A question for Curley

Judy Hi,

Glade to hear from you and I will answer you questions as best as I can.

(1)Judy I will start with the Humira,I have been on humira for just a little over a year and I want lie to you it does hurt some what it's like a burning pain.I take it every other week.

(2)I do belive that if I had not been put on Humira I would still be in a wheel chair.Yes that is how bad off I was.I was in that wheel-chair for a year before we decided to try Humira I was desperate.

I'am on 40mg and you have to keep it refridgarated like you do insuline.I all way's take mine out about 30 minutes before giving my self a shot,they say not to inject it while it is cold.

Judy it took about two months before I noticed any change but the wait was well worth it.But I do want to stress that not all meds work the same for every body.But I do think that it's worth a shot.

I'am on Methotrexate have been so for all most two years,my Dad takes it all so.I take 100units once a week.I use a insuline needle because they are thin and they don't hurt you.Infact to tell you the truth I don't even feel it half the time.

I do want to stress to you that if you have choice do the shots because the pill form can be brutle.My Dad was on pill form and for the first couple of day's it would make him very ill.He is now doing the shot form and neither one of us have that problem any moore.

I do have a few question's thoe.Have you ever given your self a shot?If not don't worry they will teach you how to do so.I gave my self my first shot in the Doctors office.

The reason that I have stayed on Methotrexate is because 1.it not only helps with the oa,ra,it also helps with people that have crohns also.

Thank you curley. That was so sweet of you to give me a response so quickly. I appreciate your honesty.

I give myself insulin injections two or three times a day. There have been a couple of times when I had to up my insulin injections up to 5 or 7 per day.

Do you have diabetes?

The one thing I hate when I require an increased amount of insulin is the site rotation. I normally inject left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg and so on.'
However I am also suppose to include the abdomen as a part of the regular rotation of sites. I avoid abdominal injections as often as possible. I find they really hurt. However, if my blood sugar is high it is imperative that I use the abdomen as an injection site. Abdominal injections of insulin are absorbed into the body the quickest.

Lately, perhaps the last three weeks my psoriatric arthritis and osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia have really acted up. I can not get out of bed or off a chair without help. I have almost constant pain, and stiffness.

I am sorry to hear that you were wheelchair bound. But glad to hear that the Humira has made such a difference in your life. Are you able to work?
Do you have any children? What conditions do you have? Do you also have fibromyalgia?

Thank you for all of your support and answering my questions. It is so nice to be able to hear about this new proceedure from a real person.
May god bless you,
Judy/effie

Dear Curley,
Thank you for answering all of my questions. I really do appreciate you sharing your experiences.

I live in a city about twenty five miles from Tononto, Ontario, Canada.

I am sorry you had to have a hysterectomy and sorry for the loss of your unborn child. I am sure that was and is still difficult. Did you have to go on replacement hormones?

Thank goodness you finally got approved for disability. That is terrible that it took that long. I hope it was retroactive.

You wrote about salovya (glade): i think the second word was a typo and you meant gland. What is this condition?
Does it cause you to have difficulty swallowing your own saliva? I have that some days and have no idea what it is.

Well take care, and I am very sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well.
May God Bless you,
Judy/effie

Curley!
hey there....do you have Sjogren's ? all the mucus membranes are constantly dry. it's a part of arthritic diseases sometimes. just curious!
take good care!
erin

Dear Curley,
Thank you so much for your help. I will never forget your kindness.
I am sure it is hard for people to understand how scared I am. Part of me wants to try the Humira, and another part is telling me to go for a double knee replacement. Just very confused.
You asked how I was so I will tell you. I do not like to talk about it. However, in the last two weeks or so my pain level has really gotten high. I started a new sleeping aid, Trazodone, and a week later or so I started to try a new anti depressant, Zoloft. I find that all I want to do is sleep. I will sleep for over 30 hours at a time.

My son was fixing my computer, which was acting up. Somehow he managed to read an email I had written about him. He was totally devasted that I would share our private info world wide. I understand his disappointment in me. I may have to ask Peter to delete all of my posts.

I just feel very tired and am very worried about a lot of things. It is better, for me, if I do not think about my own problems, but concentrate on others, and trying to help them.

I have found some very special friends at HW. I thank God for my new friends. It gives me a reason to wake up, to read what is happening with my new friends and how everyone is doing. Thank you for being there for me, I hope one day I can help you too.

I really hope I get my act together next week, get the tb test done, get the forms I need to get filled out for my insurance filled out, and get my blood work and x-rays done. It would also help if I could get the dishes and laundry done insteaad of just sleeping all the time.

Things that used to be so easy for me are such a struggle now.

Thank you for asking about how I was doing.
You, and many others on this site have helped me so much. I thank all of you and wish you all health, happiness and laughter.
Judy/effie

Post Edited (effie) : 7/17/2005 2:14:08 AM (GMT-6)

effie,
hang in there my friend!
one day at a time and if need be....one hour at a time! we are all here for you!
curley,
how are your sinuses? a-hah...i am a good detective with diagnoses of Sjogren's! see, all of that studying in nursing school has payed off! its such an uncomfortable condition i am sure. take good care.
erin

 judy,

i feel so much for you right now, you worry me as the pain and sleep and fatigue are concerning. i know how it is....am here for you. going through some tough pain with you too! just keep an eye on how things progress.

and don't forget, it is perfectly normal to feel the way you do about Humira, with all the doubt and questionings. and let me add, the knee replacement is not a bad idea!    people are going STRAIGHT FOR IT nowadays with great success! but since you have the humira, it will be worth your while perhaps....so don't worry, you will do fine.

 stay strong effie!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{take good care}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

erin