Thanks to Joanna H re help with Enbrel injections and some questions please

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Had to say thank (a big one!) to Joanna. I was approved for Enbrel......bought

it....watched the injecting video on the Enbrel site.......was still very

nervous, so the night before I was being shown how to inject, I searched for the

comments in the archives on enbrel that I had read a long time ago.

Well Joanna wrote so nicely about how it didn't hurt much so I felt much better

about trying.

Anyway, a nurse came by to demonstrate, I hadnt imagined doing it myself the

first visit, but I practised on a fake tummy thing, then I was ready! Well not

really, I had to say " wait a minute " as I was poised the first time. Then I took

a deep breath and managed, I was surprised that it hardly hurt to inject the

needle, I felt like jumping up and down yelling " I did it and it isnt bad at

all " there was slight stinging right near the end of the injection. The nurse

did have to remind me to breathe while injection, LOL I must have held my

breath!

Now we did it without icing, but I may try that next time. Can I ask, do people

just put some ice cubes in a plastic bag tie it up and rub it around?

My side effects: the nurse said I might get a headache, and I did! About 5 hours

later, but it didnt last that long after taking paracetamol (I dont usually get

headaches so I think it must be related to the shot). Anyone experience

headaches? do they stop as you get used to it?

Then during dinner about 7 hours later I suddenly became so so hot that I

couldnt continue eating. That passed in about 5 minutes but felt yucky at the

time.

Injection site: no itching thank goodness, and you cant see the spot a day

later, but it became quite sore about 4-5 hours later.

Use of ice: I understand that if you numb the spot with ice before the shot,

that it won't hurt going in. But is the theory that you ice after to stop

immediate pain, it wouldnt stop the pain I got 5 hours later would it?

Oh, I injected in the tummy, the nurse said for tummies (I'm not big) a 45

degree angle is best, she said for legs you go in at 90 degrees, but I am

sticking with tummies for now as people have said here.

Thanks for listening, this is a BIG step for me!

PS My SIJ joint and hip have been very painful recently, and turning over in bed

has been very painful, like trying to move a truck attached to my torso! Wasn't

so bad last night... imagination?? or could the enbrel be starting to have an

effect already? Today at work I didn't feel that overwhelming fatigue that has

been constant.

Anyway thanks again to Joanna, your comments were so reassuring, I'm so glad I

could refer to them again when I needed them!!!!!

kind regards

max