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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/15/2011 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
I signed up for this site and didn't realize it, or forgot I had signed up. So I'm not sure if I've already done an initial post before. I found the site again while looking up injection site reactions to Cimzia and tried to sign up only to find out I already had an account! So anyway, I am trying to get my 5 year old Goddaughter ready for school and do everything I need to do as well so this will be short.
I am 31, diagnosed with Crohn's at 22. My crohn's is really aggressive and has not been under control with any of the medicines I've been on except Humira. But my insurance changed Jan 2011 and I could no longer afford the Humira so I had yet another flare up that started May and is still active today. Yesterday was my first injection of Cimzia (the 2 shot injection). It was totally different than Humira, thicker maybe? Left a hard lump that is still there today and a perfect white splotch on both my thighs (I can't for the life of me inject my abdomen). Wasn't sure if any of that was normal but after reading some threads here I think it may be. I hope so because I've been on Prednisone for MONTHS and the weight gain and "moon face" is AWFUL! I feel so yuck, insomnia is terrible, my mood swings are even annoying to me let alone my family and friends.
Okay well I hope to say more later but I really must run. I guess I'm finally needing the support and trying to realize I can't fight this disease alone. My doctor says I'm his most stubborn patient.

Dom smilewinkgrin
Posted 7/15/2011 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome DC, sorry to hear that you have been struggling with a flare and pred side effects, but glad you are here. If the Humira helped then maybe the Cimzia will help as well--hope so! Sometimes being a stubborn patient is a good thing, I think it can be better than just going along with every thing they tell us.
Posted 7/15/2011 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well.

I agree ... theres nothing wrong with being stubborn!! Sometimes it's the only way to get things done!!
Posted 7/16/2011 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the replies. Yesterday was an interesting day. I called Cimzia about the reaction I was having to my injections and their reaction was slightly frightening. They filed a report with the adverse reaction team, called my doctors office, and had a nurse contact me. So my doctor (who was in procedures all day) set up an emergency appointment to see the injection sites for myself. So I went, which stunk because I had to leave work early, drop my Goddaughter off for a visit with her parents (I have guardianship of my 5 year old Goddaughter), and then rush over to his office. Then he was an hour late! But my doctor is pretty nice, he made sure that no one would charge my insurance or me for that visit, and told me in front of them if it ever shows up that I was charged to call him and he'll fix it. =)

Anyway, he thinks that the medicine is just sitting under the skin and is taking a while to absorb for some reason. The only thing that was weird to him is that one site was warm to the touch and one cold. The warm one was more swollen. They look better today but he'd rather have a nurse present for my next injections just to be safe. But because I "feel" fine and am not having any crazy reactions other than that he isn't too worried. Which neither was I until the drug company made such a huge deal of things.

Has anyone read the Crohn's Advocate newsletter? I read it recently (received a copy with my Cimzia starter kit) and I felt like everything in there described my life! Pretty good newsletter, I wish it was monthly and not quarterly.
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