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Humira Loading Dose = Done!

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/23/2010 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had my first 4 Humira shots today. The nurse did 2, I did one and my husband did one. Of COURSE, the one I did was the one that hurt the worst because I really do not have any "fat" so I hit muscle. (I currently weigh 80lbs and I am 5'5" if that gives you any idea) All 4 were done in my upper thighs (2 in one leg and 2 in the other) My husband was a champ and stuck me like a pro! :) Two (the ones in my right leg) really hurt - not from the med, but as I said from not having enough fatty tissue. The two in my left leg only stung because of the medicine. The nurse said that once I gain a bit of weight it should hurt less. Is that the same in you guys' experience?

So far, no injection site reactions or other side effects. Would they show up immediately or wait a few days?

I also started on a very low dose of prednisone (20mg a day) to help me hold on until the Humira starts working. After one dose, I already felt the difference - both good and bad. The bad: I am already feeling the "RAWR!! I am GONNA BITE YOUR HEAD OFF!" feelings that I usually get from pred. The good: I was also hungry and able to eat for the first time in 4 days so I will take the good with the bad.

I will likely be posting my experiences so that others who are brand new to Humira can follow along and have some idea of what to expect or compare notes.
Posted 11/24/2010 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Would love for you to keep posting your experiences... Humira is what the doctor is recommending I start on after I'm more healed up from this episode... My first one, spent 8 days in the hospital and have been home on tpn for 2 and a half weeks now.. Just got to start soft & fiber restricted foods yesterday.

Looking forward to your future posts.
Posted 11/24/2010 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats on getting those loading doses done. I just started Humira Oct 18 and it is working great for me so far. And please, keep posting! I really like to see others experiences with it as I am so new to it also. I have lots of fat to inject into so I don't have the problem you did, and all shots thus far have gone into my tummy. Funny how people with CD can struggle with weight either to gain or to lose it post-predisone. We are all so different yet so alike at the same time.

Best of luck :)

B
Posted 11/24/2010 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
I am glad to see that we have a "class" of newbies that will be able to share experience. While having the advice of people who have been through it is always a great thing, it's also very nice to have a group of people who are learning first hand along with you.
Posted 11/24/2010 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
How bad is the pain when you don't hit just fat? I didn't really have any fat before crohn's (5' 5" @ 115lbs, could see the outline of my ribs) and i've lost more weight from it the last few weeks, although it looks like I have a little fat in the stomach area(I've read this is pretty normally with the solumedrol) which I didn't used to have, which is kind of odd to me because i've dropped in pounds. I've read that muscle loss with solumedrol is common though too, so i kind of assume its from that.

I used to really really hate needle pokes, but I kind of got used to it after being in the hospital, feels like they are poking you all day long... I've been hoping because of that I wouldn't mind the Humira needles much, but I don't know. How do they compare to insulin shots? I had to get those a couple times a day normally while I was on TPN at the hospital. Once I was at home the pharmacy was able to adjust the tpn to have more fat and less sugar so I wouldn't need it. Not sure why the hospital didn't do that.
Posted 11/24/2010 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am the WORST when it comes to needles - completely terrified. If I can do it, you can do - trust me on that one. Hitting muscle hurts. It's not as bad as say, having an IV inserted, but you'd much rather have some fat there to bear the brunt.

It's officially day two now. The injection sites are barely visible and only one is locatable by feeling around for sore spots. I woke up this morning hungry but I attribute that to the pred. Of course, I was up most of the night b/c of the pred as well. Thank goodness I took vacation time this week so I can work through all of the sleep issues.

All in all, so far so good. For a little while there in the past two weeks, it was touch and go but I feel like now that I have a course of action and the evil pred doing it's thing (can't you tell I just love the stuff grrrr) I might actually pull through this one.
Posted 12/4/2010 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats,

I have been on Humira for over 2 years now. It has worked great on my small bowel Crohn's and illium Crohn's. The loading is the worse part. I won't go near my stomach with them again.

I always rotate legs and try to get in the most relaxing position as possible as I do not have any fat on my legs either.

**A note is when you take the pen out of the refrig. let it warm up a bit. A good 15-20 mins before you inject. i found that it does not hurt as much when it is room temp and you are relaxed.
Posted 12/5/2010 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
My husband started Humira recently. He has taken the first 2 doses with the third due 12-06-10.  He has not noticed any difference one way or other. We are not sure what to expect.  Except he does seem to have a little more energy - do not know if this should be attributed to the Humira or not.  Bathroom habits are about the same as before. Still taking Entocort. Information from his GI has been sketchy at best - I think he is only the 2nd or 3rd person on this med in his office right now but I could be wrong. Just an impression.  We have read up on all the possible side effects, watched the video sent by the pharm company but are still in the dark somewhat.  What can anyone tell me?  I realize that each person is different. He did the Remacaide thing a few years ago.  The first go round was great - no problems for a couple of years but then started having twinges again - a few flares - some pretty bad. So he did a second round and had a bad allergic reaction - ended up in the hospital.  Doc said no more Remacaide.  It is funny - they put him on Entocort which I learned about from THIS site - brought it up to the doctor and he prescribed it. I realize we have to be our own advocate but it is surprising that patients have to learn about new meds to try from other people.  Thank God for the internet!  Anyway, he has done pretty good on Entocort but has been on it for quite a while.  Recently discovered he has a stricture (I think that is the correct word) - a narrowing in the instestine - the opening is about the size of a pencil.  Evidently has a few of these spaced throughout his guts. He recently quit dipping (smokeless tobacco) and gained 7 pounds.  Yeehaw! Maybe 2011 will be a stellar year for him and everyone else.  Let's hope so...
Posted 12/5/2010 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed that the Humira seemed to help more than the Pentasa when I first started back in April, but after about 7 or 8 weeks my doctor added prednisone to the mix, and that seemed to really do the trick.

I was nervous about the injections, but it really helped me not ever having to see the needle!! I did them in my thighs and always iced it for a few minutues afterwards and found that very helpful.

I'm horrible about doing it, but I think a symptom diary can be a great way to know how well the medication is working, and also to keep track of any side effects. If I'd been keeping track from the beginning I'd have realized the joint pain and fatigue I felt were always worse after my shots, so it took a few months to make all those connections. I'm trying to remember to write things down since my 1st Remicade infusion this week!!

Sarah
Posted 12/5/2010 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
that is good advice about the journal - had not thought about that. I will suggest it. Thank you.
Posted 12/6/2010 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Tomorrow is time for dose #2. I am a bit nervous since this is the first time I will be doing it all on my own.

As far as the medicine goes, I generally feel a LOT better than I had been - BUT, I also think that the prednisone is helping with that more so than the humira. My energy level is back where it normally should be (which is very high - I am naturally a hyper person) and I have been eating like a cow (gained 13lbs in two weeks! Hooray for 93lbs!) Again, it could be the pred and not the humira. I have started tapering the pred (initially I was supposed to take 20mg, but I was so fearful that I only did 10 - now down to 7.5 and will drop to 5 on Wednesday) I am thinking that I will know if the humira is doing the trick by this time next week since the pred really is a very low dose as it is.

So far, so good!


I like the idea of a symptom diary too - I may wind up posting it here.
Posted 12/10/2010 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, we share similar experiences!

I started Humira two months ago because Remicade had stopped working as well. I'm 5'9 and got done to 90 Ibs, when I did the first four shots two were in my stomach and they hurt the worst because I had no fat, and I gained 13 Ibs in two weeks too! yay us! (i'm also on prednisone) The first couple injections after that hurt a bit but it not longer hurts!

Good luck with your journey and I hope to hear more!
Posted 12/10/2010 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I love my Humira! I hope it works well for you!
Posted 12/10/2010 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
So...

I chickened out. I couldn't do the shots and had to have my husband do it for me. Then I sat and cried b/c I was ashamed of myself for being a wuss. Maybe one day I will be able to do it, but that one day wasn't Tuesday. lol

I have a question though. Has anyone had a side effect of being sore. It's a weird kind of sore in my arms and legs. it doesn't really hurt so much as a weird feeling. It's like that feeling you get when your hand goes to sleep - after the pins and needles goes away but before it's actually "awake." Sort of a dull odd feeling that isn't really pain but isn't really "right" either.

Just curious.
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