Started Humira

Hi everyone. Just thought I'd let you know that I did the 4 shots of Humira yesterday afternoon. It wasn't too bad really, just some stinging for a few seconds and that's it. No injection site reaction.

Unfortunately I had black stools on Thursday and yesterday. Back to brown stools today after bumping my pred to 25mg. This is really upsetting as I just had a transfusion less than two weeks ago. Today I'm really tired again, pale and weak. I really do not want to have to go for another blood transfusion. I was actually feeling some energy on Wednesday too....

That's about it for now. Thanks for your support everyone.

Basically what Kasper said. I'm sorry you're still bleeding. It's so frustrating...mine didn't stop for a couple of months after starting higher doses of prednisone and the humira shots. Good luck with all of it. I hope the humira works for you.

It took at least a month for my Humira to kick in. I also had very dark stools (lots of inflamation in small intestine) and abdominal pain, but once the Humira did it's thing, it went away.

Have you tried chelated iron pills? They're supposed to be really easy on the intestines.

Good luck!

Hi Rider,

I'm sorry to hear that you are still having issues with bleeding.  When do you have a cbc done again?  Lets hope that if you require another blood transfusion it will be the last for a very long time.  Are you taking liquid folic acid while on MTX?  This helps to form red blood cells, works great along with an iron infusion, but I know you already told me once that that didn't agree with you.  I was on Humira for a couple of months before I noticed any changes, but maybe it will work faster for you, lets hope!

Keep smiling,

Julia

Hey Humira users, are any of you experiencing intense hot flashes with the Humira? I am a 48 year old woman, diagnosed with UC 21 years ago (March 1988). I have had hot flashes off and on for several years, but nothing compared to the flashes I have been experiencing for the past two months. A "flash" occurs many times throughout the day and the skin on my back literally feels as though it is burning, like with a sun burn. Over the years I have gone through just about every medicinal treatment available for UC. I began Humira in Oct of 2008. At my age it is hard to tell if these intense burns are from the Humira or menopausal.

I'm glad I am not the only one. I am 53 so have had hot flashes in the past but ususally just at night. But since starting on the Humira I had them all throughout the day. They seem to be getting less frequent now. I have only done the 4 shots and the follow up 2 shots so maybe I will get them less as it goes along.
AmyG how long have you been on Humira?

Hi everyone

I am new to all this and live in London. I was on Humira for about 6 months last year and had mixed success. Have now had it stopped and am on Modulen to see if it will sort me out

Humira seems to be very successfull for some people so I would urge you to keep going but take note of any sudden

I get so nervous with every injection (had one yesterday), even though I've been getting them since July. I had a couple bad allergic reactions on Remicade, which I'm sure is the reason it scares me. But, I know that Humira helps me. My crohn's is much better than a year ago, with the exception of fatigue. I just haven't been able to shake that.

Rider Fan, can you tolerate iron infusions? I got one (actually a series of four) a month or two after starting Humira, and my ferritin shot up to 300. First time an iron infusion ever did that (usually is just normalized my hemoglobin), so the Humira was definitely the reason it took so well.

Thanks Spooky and Amy! Yes, I will hang in there, doing my best....

I have had a couple iron infusions, called Venofer, but i don't think they agree with me. They make my blood pressure drop (its about 100/60 to begin with) and wipe me out for a day or two. I passed out after my first one, when they gave me 300ml, really freaked out the nurses. The second time I took 150ml and didn't pass out but felt pretty bad after. It's really unfortunate.....but bottom line I think is if I stop the blood loss it should come back, just maybe a bit slower without the iron.