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Post-infusion (Remicade) complications?

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Posted 4/16/2017 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
I had an infusion on Friday (10 mg/kg q 6 wks). It really, really wiped me out more than it typically does. We had a hard time getting a good IV - 90 minutes with an ultrasound machine and an infiltrated vein before we finally got something. It was in my right upper arm. Before the nurse stuck me, she said, "Since it's above the elbow, I need to check, do you have any kidney problems?" I don't, but I should have asked her why.

Today (Sunday), my right hand (specifically my fingers) are killing me. I can't bend them to make a fist or even grasp anything to pick it up. I also can't straighten them all the way. They're not swollen, but they feel like I have a jammed finger or something. It doesn't hurt too bad to type, just to clench, apply pressure, or straighten. It's right in the middle knuckles, especially my middle finger's middle knuckle.

And my right kidney has been really aching all day yesterday and today. I really, really don't want to have to call my doctor. I'm moving to another state in six weeks, I do NOT have time for this. But I'll do my next infusion in 5 weeks, they're letting me do it a week early before the move so we're not scrambling to get one down there (I can't find a GI who will order it without an appointment first, even if they've already seen my records). So I don't want this to be serum sickness or something and then get REALLY sick a few days before my husband abandons me to drive the truck down and I'm driving the kids down by myself. ;) Anyone have any thoughts?
Posted 4/17/2017 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry that you had to go through this esp that you will be moving with all the stress whether physical or psychological that accompanies it. I had before one of the infusions done in my upper arm above the elbow and I remember very well that on that day that whenever they inserted a cannula and the infusion would start, a couple of minutes later the vein would rupture for an unknown reason and they would remove the cannula and put a new one in a new place. This happened 5 times and then eventually, they put it in my upper arm and it was the fastest infusion ever. It took less than 90 minutes, my infusions usually last form 2 - 2 1/2 hrs.

However, I don't remember that it caused me any problems then. Can't you just call your doctor to check what's going on? It 's quite weird that injecting remicade in the upper arm would cause kidney problems.

Hope you get better soon :/
Posted 10/26/2017 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Did you ever find out any information on this? I have been googling to see what I can find, which is how I found this lol.

I always get my infusion at the bend of my elbow because it’s the easiest vein for them to find, but I’ve been dealing with kidney pain on and off for almost a year probably. My doctor ordered an ultra sound and culture and I guess didn’t find anything because I never heard from them. I was 2 weeks late on my last infusion, and am due again November 8th and after a month and a half with no pain it’s back, and I’m wondering if it could possibly be the remicade. I’m thinking it probably isn’t due to the lack of information, but thought maybe you heard something?
Posted 10/26/2017 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
It turned out I had a mild kidney infection and a possible Remicade reaction. I had called my GI's office about this and they told me to take prednisone and Benadryl. After a day it was still worse, so they had me go to the ER. My resting heart rate was 150+, even after 2 mg dilaudid, 12.5 phenergan, and 50 Benadryl (all IV). I was admitted for several days; even after that, any time I got up my HR would shoot up to 140+. Now when I get my infusions, I get IV solumedrol (a steroid) and IV benadryl, and I haven't had it recur.
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