starting Humira tomorrow - any tips?

I was on remicade and my insurance stopped paying last year so I did Humira for about 6 months. It worked really well for me in the beginning, but I think my UC was just too severe. So I've had to start back on remicade. But I liked the Humira and giving myself the shots was so much easier than having these infusions! The first round is the worse part since you do 4 shots, but after that I did one every other week. It got so easy I would just stand in the bathroom mirror and do it standing up. You won't have any problems giving it to yourself. It doesn't hurt at all. I sure hope it's successful for you! Best of luck! There are some you tube videos you can watch of people giving it to themselves. I think that helped me more than the video that comes from the dr's office. :)

Sheri

Haven't had tiredness from it. I do the shots in my thighs. Right thigh seems to be easiest. Just let the stuff warm up before you inject. I watched a youtube video and skipped the nurse instructions, lol.

I've been on Humira since middle of February, I was pretty bad off with having a rectovaginal fistula (one of the reasons my GI put me on biologics) and lots of rectal inflammation to the point where he said if the biologics don't work my only other option is an ostomy (and that's not happening).

I haven't had any noticeable side effects from it, it's helped my severe lower back pain (bonus), I haven't been passing any gas through the vagina anymore so chances are it's cleared/ing that issue up (bonus) and I've been having improvements with my CD as well with urgency and frequency...my GI said around the 16 week mark is when they expect to see if the Humira is working well enough.

I did my 4 loading injections all in the tummy and that hurt (had a doctor do them for me) then for my second loading doses of 2 shots, a nurse came to my house and guided me through doing it myself, we discussed the severe pain from doing it in the tummy last time so she said the thigh is usually better cuz it's tougher skin compared to the belly, she was right, I did one shot in each thigh *the top of the thighs* and by the time I did the shots they were at room temperature and that made a world of difference. They recommend that you alternate thighs each time you give yourself a shot...I don't bother icing myself before I do the shots (some find it very helpful as well as letting the pen warm up a bit) because I don't find the stinging pain lasts long enough for me to warrant using ice and I hate cold lol!

Easy-peasy! Best of luck to you with your Humira experience, I hope you find remission with it!!

I was on Humira for about 6 months last year. I had the option between Humira or Remicade. I chose Humira 'cause I could just administer it to myself every 2 weeks at home. With Remicade I'd have to get an IV infusion over 3 hours. It's super easy to administer if you're not scared of poking yourself with a needle. Just grab some fat from your tummy area, poke the needle in, release the medication, release the skin and pull out. Should sting for a few seconds, perhaps bleed a tiny bit but other than that you're all good. Might leave a bruise but that should disappear in a week. Unfortunately, Humira didn't help me much so now I'm on Remicade. Remicade has been better than the Humira but I still feel pretty sick. I hope Humira works for you :) Good luck.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies & sharing your experiences with it!
So I got my loading dose this morning of 4 injections - one in each leg & one either side of my stomach (the nurse said I shouldn't give two injections in the same place at the same time). The leg ones hurt a bit, when going in, and for about 20-30 seconds after, then eased. The stomach ones were quite painful though! I don't think I'll be doing it there again! She said it was probably because I'm quite skinny, so don't have much fat to cushion it. There's just small red marks at the injection sites on my tummy, and hurts a bit to touch, but doesn't feel any different to a bruise.
She also told me that some people feel a little dizzy a few hours after the loading dose, as it's quite high. I'm glad she did, I felt quite woozy about lunchtime, but I lay down for a bit, and am ok now - tired, but always am, so can't attribute it to Humira or just the UC!

Fingers crossed this will work for me! I'm glad to see it's working for a good few people, without any bad side effects! Hope it keeps working for you all too!

I did the injections in my thigh when I was on it. You are braver than I for doing them in the stomach.