Humira anyone?

NY65912 · 01-21-2010, 04:43 PM

OK, the docs said that the next move in the treatment of my Crohn's disease is a course of Humira injections for approx 1 year.

My Crohn's has moved from the ileum to the colon, causing an abscess and fistulas.

I have talked to a few people who have been on Remicade with very positive results.

I'm just wondering if anyone else been on Humira. My Crohn's doc brought my case up at a GI doc conference and the unanimous vote was to use immunosuppresants to control the fistulizing Crohn's.

Diet will not help in this situation.

Thanks

Swiss Carrera · 01-22-2010, 03:15 AM

I suffered from psoriasis for 15 years, trying all the lotions and potions known to science with no long lasting results, before being put on Humira a year ago and within 6 weeks my psoriasis has cleaned up 98%.

i have to self inject (actually my wife has to inject me as im too much of a wus to do it myself) - its stings like hell once the needles go in and if i dont immediately put an ice pack on it it swells and itches for days after.

I have to go the dermatologist every 2 months for a blood test - just to make sure things are ok.

Overall, considering the results its worth the doc visits / discomfort of self injecting.

Good luck !

NY65912 · 01-22-2010, 03:27 AM

Thanks Swiss.

I needed a little reassurance from the crowd.

Good Luck to you as well.

Swiss Carrera · 01-22-2010, 03:30 AM

Let us know how you get on - (if you decide to go for it)

DanielDudley · 01-23-2010, 06:36 AM

Unanimus sounds pretty darned good.

J P Stein · 01-23-2010, 07:24 AM

Yeah, once a week in the belly.....I do it myself....for about 5 mos now.
Once every 2 weeks wasn't doing the trick.
I've had no side effects and other than the expense, it is a small price to pay(NPI).
If I didn't have prescription health insurance, I would have to have been cut on by now....not to mention the misery leading up to that.
The injectors are 1K a pop.

NY65912 · 01-23-2010, 02:07 PM

Thanks for the responces.

JP, they scare the bejesus out of you with all the warnings! I envision myself walking around the office with surgical gloves and mask on so I don't come in contact with anyone whom might be sick. I hope I don't turn into a germaphob!

I heard the injection smarts a bit, should'nt be a problem. I plan on icing the area to be injected. The insurance has a $40 co-pay, so that's pretty palitable.

I am just plain old nervous and scared of a reaction or complications.

Thanks

Rot 911 · 01-23-2010, 02:45 PM

Mike I hope all goes well! So far my Crohn's has been controlled mostly by medicine although I just had that surgery in December.

Kurt

NY65912 · 01-24-2010, 06:20 AM

Thanks Kurt.

I wish the CD stayed in the ileum. This move into the colon has me angry.

I'll keep you posted.

I meant to PM you when I saw that you had the resection. From your description it went very well. How are you feling?

What happened, you changed your user name?

Mike

Rot 911 · 01-24-2010, 06:48 AM

Mike, mine is still in the ileum, can't believe I can actually be happy about that, but as we know that is much better than the colon. The surgery went well, but for the first few days I was hitting that morphine button as often as I could. For the first couple of weeks I swore I wished I had never had the surgery done. Now, 6 weeks later, I am feeling better than I have for years. I can certainly understand your anger, having had a bit of anger myself.

Yes I changed my screen name.

NY65912 · 01-25-2010, 07:24 AM

Can't start the Humira.

Doc says one of the tests shows an infection in the colon, Clostridium difficile AKA C. difficlie.

Caused by over use of antibiotics, treated with another antibiotic, hmmm.

Disappointed!!

NY65912 · 04-22-2010, 12:10 PM

Well after a few months of fighting with the damn insurance company which refused to provide Humira I finally took my loading dose last evening.

My company changed insurance carriers and I was given the OK by the new company immediately.

I had four self administered shots with the Humira pen. 40mg x 4 + 160mg of the stuff on day one and two more 14 days later and then a single dose every 14 days after that.

I think it is better than getting Remicade infusions, having to go to an infusion center and sit there for a few hours.

Any way, all went fine, no reaction nor pain.

I'm just looking forward to feeling better and closing my 2nd a hole so I might be able to get back on the darn track!!