Enbrel Auto inject or self

[Guest guest]

I'm so glad the insurance woes are over with. I decided to go with the

self inject (its also a self mix) because I had a bad time with Humira and

their preservative which contained a caustic acid (yes in the ingredients)

that caused a burning that continued for weeks. It was a very rare

occurrence but it happened to me and I didn't want to deal with that ever

again. I

never had a problem with Humira in the past but this 2nd time on it...I was

allergic even with using benadryl days before. That was a year when

everything I took, my body decided it didn't like it.

I had asked to go back on the enbrel...which I loved and always had good

results with. I decided to get the self mix because I did not want the

preservative in the pre-mixed. I did look up the enbrel ingredients and no

caustic acid was mentioned but did not want any burn at all just in case.

Went the self mix, injecting myself twice a week and ordered a box of 30G

needles. My rheumy wrote a script for the finer needles and I received 100

that last a long time.

when you inject, you just pinch an area about 2 inches from your

bellybutton and it doesn't hurt much at all....its a safe place because there

are no

nerve endings there. I used the tops of my legs for a long time then

switched to the tummy.

I think once you experience the enbrel, you'll feel it is a Godsend and

some people find an improvement within days.

Hope whatever you decide....it will go well and you'll feel better asap.

Hugs..a

OH

Its really a personal choice. I don't mind injecting and once you do it a

few times, it doesn't even bother you anymore. And you already know how

to give injections so it will be easier. I know the auto inject is easier

for everyone but I have peace of mind using the self mix with no

preservative.

You can also ice the area you will be injecting.

I have never used the auto injection at all but know people who have and

have had no problems. Maybe others will chime in and let you know their

feelings. Don't be scared of whatever you decide...you can always switch if

that doesn't work for you to another way of injecting.

Well I think my insurance woe's are over (except for the painful payment

each month :-) ), I switched back to my previous insurance as a retiree

and

I believe Enbrel will be covered. Now I need to make the decision on

whether I want auto-inject or self inject. I've read about both but would

love to hear some real life experiences with either of them.

The auto-inject sounds easier but then as it's been said you have no

control over how fast the medicine is being injected and I've heard the

slower the less painful. But I'm not sure I can imagine actually sticking

a

needle in myself. I inject dogs (mine and my friends dogs, I'm not a vet)

with no problem, but myself? I'm not sure.

The Dr's office is about an hour away so not really feasible to go there

for

an injection each time. Do people prefer to have someone else, like their

spouse, give them the injection? I've read that there are fewer nerve

endings in the stomach but I have a lot of fat there, will that matter?

I read back through some of the emails, although I don't think the

search works all that well, and I saw some that talked about 27 gauge

needles, or 30 gauge B & D needles, and that you should squeeze the site

before sticking the needle in, and make sure to let the alcohol dry before

injecting, etc. I guess I'm getting a little freaked with all that I'm

reading. Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get my head around

all

this.

Thanks!