I've had very good results with Enbrel for 21 months now. It's the first biologic I used and I don't take anything else. I feel really fortunate, because I know some of you struggle with getting a biologic that works.
I do have some pain from PsA and OA damage but there again I feel lucky because for now I can tolerate it, mostly because it's never too long in one place and varies in severity.
Yesterday was different. I felt worse than I had before I started Enbrel--or at least as bad! I was so stiff, sore and weak, I could barely move most of the day. It didn't help to rest, either, because I just got more stiff and sore every time I sat down! I finally injected my Enbrel late afternoon, and actually felt "normal" a few hours later. Does anyone else experience this? It's like my Enbrel completely fizzled out on day 7--that's never happened before! At first I thought I caught the flu or something, but an Enbrel shot wouldn't have cured that. I've delayed my shot for as much as two weeks once when I had strep, and a few times I've delayed it several days when I had a cold, but my PsA symptoms never came back.
I'm just curious if anybody has noticed severe PsA symptoms on or just before their injection day?
I take Humira fortnightly and I'm not aware of anything different in the lead up to injection day though I've noticed that quite a few people do feel that their biologic 'runs out'. However I sometimes have a random lousy day .... one that just doesn't seem to fit with how I am generally. I think where I'm at now there's not much point paying much attention to how I feel unless the same thing lasts for weeks or something actually falls off ..... the over all picture's good but PsA's still there and gives me a kicking sometimes.
Simponi is a monthly injection for me, sometimes I can feel it tailing off towards the end of the month but other times there is no noticeable difference at all. My dose was increased to try and give it more sustained umph but that seems to have provided more subtle improvements than a marked change to anything.
I get the odd day or couple of days where I feel pretty rough or have unusual swelling or pain but like Sybil unless it's sustained I try not to pay too much attention to it because overall this is likely as good as it's going to get for me.
I did. When I was injecting Humira every 14 days and had quit MTX, I noticed a distinct drop-off in the way I felt at about day 9 or 10. I started reading--think it was on here--and discovered that some folks injected every 10 days.
When next I saw Dr. Abbas, I told him what was happening and asked if a 10 day injection was possible. He said yes. I've been doing that for over a year. I think for my body, every 10 days is the right regimen, although when I saw him in December, he said if every 10 days quit working for me, we would try injecting every 7 days.
Thanks everybody for your replies! It makes the PsA day seem more normal, yet I've also had some days where I felt somewhat yucky, but my Saturday PsA was extreme. I have trouble with my lower back and feet anyway, and with all the other overall soreness that day I was almost feeling like I needed a good cry! And, funny, the day started out normal! I'm sort of wondering if it was partly emotional, as I do get upset when my husband spends the whole day watching TV, oblivious to my struggles at cleaning everything up. And, somehow our house gets messy, even tho it's just the two of us!
I was fine on Sunday, but today my shoulders were aching and my legs fizzy (numb?)??? But I think I know why my legs were fizzy! Yesterday, my 91-year-old mother demonstrated the leg exercises she does while sitting in her easy chair. So I attempted them. When you have a bad back, leg exercises like that are impossible, so I'm sure the pressure from trying to lift my legs up high while sitting strained my back a little. No more of that!!!!! My crazy mom is in nearly perfect health, except she has a pacemaker. Her labs are PERFECT and her doctor asked her what her secret is!!! Must be rough! I'm a little envious. But, in a way it helps me to have hope and determination to keep my chin up and persevere--she's definitely had her share of heartache and hardship in her life, even if not PsA or illness, but still has a great attitude. ☺
Well, I am very envious of her too… Is there a secret? Anyway, sorry you are hitting a bad spot but curious how the shot made you feel after? Total turn around or only somewhat better? I managed to get my rheumy to increase my humira to the every 10 days like sixcat mentioned. Only one week in and this week has not proven any better. I even had toe injects again, which usually revives my feet in a day or so, but last 3 days have been less than rewarding. I do know my sleep schedule has been off and am just hoping to turn that around and then see since it really makes a huge difference for me. Hope you’re doing better and remember you don’t have to keep up with your mom even though I know how much you want to!
Rachael, I sure hope increasing Humira helps! Yes, I feel better since the injection. I can't imagine feeling that yucky all the time--it would be so depressing! I took an ibuprofen Monday night before bed, though, cuz things were achy--I only take it when pain gets pretty bad because it makes my stomach hurt. Today has been okay so far! :-)
Let's hope and pray that you get feeling better! Sorry about the toe injections not working,. :-(
I have an auntie in her 80s .... she runs faster than me, she has a busier social life .... if she's leading the way to a restaurant or something in her neck of the woods and I'm following her classy car I can't keep up ...