Last minute switch

I just talked to Accredo, and they are mailing it today, so I finally start tomorrow. It will 1 day shy of three weeks since I had to stop taking the Balsalazide. Here's to a quick response. The doctor wants to drop me from 40 to 30 mg prednisone as soon I start the Humira. Is Pred contraindicated while on Humira? I know my symptoms will get worse dropping if the Humira has not started working yet.

Ok, thank you. I am going to ask my doctor to leave it be then, because the week of 30 really did me in.

I use Accredo too. It’s a bit of an adventure getting it set up. Follow up was key in my experience. Hand in there, Spring. I have 4 kids 7-17...the Humira really hasn’t kept me down too much.

Good info on Accredo. When I called the lady was nonchalant and said they could ship it today. Made me wonder how long it would have taken for them to actually call me and set it up. I don't think I would have a nurse here by tomorow because I just signed up today. I think it will be ok for him to watch a video and do it though, as he is a very experienced massage therapist and had a semester of nursing school. Irish4me, that is good to know. I am really hoping to rebound quicker than I did in January. I hit a wall today where I just couldn't keep going at all by around 12, but my kids are much better this time around about it all and are a big help. Sometimes they mess stuff up, but they learn in the process. My youngest is 6. He was pretty down today because he knows I am sick. I think the extra 10 mg of pred is finally helping a little because I have not been in quite so much agonizing pain tonight every time things move in my gut at all.

haha, that is funny. Some people just don't understand what we are dealing with.

I am so happy you received your Humira. I hope you have a fast result

Uh oh on the hives. Might have to discontinue humira. Talk with your gasteroenterologist before your next dose. A body-wide reaction like hives is an immune allergy/over reaction to the humira itself. Histamines might provide temporary relief. If your immune system is attacking the humira then it might not work as intended. Likely to have antibodies formed against humira, etc.

No just this one.

Last night I broke out in hives again. I think it happens because the prednisone is waning in my system. They were much smaller this time around, more like normal hives instead of giant sheets. And Itchy! I finally took a benadryl at 1 am so I could stop itching enough to go to sleep. On other news, I only went 5 times last 24 hrs and this morning I woke up with the start of a cold sore. I used to get those when I was particularly run down. I am thinking of starting to taper the prednisone since it dampens the immune system too. I thought my doctor had sent me the prescription for 20 mg, but when I opened the bottle, I noticed they were pink instead of white. That is when I realized they filled it for 2 20 mg. pills, and just didn't say anything about a taper.

My hives go away for a while after the Prednisone, so I am certain it is the Humira. I won't know until I taper to 30 mg for a bit if it is the Humira or the Prednisone that has me down to 5x, because that is where I was at after 2 days of solumedrol and then 40 mg for a week 3 weeks ago.

Glad you have a path forward, kinda what I thought the outcome would be! At least entyvio is gut-specific and less likely to cause body-wide reactions, like hives.

Good luck!

Good luck with Entyvio, Spring! That one was my GI’s first choice too! Hope it works well for ya.

Loading doses are 0, 2, 6 weeks, then the schedule is every 8 weeks. I saw improvement at loading dose stage and by #5 I was off prednisone and having fairly mild synptoms occasionally, increasing as I got closer to the next dose, until #6, when I was pretty much symptom free and have stayed that way.

I am doing much better Colitis wise. I go 3 to 5 times now, and the urgency is much better. Super annoying that I still have to get up in the middle of the night to go, though. Pharmacy said yesterday that Entyvio has been approved, and I left a message with my doctors office to let them know. It will be at least Tuesday before I hear back. I really want to get my first dose of Entyvio in end of next week so it fits in timing wise with when my next dose of Humira would be, but I am not super confident the docs office will get it together. I REALLY want to start tapering my Pred. The last few days have been much more irritating side affect wise. I have a horrible taste in my mouth after eating, food doesn't taste good, I never feel satisfied, wake up soaking wet, have crushing fatigue, brain fog, racing heart, and irrational thoughts. What do you guys think about me tapering? I did so badly last time I tried to taper to 30mg, but that was before the Humira shots. I think despite the reaction I had, that it made a difference. I don't want to rush things and make it worse for myself, either.