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Questions about Humira side effects

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/2/2013 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

It's been a while since I have been here and my disease is holding its own. Not too bad but not so great. I moved to Texas about a year ago and the doctors here are much more progressive than the ones in Florida (at least the ones I saw.)

I have just started Humira and I am experiencing some weird things and I am wondering if they are side effects of the drug or just a random happenstance. So here are the details...

2 weeks ago...Did the loading dose of 4 shots...burned like the acid fires of hell, but the nurse was doing it so there was no chance of me messing it up. I can deal with the burn if someone else is doing the shot. If I have to do it myself, I instinctively pull away and mess it up. Afterwards, got very tired and had a weird green headache. I say it was green because things looked greenish to me. Like I could see a green aura around things. I read that the headache and fatigue were common side effects so I suffered through.

Last Friday.... Did the next dose (2 pens)...again fires of hell...Learned that I can't stick myself. But early evening I had horrible stomach cramps and gas. It lasted for 3 days and I still get twinges. Cramps like, I couldn't stand up straight it hurt so much. I read that this was also a common side effect, but seriously that bad? I'm not one to give into the pain, in fact I have a very high tolerance for pain. I have gone to the doctor 2 times for pain. The first time was a kidney stone the size of a pea and the second was a potential blockage/stricture mixed with the flu. So when I say something hurts...you know I am serious.

Has anyone else dealt with these issues? Any suggestions on ways to deal? I plan to give the Humira time to work but if I get debilitating cramps every other weekend, it defeats the purpose.

Thanks,

Kelly
Posted 7/2/2013 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on humira for a couple years and I have had some weird side effects as well.

The burning or pain of the shot has never lessoned for me.  But I tolerate it because I do feel better.

I don't get stomach cramps, but get horrible gas for a day or two.  Nothing seems to help, but I just deal with it (and so does my hubbie lol).

I hope someone else can tell you if they have cramps or not.

Humira has been a life saver for me so far.

Posted 7/2/2013 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thank Karineb. I have been very lucky that my disease has only been mild to moderate for the last few years. Now I just seem to have issues with disease side effects rather than active disease. The Humira is just meant to keep me on the mild side as opposed to getting me out of a flare. I was on Imuran for like 12 years but it finally started affecting my liver and I had to get off of it.
Posted 7/3/2013 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Where are you putting the shots in at? I had the nurse do it in my thigh on the first shot, that burned bad! Then I did the next three in my stomach, barely felt it at all! I did the next two shots at home in my stomach, no problem at all. Getting ready to do my next shot tonight.

I usually do feel a bit tired for a few days. No other side effects for me. But I have heard headaches for a day or so is common too. But it started helping me really fast, so it's been very much worth it for me.
Posted 7/3/2013 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kelly, before you give yourself the Humira make sure you
take it out of the fridge at least 1/2 hour before you inject the
med. It should not sting at much.
Posted 7/3/2013 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on the Humira for nearly 2-3 months and also experienced the burning/stinging, but tried taking it out the fridge an hour before injecting myself and it was much better, not totally better but i didn't want to pull it out immediately.
Is it just me that gets the constant headaches, and tiredness, I don't feel as bad any more but am always tired, which is really annoying.
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