Re: DALANNE Re: Question (one last time)

[Guest guest]

Hi Dalanne,

You are on Orencia? Oh good, someone I can compare Humira to! I am really

scared but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. Did you have any side

effects with the orencia? I know all meds affect everyone differently but at

least it will give me an idea in case my Rheumy misspoke about the humira.

Due to humira being an injectable, I'm sure she did because my insurance

doesn't cover it.

How often do you have to have the orencia done and how long does it take?

Sorry about all the questions but I just need to know so many things. A lot

of them have literally slipped my mind right now that I've found someone who

is on a med that I may be going to be put on.

I'm on methotrexate and it has been great for me, I'm also on celebrex,

Fentanyl patches, and folic acid. They tried me on vicadin and that really

messed with me. It made me sick to my stomach, dizzy, and " stoned " . I had no

pain at all which was wonderful but if I can't feel normal on a med, I don't

want it. Getting stoned is for teenagers with no guidance, not for someone

trying to get relief from pain. Sorry I'm rambling.

Anyway, thank you so much for getting back to me on this and anything you

can tell me about orencia will be so very much appreciated!!

Hugs to You,

Shay

-- [ ] Re: Question (one last time)

Hi, Shay.

I am on Orencia. For a few months we didn't think it was working but last

month my Rheumy took me off MTX and folic acid to instead put me on Arava.

The Orencia was helping but not enough to satisfy my Dr. For some reason MTX

didn't like me anymore. I've not heard much good about Arava but, for me, it

is working like a charm! It has squashed what little immune system I had and

now the Orencia is taking care of business! My hands still hurt but I don't

expect to be pain-free. I've heard good things about Humira, too. In my case

I literally flipped a coin to decide which medication to start. To do all

over again? I might start with Humira first just because the Orencia is so

stinking expensive.

I thought I'd answered your first posting about this topic so I offer you an

apology. I never went back to see if my post had gone thru. Please stay

here! I'm as guilty as the next about only reading the subject titles to see

if I want to read it so I'm going to start taking more time to read them.

Dalanne

East Central Illinois

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[Guest guest]

Hi Dalanne,

Thank you so much for everything!! I'm sure I will have more questions after

they decide which one they are going to put me on but I'm almost positive it

will be the orencia. I am glad it is working so well for you but sorry to

hear that you had the difficulty with the methotrexate and folic acid.

Again, thank you so much!! You have answered so many of my questions and

more!

I will let you know how it works for me when things finally fall together as

how much my insurance will cover on it, etc.

Hugs to You,

Shay

-- [ ]DALANNE Re: Question (one last time)

Hi, Shay!

I had no noticable day-to-day side effects. From Jan to early Mar I thought

Orencia had quit working but my rheumy took me off methotrexate/folic acid

and put me on Arava. That solved the problem. I had begun to feel like I was

on no medications at all. The MTX was interfering and he told me I'm unusual

in that MTX quit helping. But that's me- I'm quirky ;-)

I get my infusions in the mornings. The ladies who administer the IVs have

told me to take Tylenol before leaving the house. I take Tylenol and Motrin

both now because within an hour or two of the infusion I get a headache that

lasts the rest of the day. Oh, the next day I'm usually " worn out " and have

to lay down to sleep. But that is it. If I'm down for ONLY a day and a half

then I'm happy. For me the worst part of Orencia is getting the IV started

as I'm not wild about needles. It took 2 infusions (2 months) before I

noticed a difference and it got progressively better as time has gone on.

Now that we have the MTX/Arava situation rectified I have only had 2-3 bad

days but I've only been on the Arava for 3 weeks now.

I get my infusions at my rhemys office once a month, they start with a fluid

(clear, no medicine) for 20-30 mintues then they add the Orencia to the IV

and when it's all gone I get that clear fluid for another 20-30 minutes.

Usually I'm there for 1.5 hours but I take german homework, a book to read,

MP3 player, Sudoku puzzles- something to stay busy and productive. Shoot, I

ve even taken my bank statements to get my checkbook balanced.

For pain I've done my rounds. I can no longer use Ultram nor Daypro and am

taking Vicodin but only at night. I drive a 10-wheeler as a part time job

and Vicodin is the strongest medication that I can take and still pass the

urine test to be a legal CDL holder. I'm so grateful that it doesn't make me

loopy but it might- I only take it at night so I can lay still and get some

rest.

I have a cousin who takes Humira at her Rheumys office and gets along fine

with it. My rheumy toldme if the Orencia did not start working after

changing to Arava that he was going to put me on Remicade but that I could

choose Enbrel if I wanted to try it. Right now since the Orencia is working

I do not mind the infusions anymore.

It may take me awhile to answer you if you have more questions but I WILL

answer. Things are starting to dry up here and that means my part-time job

will be starting soon. Then I only get my emails checked at night and then

about every other day.

>

> Hi Dalanne,

> You are on Orencia? Oh good, someone I can compare Humira to! I am really

scared but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. Did you have any side

effects with the orencia? I know all meds affect everyone differently but at

least it will give me an idea in case my Rheumy misspoke about the humira.

> Due to humira being an injectable, I'm sure she did because my insurance

doesn't cover it.

> How often do you have to have the orencia done and how long does it take?

> Sorry about all the questions but I just need to know so many things. A

lot of them have literally slipped my mind right now that I've found someone

who is on a med that I may be going to be put on. I'm on methotrexate and it

has been great for me, I'm also on celebrex, Fentanyl patches, and folic

acid. They tried me on vicadin and that really messed with me. It made me

sick to my stomach, dizzy, and " stoned " . I had no pain at all which was

wonderful but if I can't feel normal on a med, I don't want it. Getting

stoned is for teenagers with no guidance, not for someone trying to get

relief from pain. Sorry I'm rambling.

> Anyway, thank you so much for getting back to me on this and anything you

can tell me about orencia will be so very much appreciated!!

> Hugs to You,

> Shay

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