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Humira - first dose

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/20/2023 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have a GI appointment in early December to discuss starting Humira treatment. I had small bowel resection surgery in March and I would like to use Humira to prevent postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. I have a few questions:

* Can Humira be started in the doctor's office in the same day when I meet my GI in December? Or do I have to schedule it at a later date? I heard that the first dose is the loading does and that a nurse or a doctor will show me how to do it.

* Are they going to mail me Humira for future injections or do I get it at a local pharmacy?

* Do you have your bloodwork monitored following the Humira injection? When do the side effects typically show up after the medicine is injected into the body?

Thanks
Posted 11/20/2023 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul, if your dr agrees to starting you on Humira he will have to get approval from your insurance first. You will need to have a TB test before starting Humira.

Humira will come from your insurance company's specialty pharmacy. Mine was sent to my home in a container with cold packs because it has to be kept in a refrigerator.

I can't answer your question about side effects, not everyone has issues with it. Ask your dr any questions you have, I'm sure he will help you.

Let us know how your visit goes.
Posted 11/22/2023 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
If you and your Dr and the insurance company agree, like Susie said you will have to have a TB test first , so no you won't start it at that time. The loading dose is several shots all at once, then a coup!e weeks later etc... Then you would settle down to whatever schedule your Dr determines is for you. Most are once a month some are once week or two per week. I did two per week for years, but dropped back to one a week earlier this year. Its a auto inject pen so its easy 😋 not pleasant but easy.
Posted 12/12/2023 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Today I had my first Humira injection. I previously tested positive for latent TB. But I have been on daily TB medicine for over 3 months, and the Infectious Disease specialist has cleared me to receive biologics.

I went to the doctor's office and did my injections in front of the pharmacist, because this is the first time. I squeezed the clean skin in my abdomen and injected the Humira in the raised area. I held it for 5 seconds, but when I released it, some liquid came out from the pen. So I did not get the full 80 mg. It could that I did not hold long enough. I did the second one without squeezing, and pressed firmly against and held it for 5-10 seconds. This time no liquid from the pen came out.

I am supposed to get another dose 2 weeks from today.
Posted 12/12/2023 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes the fluid comes back out of the skin. Its normal in my many years experience. There is an over fill of liquid in the pen . did you wait until the yellow follower stopped. Don't be surprised if you get a rush of blood from the puncture either😋 I have a spot that I hit a small vein occasionally and bleed like a stuck pig.😁.
Posted 12/12/2023 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Randy:

I wasn't paying attention to the yellow follower, but will look for that one next time. I saw a circle impression with a red dot at the center on my skin. I felt no pain at all. Because of the red dot at the center, I guess the medicine must have gone in.
Posted 12/13/2023 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
My problem is I have so many scars on my abdomen, I have a small area on each side to inject. Made it worse when I was doing 2 shots at a time each week.
After you hit the button it fires and you should hear a sloshing sound at the very end a 1/4 yellow band will come into view in the window of the syringe indicating the meds have been injected fully. There may be a raised welt and it may have some leakage.
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