Happy to have started Enbrel Finally

[Guest guest]

Hi Group:

Been feeling very miserable lately. Never know how i am going to wake up. Bad

neck pain, back pain, ankle swelling, jaw hurting, despite being upped on the

MTX to 6 pills (2.5 each) every week.

Took my first Enbrel shot on Friday, I dont feel anything yet (only hope). Very

depressed cause I feel so lousy, the pain doc upped my fentantyl patches to 37.5

because they werent working. Actually 2 days last week I took Aleve and then

Tylenol c Codiene cause the aching pains were so bad. Dont want to overtax my

liver, so I stopped those. I broke down and took 4 days of prednisone (20 to

start and then 3 days of 10) because i just couldnt take the swelling and pain.

And my ankle is still swollen.

My Rheumy says I gotta stay on the Enbrel 3 mos before she can gage is its

working or not.

Funny, after 15 yrs they just took my aunt off of Enbrel because it exascerbated

damage to her heart (and she had open heart surgery)....I hope Enbrel doesnt

mess with my heart (its the only one i have - L0L:))'

I noticed that stress really makes RA bad too, so I am trying to Zen myself....

OKD

So glad I can read all this info, it really helps to know I am not the only one

and that my burden is not as bad as others.

[Guest guest]

Hello RA Family!

I went to my Rheumatologist thinking I was just going to get a prescription for

Enbrel yesterday, but he surprised me and had a couple of extra samples so his

nurse injected me with my first dose (in the upper thigh). I have to be honest

and admit it did feel like a bee sting for 10 of the 15 sec it took for her to

inject me with the self-injecting form! I've got to get over my fear of needles

and give myself my injection next Wednesday, so please pray for strength for

me!! So far I don't notice any difference in my pain and stiffness. I do know

that it could take some time before I notice any difference. After a month I get

to start weaning off the medrol I've been on (4 mg daily).

I'll pop in from time to time to give an update. In the meantime, I hope you all

have pain free days(or as much as possible)! Keep the faith and know that this

group is the best at providing a safe, non-judgmental forum to vent, complain,

ask for prayers and information, or just to talk to when you're feeling alone

and scared of and frustrated by our mutual friend, RA!

Take care!

Elly

[Guest guest]

Hi Elly: Nice to hear from you. I am glad you are starting with the

Enbrel injections. I wish you good luck with it.

I was like you. Fearful of needles, swore I could never inject myself,

etc. Well, I was wrong. I have been injecting myself every week with

MTX, and you don't feel a thing. I was amazed at that!.. It is 6 years

now. I know you will feel the same as I do after your first injection.

Take care of yourself. Rest when possible. And, good luck when you

inject your Enbrel yourself. It is amazing what we can do when we have

to.

Wishing you pain free days ahead.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

> Hello RA Family!

>

> I went to my Rheumatologist thinking I was just going to get a

prescription for Enbrel yesterday, but he surprised me and had a couple

of extra samples so his nurse injected me with my first dose (in the

upper thigh). I have to be honest and admit it did feel like a bee sting

for 10 of the 15 sec it took for her to inject me with the

self-injecting form! I've got to get over my fear of needles and give

myself my injection next Wednesday, so please pray for strength for me!!

So far I don't notice any difference in my pain and stiffness. I do know

that it could take some time before I notice any difference. After a

month I get to start weaning off the medrol I've been on (4 mg daily).

>

> I'll pop in from time to time to give an update. In the meantime, I

hope you all have pain free days(or as much as possible)! Keep the faith

and know that this group is the best at providing a safe, non-judgmental

forum to vent, complain, ask for prayers and information, or just to

talk to when you're feeling alone and scared of and frustrated by our

mutual friend, RA!

>

> Take care!

>

> Elly

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Elly,

I took Enbrel for years with goo success. I found that the longer you wait

between using the alcohol swab and doing the injection, the less it burns.

Enbrel also will send you a cooler bag with a mini ice pack, you can ice the

area 10-15 min. before doing the injection, it helps.

FWIW, I thought the Humira self-injector was WAAAY worse!

Good luck to you. Needles are better than joint damage! Some people find

injecting into the abdomen to be less painful. The Enbrel support phone # is

great, the nurse there talked me through my first solo shot and she was awesome.

Take care,

Kate P-B

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

Hi Elly,

What a rheumy!!!! I pray the enbrel works for you. Just give it awhile

to start working. Just have faith, in know time you will be whippin'

that med out, and getting it done. I wanted to say, get r done, but

then I would really show my redneck side,lol

I feared needles! Now, it doesn't bother me at all. I also take the

mtx injections, and so it takes me no time to inject. I'm getting to be

a pro:) It's funny, I always wanted to be a nurse, but what stopped me,

was the fear of a needle. So life is funny for sure.

You keep us posted, and good luck,

Tawny

>

> Hello RA Family!

>

> I went to my Rheumatologist thinking I was just going to get a

prescription for Enbrel yesterday, but he surprised me and had a couple

of extra samples so his nurse injected me with my first dose (in the

upper thigh). I have to be honest and admit it did feel like a bee sting

for 10 of the 15 sec it took for her to inject me with the

self-injecting form! I've got to get over my fear of needles and give

myself my injection next Wednesday, so please pray for strength for me!!

So far I don't notice any difference in my pain and stiffness. I do know

that it could take some time before I notice any difference. After a

month I get to start weaning off the medrol I've been on (4 mg daily).

>

> I'll pop in from time to time to give an update. In the meantime, I

hope you all have pain free days(or as much as possible)! Keep the faith

and know that this group is the best at providing a safe, non-judgmental

forum to vent, complain, ask for prayers and information, or just to

talk to when you're feeling alone and scared of and frustrated by our

mutual friend, RA!

>

> Take care!

>

> Elly