Starting Humira Today...

After 6 years of remission with just Sulfa drugs the last 18 months has seen a steady increase in my symptoms; loosening of stools, blood, urgency, cramping, etc.

In March I went on the SCD diet and got great results for about 2.5 months but just as we were about to go on vacation out of the country I starting flaring badly. Doc put me on Pred and was able to go on vacation and enjoy myself. But as soon as I started tapering all the symptoms came back.

Sulfa does nothing now, Canasa suppositories do nothing now, the SCD diet isn't helping anymore and I can't be on Pred much longer so this is it.

At 3:45 central I'll be getting the shots from my starter pack.

I'm super nervous but excited at the same time because I'm at the point where the urgency is a bit debilitating. I still work everyday but the 30 minute drive every morning is getting to be pretty hellish. I've also been waking up and having to go in the middle of the night which I can't really ever remember happening in the past. Long story short, I think it's time. Wish me luck!

I'll update this thread if I'm not too scared out of my wits.

iPoop said...
Good luck, I hope Humira is your fast-track to remission. Hey, it's just a little poke, no worries at all. Just Ice the spot before doing the shot as a pro-tip. And of all the things we do from home FMT to well any of a dozen things, a humira pen is easy(no holding your nose and making home enemas from poop there)!

Haha. A bit of perspective is always a good thing! Thank you sir!

Great news. I am looking forward to seeing you back feeling 100% very soon!

Thank you all for the well wishes!

I'm feeling pretty good so far even though it's only been two days. And I know this is way too soon to make a declaration and it could be due to all kinds of other factors but I'm feeling better in regards to my symptoms than I had the couple of days before the shots.

Awesome news. Although humira is a powerful medication, it may take a number of months to get off of the pred and reach a remission. You've got some great early signs that you are on that path.

Great to hear you are doing so well on Humira. It took about 6 weeks for me to see an improvement, I am currently doing weekly shots and in remission! Hope you continue to see positive results!

nourse said...
I am happy to see your post as I just started Humira 3 nights ago. I am glad to hear you may already be benefitting from it.
I am also doing Gaps/scd diet. Am still on 20 mg prednisone....every time I got taken off I would be good for 2-3 weeks and then flare right back up - alas the humira.

I am nervous about - I think at second injection time - so the 15 days later/2nd injection time, doc wants me to start weaning of steroids 5 mg a week. I think thats fast and asking a lot of the humira in short amount of time, but what do I know. Its always interesting to hear gastroenterologist prescribing different methods for handling this.

Anyway....good luck, look forward to hearing more of your experience.

Hi nourse,

Thank you for the well wishes!

It's certainly reasonable to be nervous when starting a new treatment and stopping an old one. My GI gave me the exact same instructions; taper 5mg per week after the second round of shots.

Personally, I am happy to start tapering as the steroids were starting to have some negative effects on me. Also, on their own, the steroids weren't really as effective as they once had been.

I really hope you get some relief with Humira as well!

Jayhawk85 said...

nourse said...
I am happy to see your post as I just started Humira 3 nights ago. I am glad to hear you may already be benefitting from it.
I am also doing Gaps/scd diet. Am still on 20 mg prednisone....every time I got taken off I would be good for 2-3 weeks and then flare right back up - alas the humira.

I am nervous about - I think at second injection time - so the 15 days later/2nd injection time, doc wants me to start weaning of steroids 5 mg a week. I think thats fast and asking a lot of the humira in short amount of time, but what do I know. Its always interesting to hear gastroenterologist prescribing different methods for handling this.

Anyway....good luck, look forward to hearing more of your experience.

Hi nourse,

Thank you for the well wishes!

It's certainly reasonable to be nervous when starting a new treatment and stopping an old one. My GI gave me the exact same instructions; taper 5mg per week after the second round of shots.

Personally, I am happy to start tapering as the steroids were starting to have some negative effects on me. Also, on their own, the steroids weren't really as effective as they once had been.

I really hope you get some relief with Humira as well!

Your right. Tapering off the steroids will be incredible. I was coming from a place of fear...Two years of steroids and flaring back up every time. This time can be different!!! Thank you for the - perhaps unintended - reality check. Steroids suck and have had a hugely detrimental effect in my life, even though they've saved it too.