Mouth Sores and Enbrel

 Ok... I don't know if I should be worried or not.  I have read that mouth sores can be a side effect of Enbrel.  Does anyone know how many and when I should be alarmed?  I have noticed 2 small sores on the inside of my mouth and I don't know if they are from the Enbrel or something else.  I get these sometimes for what I used to think was no reason.  But now that I'm on the Enbrel, I feel like everything that happens to me is because of this medicine.  I know I'm paranoid, I can't help it.    Any advice would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks! - Ducky

I just went to the dentist about a month a go, right before I started taking the Enbrel, and everything seemed ok.  My sores are smaller now, actually just barely there, so I'm guessing it's not the Enbrel that did it.  I did see on some of the literature that mouth sores can be a side effect, but it is less common.  Seems as though I am always getting the stuff that is less common, so I figured why should the side effects be different?!  Thanks for thinking I'm not paranoid...I feel like I am, everytime something happens or I feel a pain somewhere in my body, I start to think, "Ok, is this a side effect or is that normal?... Should I call the doctor... should I wait..."  I know the people at Enliven have got to be thinking, "Would this woman QUIT CALLING US!!!"    Thanks for listening and letting me vent.  I guess I'll just have to see how this all plays out.  I've got an appt with my rheumy on the 26th for a follow up and see how well I'm tolerating the Enbrel, should be interesting!  I haven't had any problems with my gums yet, and so far my Mentadent is holding up just fine for me... I have noticed that I am starting to get some injection site reactions, but it has been very mild and it doesn't itch, just is a little red at the site.  Have you had any other side effects with the Enbrel?  Thanks! - Ducky

Yesterday was my 4th injection and so far everything seemed to be going ok, until I noticed a nice bruise at my injection site.  Of course I called the Enliven nurses (AGAIN) And they said it's normal.  It just worried me 'cause I hadn't had any bruises at the injections site, the last 3 times.  So far I haven't lost any weight (which it really wouldn't hurt my feelings if I did drop about 30 pounds   ).  And I have noticed some pretty significant headaches.  But I could also chock those up to allergies.  So, I guess I'll just wait everything out and see what happens on the 26th.  Do you think that the rheumy will switch meds or possibly up your dosage?  I have heard of someone taking the 50mg shots 2x a week.  I wonder if that would work for you?  I wish you the best of luck with your appt and finding out why you have dropped so much weight.  Keep me posted on what happens!  - Ducky

Oreo - Nope, haven't tried the stomach yet... am a little leary of that... I'm a chicken! :) It's everything I can do to give myself the injections in my thighs. I think I will start injecting in my stomach next week and see if that helps. Maybe my thighs need a break... who knows... My mouth sores have now gone away, so I don't think it was the Enbrel... I had taken my kids to the movies and did manage to eat a rather significant amount of candy.. I think that may have been what triggered the sores. Thank you for all your kind words and help... I don't know what I'd do had I not found this site! Best wishes always - Ducky

I'll do that next weekand will let you know how it goes... If you hear a loud scream around 1130 EDT on Tuesday, you know it didn't go well... LOL... Thanks for all your help! - Ducky

I say we all tell people come the summer time that we all are part of a professional kick boxing club and therefor would explain the bruises! hi ducky. i'm glad the sores got better.  i bruised a lot in the thighs as well.  it's easier to reach them and inject in that area, yet it does tend to bruise more due to more muscle and small blood vessels.  the best place i found that works for me and leaves no bruises is in the area of the fleshy part of my upper hips (love handles?)  i don't have many good injection sites but that one is good and i found it rarely to leave any marks there. i'm freaked out about giving it in my abdomen too. i just don't like the idea of it.  do you have anyone to help you at home? sometimes its easier to take a shot from someone else? i congratulate you though for doing well with the injections. it's so much easier to give one to someone else, and really awkward to do it to yourself!  i don't know what the rheumy will do on my appt.  i'm supposed to see a GI dr. today at 4 but i think i'm going to cancel. it doesn't make sense to me for them to send me there. i have no problems eating or bowel problems and i don't get any stomach pain either. for them to refer me to a GI just for weight loss?  the thought of seeing and starting again with more doctors is not very attractive to me right now. Do you think they might be wanting to rule out crohn's or collitis?  i know a lot of people develop GI auto immune prblems with RA . thinking i will call them to find out their motives for sending me there first.  it is a beautiful day today! i hope it's the same for you where you live. think it's going to reach 70. have a nice day! talk to you soon.  erin

the love handle area is not an actual approved sight for enbrel as they tell us in the literature... but a sub Q injection can be done there. i've pretty much exhausted the skin on my thighs so the uppermost part near my hips has to be the spot for a while. i called and cancelled my appt with the GI tonite. going to try to eat a little more and see if anything sticks. i don't think it's an emergency so i'm going to wait another 3 weeks and see what happens. i've got the ensure drinks so maybe that will help. come to think of it...my appetitite is kinda poor and i should eat a little more. the GI doc would probably think i'm nuts anyways. you lucky duck 77degrees! enjoy the good weather! good to hear from you!!!! erin

active? i'm a slug! LOL . i'm not active at all. i'm mostly bedrest 3 to 4 days a week. and then the rest of the week i take a class and then try to work a few hours the other 2 days. i know something is very wrong with the weight loss but i really believe it doesn't involve the GI. i think i'm going to see my regular md and ask for a referral for a hemotologist. i feel that's a better step than a GI. it came about quite suddenly and a lot of my bloodwork is off. the only real exercise i do is maintain my flexibility...if i do too much demanding aerobic stuff i lose breath and feel faint. thank you for your concern ducky! i'm sure i'll gat some answers soon. let's hope for very nice weather to finish the week off!!!!! oh yes...i've been brushing up on my kickboxing skills! LOL erin

thanx oreo for the king concern and advise. my plan of attack is to really work hard on trying to eat a liitle more each day to see if the weight sticks and see what that brings me before the months end. i ahve been eating a lot more than usual lately and have been able to gain 3 pounds. currently at 100 and has been maintained for 4 days now. i think fatigue and perhaps a little depression and a whole lot of pain has a lot to contribute to it. but these are only my opinions...i'm sure you now that not feeling well screws with the appetite and plus it's very exhausting to eat too. i'm seeing my doc on the 26th and i guess take it from there. if still dropping this time around i will seek further specialists....hope the first approach works(who needs to add another appointment to the list anyways!) off to eat some meatloaf and potatos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! take care, erin

 Ducky, we didn't hear any screams come from that part tof the states!!!!!!!! so did the stomach shot go ok? weird right?  i hope it wasn't too bad and hopefully it will turn out to be a good spot.  lots of good luck!   i've been eating like an absolute maniac for a week and was up to 100 lbs for a few days, and now it all dropped again . i tried my best so i feel like i should give the GI doc a call . also i did not know that having RA can increases or cause the chances of getting colitis....and from what i know of it, colitis can cause weight loss.  have to say though , i had a fun time chowing down and not worrying about clothes or swimsuits or anything. but it is fustrating now that i don't know what's going on and that i've done all i can on my part. on the positive side... as i told you in the past, i'm trying to finish up school and it's almost done now(4 more weeks!!) i also contacted the National Arthritis Foundation and volunteered to help out over the summer with some congressional forums (with the help from my college's honors society). so i will keep all of us in mind and let you know what they're up to on the research and funding side of arthritis. it should be quite interesting and will probable a good reference too for when i finish my degree. but most importantly i want to get involved because this medication pulling and fda stuff and insurance problems are getting out of hand!  hope you are having good weather ducky!  the very best to you and the ab shots too! talk to you soon,  erin

  Well, yeah, injecting in my stomach was weird... but it didn't hurt...Ok, the needle going in didn't hurt, but as always, the medicine going in did... So far it doesn't look like I'll get a bruise from it.  We'll see what it looks like tomorrow.  Maybe you should give a GI doc a call and just see what his take is on things, can't hurt right?  I know, it's hard going to dr. after dr., but you need to find out what is causing your weight loss.  I too hate having to go to 10 different dr's but it needs to be done.  That would be wonderful to be able to eat anything you want and not have to worry about weight gain... someday  I can dream!  Weather here is ok, was really nice yesterday, today it is a little cloudy and we are supposed to get some storms, but it's still in the 70's... Hope the weather is nice for you!  Best wishes always, and let us know what happens! - Ducky

thank you ducky and oreo for the kind words, advise and encouragement. it was very helpful and gave me some clarity . i'm going to pick up my referral tomorrow for the GI and start faxing my records over. you're right, it needs to be done and i'm not going to fuss over it any longer.... might as well do it now and get it over with so it's one less thing that needs to be done later. AARGH!! it was so nice sunday 75 degrees and now it's going down to 38 tonite!! what a tease!!!! Is anyone psyched for the Kentucky Derby coming up in a few weeks? i know there are a few riders and folks interested in horses that post here. For those already handicapping the race I wish you lucky insight! and for those who bet.... may it be a terrific win!!!!

  WEEEEEEEE HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no more fuzzy tongue! friday was prescribed Nystatin for thrush. over the weekend cleared up right away!  doc said prednisone, oral inhalers, and DMARDS can cause it.  good to know.....and this stuff worked great.

enjoying the day with hair in ALL THE RIGHT PLACES   (lol) erin