Re: what to do, not using my humira...

[Guest guest]

Hey Dave, what type of diet are you on? I have started a new diet and a swimming

regime. Thanks

C

[Guest guest]

Re: shelf life of Humira. If you have a pharmacist who knows you and you can

trust, I'd ask him about the shelf life. Also, call the Humira help line and

see what you can get them to tell you. You don't need to explain why you have

it on hand - could tell them you got an infection and had to stop taking it for

a while. I'm suggesting this only because the instructions for Enbrel say that

it MUST be kept refrigerated until use and I ended up in a situation where a

month's supply had inadvertently been left out all night; so I called and ended

up talking to one of their nurses who - after much discussion - said that their

studies had shown that Enbrel could be left out at room temperature as long as 4

days with no problem.

I think a lot of the instructions we get are a little overly cautious - which

does not mean that I think they're not meant for our own good (as well as

protecting the manufacturer!) but I think what we get is on the conservative end

of things. Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to try.

Humira does have a good program for people who need financial assistance so

don't assume you won't be able to get it again.

Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

I can't say what is helping me. Maybe just a cycle, maybe a combination of

factors. I still do MTX but not as much or as often. Cold weather or a change in

the weather, or neglect of myself, and I get up to full dosage of MTX, and I'll

do a shot of Humira. I do the occasional shot of Kenalog too. So I am not

without meds.

Please I am no Doctor so don't do anything without consulting your Doctor FIRST.

I have been very fortunate to have a great one in the Bay Area.

We all have our own triggers. FWIW I am eating no (or few I should say)

processed foods, and as much organic and free range as possible. I do hot tubs

regularly, helps a lot, even if just to relax, but I believe it helps quite a

bit. I rent one once a week for an hour. I do stretch exercises daily. I ensure

I sleep well, which for me has meant going on Xanex. I also do SOMA's which are

muscle relaxants. I lost my job and it has been a blessing. Not sitting in a

cubicle has helped me get active. At one time my Doc said my legs had atrophied,

now I can walk or bike several miles a day and do some dancing too. I avoid

stressful situations, which are triggers for me. I believe my last job was a

huge one.

My Doc said visualization helps some, I thought yeah right. I used to think with

determination that I WOULD BEAT THIS ARTHRITIS!!

Once I changed that to visualizing myself perfectly healthy (removing the

negative " A " word and thought from my mind.......a miracle happened for me. I

got better, a lot better....and fairly fast too. I would say I went from sausage

leg to normal leg on Humira in a month or so. But my thinking (or whatever I

don't care) made me improve to hiking hills in about 6 weeks. I have had some

flare ups but they have been minor and easily contained. I know I will always

have it...but I am managing it.....and I plan on stopping the Humira, haven't

done it in over a month now, and have been really phasing out of it over the

last year, sometimes going up to 10 weeks without it.

My Doc says I am healing myself and I laughed and said it was to her credit. She

said that I was doing it with my mind. Well I don't know really but she says I

am an inspiration to her for others.

She says that these boards are very useful but the people who are experiencing

relief don't tell anyone as they are too busy living their lives. I don't come

here often at all, once or twice a year maybe. But at least I hope that my post

gives those of you suffering hope. It is possible to get on with life with PA.

So do your meds, exercise, know your triggers, and think positive. I wish

everyone here well!

" davewags2002 " <davewags2002@...>

[Guest guest]

Joanna -

VERY interesting about Enbrel surviving 4 days without refrigeration. I recently

had to travel with mine..and instead of sending me the insulated travel

pack...they sent me another sharps container. When I called the support #, she

told me to pack it wrapped in a towel on an ice pack in a cooler..buy a low

registering thermometer, and stop every 15 min to be sure it was staying the

correct temp!! COMPLETELY impractical.  (our trip was only 4 hours...so I just

packed it as directed and hoped for the best...opted NOT to invest in a

thermometer...and opted not to stop every 15 min)  Glad to know it is probably

fine! Thanks for the info!  Becca

[Guest guest]

Do not under any circumstances take any medication that is expired, some can

kill you. I work in a pharmacy and some of the meds are very dangerous. Your

best bet is to return the expired meds to your doctor, I don't know if your

pharmacy will take it back, call them and see. You could also try the drug

manufacturer and see if you can send them the expired meds. Also, a lot of drug

manufacturers offer help paying for medication for people who have trouble and I

think Humira is one of those drugs.

lori sandolo <antlo2003@...>

[Guest guest]

If you would have stopped every 15 mins, my guess is that opening up the cooler

and unwrapping a bit would have made it warm up, thus increasing the chance of

it going bad.

Kinga