my doctor it

sounds like that will be the best bet since my RA is pretty aggressive. My

insurance will pay for most of the Remicade, where Enbrel and Humira would have

cost me $180, with Remicade I only have to pay my usual office visit copay of

$30. I also like the idea of having it administered in the doctor's office,

instead of at home. Anyway, good luck!

Semalee

[ ] GINA OR PAULA, I need advise again !

HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE ARE

THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

HUMIRA.

I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

SINCERELY, CINDI

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindi

I am not , but I am in the pretty much in the same place as you. I go today

for my TB test to begin Remicade. After talking with everyone and my doctor it

sounds like that will be the best bet since my RA is pretty aggressive. My

insurance will pay for most of the Remicade, where Enbrel and Humira would have

cost me $180, with Remicade I only have to pay my usual office visit copay of

$30. I also like the idea of having it administered in the doctor's office,

instead of at home. Anyway, good luck!

Semalee

[ ] GINA OR PAULA, I need advise again !

HELLO GINA AND PAULA,

YESTEDAY I HAD MY RHEUMY APPT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF

TROUBLE WITH MY INJECTABLE MTX. I AM USUALLY SICK FOR UP TO 4 DAYS

AFTER MY .6ML'S SHOT. HE LOWERED IT TO .4 ML'S BUT HE GAVE MY

HUSBAND AND ME BROCHURES AND TOLD US TO LOOK THEM OVER, MY RA IS

PROGRESSING AND I NEED EITHER, REMICADE, ENBREL OR HUMIRA. THOSE ARE

THE ONES HE IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT. I AM LEANING TOWARD

HUMIRA.

I WILL BE GETTING AHOLD OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY AND SEEING

WHAT THEY WILL COVER. BUT I WANTED YOUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OPINIONS

ON THE 3 OF THESE. I WOULD SO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

SINCERELY, CINDI