Starting Humira

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I too have Psoriasis and PA. I am on methotrexate 12.5 mg spread out over 24

hours and Remicade every 5-6 weeks. Also I eliminated all nightshade foods for

last 2 years and it seems to help.

New symptom began tonight or it might be totally unrelated to the P or PA.

Itching in the corner of right eye. Does anyone else have this? Nothing

happened to my eye that I can think of. I wear glasses so I know I didn't

injure myself. I don't wear eye makeup. Any ideas?

Thanks, Doris

[Guest guest]

Humira has helped me a lot. I was improving on MTX alone, but my liver

didn't like it, so we switched to Humira. At first I took it every 14

days along with a lower dose of MTX. It helped right away, but after a

couple of months I started to slide backwards. We went to every 10

days. Another boost for a month or so, then another backslide. Now

I'm on weekly injections for the last 2.5 months, with no MTX. This is

the best I've felt since my diagnosis. I'm enjoying it while it lasts,

since often our treatments become less effective over time and we have

to try something new. Today my joints feel very good. But my skin is

getting worse - feet are a mess and fingertips are starting to peeel

again. (I've have pustular P of the palms and soles.) I'm hoping it's

just because my nasal allergies are flaring right now.

It's important to let your rheumy know how satisfied you are with your

progress as you go along. I called her office as soon as I started to

slip and she called in a new prescription at a more frequent dosage.

Even if you are feeling better, if it's still not an acceptable quality

of life, you need to speak up. They can't help us if we don't ask!

I've had no infections.

best regards,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Though I know this is a miracle drug for some Humira and Enbrel gave me severe

side effects...Please beware and if you are infection proned stay on top of

it...I ended up with Lymphoma and 5 months of chemo...not to say these drugs

cost it..its a risk you take

[Guest guest]

Spacy Wrote that she is starting humira and was worried about

infections....

I started Humira about a year ago. For me, it is a godsend!! Within 48 hours I

was able to walk again! My hands were functional, and the ache completely left

my elbows.

When I was on MTX 24mg and Humira I did develop minor skin infections

(especially around my cuticles) which (of course) screwed up my blood sugars.

I called rheumy and got on antibiotics IMMEDIATELY. When I got the third

infection in six weeks, I talked to my rehumy - and we lowered the MTX to 12mg.

Viola - no infections!

That didn't hurt my feelings a bit. I take MTX because it helps the humira work

better and fights degeneration of my joints. NOT because it provides any relief

for me. But as you can see, some people get great relief after a break in

period.

It may take some time to find the exact drug cocktail that works for you. In

the meantime, be vigilant about signs of infection, and act propmtly if you

suspect one is trying to visit. (Lucky us, our rising sugar indicates infection

before there are visible signs!) And don't hesitate to talk to your rheumy

and/or diabetic specialist if you think something isn't right.

CMPete

Quilts with Poodle

" Now times are rough and I've got too much stuff " J.D. Buffett

[Guest guest]

I'm so glad to see your post this morning because I was thinking about you last

night while catching up on some reading. Earlier this year (January, to be

precise) Chicago magazine did an article on local doctors who are involved in

" Breakthrough Medicine " . I know you've pretty much run the gamut on meds and

nothing has worked without devastating side effects.

One of the doctors featured in this article was Burt, Chief of

Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Division of immunotherapy for autoimmune

disease, who has worked for 15 years on lupus, MS, scleroderma, RA and other

autoimmune diseases He has done pioneering work on the use of stem cells as an

agent to fight these illlnesses in patients for whom all other therapies have

" let them down " . Last year, he released a study showing that 50 % of patients

with life-or organ-threatening lupus who had had transplants of their own stem

cells were disease-free at the five-year mark and 84% were still alive. He's

been doing stem-cell transplantation since 1997 and uses them from a patient, a

donor or umbilical cord blood (not the enbryonic stem cells that the feds

prohibit using.)

You might want to consider either contacting him yourself or having one of your

doctors contact him if it sounds like something you would want to pursue. You

and your family are always in my thoughts . . . . . .

Joanna Hoelscher

630-833-7361

[Guest guest]

PA can cause a non-infectious form of conjunctivitis. My eyes itch

like crazy.

regards,

sherry z

>

> New symptom began tonight or it might be totally unrelated to the P

or PA. Itching in the corner of right eye. Does anyone else have

this? Nothing happened to my eye that I can think of. I wear glasses

so I know I didn't injure myself. I don't wear eye makeup. Any ideas?

>

> Thanks, Doris

>

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I don't post very often but I do read most of the messages and I

have come across alot of helpful information, I must thank everyone

for the time they take to share their experiences...the good and the

bad. I believe it's my turn...on Wednesday I'll be starting Humira

and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about this because on one

hand I hear of all the terrible things that may go wrong and on the

other hand I have a coworker that's been on it for 3 years and he

has nothing but praise for it and says he has not had any side

effects or complications from it, and as a matter of fact if you

were to see him you would never guess he has RA. I'm at the point

where I'm willing to try it because I can't take the pain in my

ankles and feet anymore and it's come to the point where I can

barely walk in the mornings and I've had to start short term

disability for at least 2 months or until the humira kicks in

because I just can't function at work anymore. I was diagnosed with

RA 2 years ago and I have been on MTX....I alternate 6 pills 1 week

and a shot of MTX the next week, I also take 7 1/2 mgs of

Predinsone, folic acid, and Plaquinil. I actually felt really good

after I started the Plaquinil but that only lasted 6 months. I will

be using the Humira pen once every 2 weeks, my insurance approved it

for 16 weeks and the best part is that Humira has a program that

helps you with copay, my copay would have been a $100 a month but

with this program Humira will be picking up the copay...thank you

god! I will be letting everyone know my progress and my experieces

with Humira...until the next time.....take care everyone.....

[Guest guest]

,

Try not to worry. Most people who try Humira don't experience serious

adverse effects.

Good luck!

Not an MD

> [ ] Starting Humira

>

> Hello everyone,

> I don't post very often but I do read most of the messages and I

> have come across alot of helpful information, I must thank everyone

> for the time they take to share their experiences...the good and the

> bad. I believe it's my turn...on Wednesday I'll be starting Humira

> and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about this because on one

> hand I hear of all the terrible things that may go wrong and on the

> other hand I have a coworker that's been on it for 3 years and he

> has nothing but praise for it and says he has not had any side

> effects or complications from it, and as a matter of fact if you

> were to see him you would never guess he has RA. I'm at the point

> where I'm willing to try it because I can't take the pain in my

> ankles and feet anymore and it's come to the point where I can

> barely walk in the mornings and I've had to start short term

> disability for at least 2 months or until the humira kicks in

> because I just can't function at work anymore. I was diagnosed with

> RA 2 years ago and I have been on MTX....I alternate 6 pills 1 week

> and a shot of MTX the next week, I also take 7 1/2 mgs of

> Predinsone, folic acid, and Plaquinil. I actually felt really good

> after I started the Plaquinil but that only lasted 6 months. I will

> be using the Humira pen once every 2 weeks, my insurance approved it

> for 16 weeks and the best part is that Humira has a program that

> helps you with copay, my copay would have been a $100 a month but

> with this program Humira will be picking up the copay...thank you

> god! I will be letting everyone know my progress and my experieces

> with Humira...until the next time.....take care everyone.....

[Guest guest]

Good luck with the Humira ! I couldn't walk without it. I do hope it

works for you!

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

[Guest guest]

,

I hope that he doesn't have to go thru that much for very long. Were the 4 shots all Humira? I know some people have had to double up on their doses of Humira, and it seems to kick in quickly. Allie just seems to maintain. It never quite goes away, but doesn't slow her down too much. Although I can tell when it has kicked in. Yesterday, my 12 year old took a 45 minute nap. Now you would suspect she had been at a sleep over or something, but that isn't the case. She was in bed by 1030pm the previous night. Anyway, we are very lucky. She seems to keep up with her friends, she can't run as well as the rest, but she is on a traveling soccer team. She is also on the dance line! I think she is in pretty good shape for a kid with a chronic disease.

I hope your son finds some relief soon.