Re: infusion or injection?

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

As a needlephobe, the move to biologics was not an easy one for me. I dreaded

the thought of monthly infusions and injecting myself was just..... queasy. I

pass out at the THOUGHT of a needle.

A friend of mine does Humira so I turned to her for guidance. Humira comes in

needle and PEN form. I got the PENS and they are sooooooooooo EASY and NOT

PAINFUL! The most difficult thing bout them is how LOUD they are when they

inject. My rheumy's office gave me a " dummy " pen and teaching instructions and

so far, so good. After my second injection, I can honestly say I have had 2-3

pain free days and even the days I HAVE had pain, it is less than normal. (Gosh

I cant wait until NORMAL is NONE!)

Best of luck to you tomorrow!

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] infusion or injection?

Group,

I have an appoitment with my rheummy's physician assistant tomorrow. I

have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am not

sure if I want to do infusions or injections. I don't like the idea of

sticking myself, but do like the convenience, yet I am not sure about

the infusions either. What a baby!

I would love some of your input.

Thanks,

Shirley

[Guest guest]

I wasn't keen on self injections, either, but now I don't mind it at

all. I've become an old pro, and it didn't take that long. I inject

into my tummy, where there's lots of territory, and it doesn't hurt at

all. When I consider how much the Enbrel is helping me, I don't mind at

all.

Sue

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at 08:08 PM, nana2livi wrote:

> Group,

> I have an appoitment with my rheummy's physician assistant tomorrow. I

> have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am not

> sure if I want to do infusions or injections. I don't like the idea of

> sticking myself, but do like the convenience, yet I am not sure about

> the infusions either. What a baby!

> I would love some of your input.

> Thanks,

> Shirley

[Guest guest]

Sue,

Thanks. I needed a push on this and I don't understand why.

Shirley

>

> > Group,

> > I have an appoitment with my rheummy's physician assistant

tomorrow. I

> > have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am

not

> > sure if I want to do infusions or injections. I don't like the

idea of

> > sticking myself, but do like the convenience, yet I am not sure

about

> > the infusions either. What a baby!

> > I would love some of your input.

> > Thanks,

> > Shirley

>

[Guest guest]

Kami,

Thanks so much for the input. I knew that I was being a baby, but I

also knew that this group could help me push past uncertainty.

It sounds like Humira is working for you, or at the least has

greatly reduced what you were going through. I am so glad to hear

that.

Shirley

>

> Shirley,

>

> As a needlephobe, the move to biologics was not an easy one for

me. I dreaded the thought of monthly infusions and injecting myself

was just..... queasy. I pass out at the THOUGHT of a needle.

>

> A friend of mine does Humira so I turned to her for guidance.

Humira comes in needle and PEN form. I got the PENS and they are

sooooooooooo EASY and NOT PAINFUL! The most difficult thing bout

them is how LOUD they are when they inject. My rheumy's office gave

me a " dummy " pen and teaching instructions and so far, so good.

After my second injection, I can honestly say I have had 2-3 pain

free days and even the days I HAVE had pain, it is less than normal.

(Gosh I cant wait until NORMAL is NONE!)

>

> Best of luck to you tomorrow!

>

>

> *~ Kami ~*

[Guest guest]

Group

I start humira injections in a few weeks. My rheumy said I can also

have infusions. I didnt know one can have infusions and injections.

Did I misunderstand her can one have infusions and be taking

injections? What exactly is infusions???

Thank you

gentle hugs

Clora

[Guest guest]

>

> Group,

>

> have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am not

I am not sure

> What a baby!

> I would love some of your input.

> Thanks,

> Shirley

Hi Shirley,

Good luck tomorrow.You are not a baby!

Transitions and decisions are never easy,are they, especially where

there are no 'right' answers, but it is good to see the group as ever

has come up with great encouraging support and practical imput to help

you make your informed choice.

Hope you don't mind me adding my thoughts.

Seeing this also in my friend,I was relating so much to the difficulty

making next step decisions,concerning one's health even when armed

with 'best info'.For obvious reasons it isn't always the rational self

that is in charge,at this time, especially when anticipating 'sticking

oneself',on a regular basis,not what one would normally chose to do!

Also the same self is aware of entering an area of new risks.(of course

with the target of previously unachieved gains and relief as the

rational self would say).More general anxieties about the illness and

the future also cloud the individual step making smaller decisions I

think.I know my friend is scared of the options and running out of

options,it is a circuitous worry loop.

But as Abraham Lincoln said 'the good thing about the future is it

only comes one day at a time'!!Trust tommorow goes well.

Best wishes Chris

[Guest guest]

Shirley -

I did Enbrel for 5 months and while I didn't mind doing the shots

once a week (I also inject MTX weekly as well), Enbrel didn't do much

for me. I switched to Remicade infusions about 3 months ago and I

quite prefer it to giving myself a shot. For me, once I started

Remicade I realized how psychologically draining doing the shots

every week had been. Plus, there's something quite comforting in

being somewhere else for a few hours where I a) am in the safety of

medical professionals and always meet and talk with someone else

living with RA or a different auto-immune disease. My job is almost

constant chaos and so it's also a few hours of refuge for me. If I'm

going to have to live with this disease, I don't mind that the

medication benefits me in more ways than one!

This is just my experience, but I hope you find what works best for

you. Good luck!

>

> >

> > Group,

> >

> > have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am

not

> I am not sure

> > What a baby!

> > I would love some of your input.

> > Thanks,

> > Shirley

>

[Guest guest]

Everyone,

Thank you so much for your advice and encouragement. I am so afraid

of making the wrong decision and yet I know this is no different

from the other meds, except I had no input before taking them. We

all know that it is trial and error until we find what works for us.

I truly appreciate this support group, what a blessing to me!

Shirley

-- In , " megan_hartman "

<megan_hartman@...> wrote:

>

> Shirley -

>

> I did Enbrel for 5 months and while I didn't mind doing the shots

> once a week (I also inject MTX weekly as well), Enbrel didn't do

much

> for me. I switched to Remicade infusions about 3 months ago and I

> quite prefer it to giving myself a shot. For me, once I started

> Remicade I realized how psychologically draining doing the shots

> every week had been. Plus, there's something quite comforting in

> being somewhere else for a few hours where I a) am in the safety

of

> medical professionals and always meet and talk with someone

else

> living with RA or a different auto-immune disease. My job is

almost

> constant chaos and so it's also a few hours of refuge for me. If

I'm

> going to have to live with this disease, I don't mind that the

> medication benefits me in more ways than one!

>

> This is just my experience, but I hope you find what works best

for

> you. Good luck!

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

I was on humira injections for awhile. I have used enbrel pen, and

now on humira pen. The pen is very easy for me. The humira burns a

little, but well worth it, if it helps me. I have never tried the

infusion, so can't help you there. I was very scared when starting

the shot, but I did it. My hubby would inject me, and then one day I

just started doing it myself, its not that bad. Good luck, let us

know what you decide. Have a bless day, Tawny

[Guest guest]

Good luck, Shirley! Let us know how it goes.

Sue

On Thursday, August 7, 2008, at 03:57 AM, nana2livi wrote:

> Sue,

> Thanks. I needed a push on this and I don't understand why.

> Shirley

[Guest guest]

My fellow groupies,

It will be Enbrel pens. I have to get an OK from my surgeon since it

could cause the bone fusions not to heal. It has probably has been

enough time, but my rheummy wants his approval. I also need approval

from my insurance, but don't expect a problem and a TB test. I expect

my first injection next Wednesday or Thursday.

I am glad the decision is over. Whew! What a mountain I created for

myself. LOL.

I was really surprised how well informed I was from reading everyones

post and 's wonderful information, so was my rheummy. She said, " It

seems you have done some research. " I replied, " Nope, my RA support

group on . "

I am so blessed to be a part of this group of knowledgeable and caring

people.

Thanks again,

Shirley

>

> > Sue,

> > Thanks. I needed a push on this and I don't understand why.

> > Shirley

>

[Guest guest]

Shirley

I give myself the Humera and I gave the Enbrel before that. After the

first stick you won't mind or at least that was my experience. I give them

in my abd and the only part I feel is the medicine when it goes in if I give

it too fast.

Heidi M

On Wed, Aug 6, 2008 at 8:08 PM, nana2livi <s.p5315@...> wrote:

> Group,

> I have an appoitment with my rheummy's physician assistant tomorrow. I

> have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am not

> sure if I want to do infusions or injections. I don't like the idea of

> sticking myself, but do like the convenience, yet I am not sure about

> the infusions either. What a baby!

> I would love some of your input.

> Thanks,

> Shirley

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Shirley, I hope that Enbrel works as well for you as it does for me. I

cannot tell that I have RA. Even my morning stiffness is gone.

Sue

On Thursday, August 7, 2008, at 05:24 PM, nana2livi wrote:

> My fellow groupies,

> It will be Enbrel pens. Shirley

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

Thanks! It seems all of you on injections are pros! Well, I may not

ever be a pro, but thanks to you wonderful people, I know that I can

do this.

Shirley

>

> > Group,

> > I have an appoitment with my rheummy's physician assistant

tomorrow. I

> > have tried MTX and Arava. We are to move on to a biologic. I am

not

> > sure if I want to do infusions or injections. I don't like the

idea of

> > sticking myself, but do like the convenience, yet I am not sure

about

> > the infusions either. What a baby!

> > I would love some of your input.

> > Thanks,

> > Shirley

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>