What should i expect ? Any tips or advice......ive blown thru a weeks worth of prednisone sunday and monday sucked...
You should expect with that much predi to feel like crap, your body doesn't like not getting it when it has been. Your adrenals will always be shocked. A huge flair of psoriasis also from the predi is on the horizon. Don't hate the Enbrel, its not its fault.
As far as the Enbrel not much. You may get a little bit of site reaction that will feel like a bad mosquito bite, Some actual feel some immediate results, but don't expect it (an you wont be disappointed) There are those who will talk about warming it room temperature for 5 or 10 minutes which is a pretty good idea. But beyond that just do it and forget about it. Honest to gosh the bigger deal you make of it (i'm not saying you are) the bigger deal it becomes.
I am so thankful flu shot season is over. Our local TV stations have got to get some different footage. Every story (and there were lots of them) had a closeup of some poor soul getting jabbed with a needle. I have several meds I inject every week 4) by IM and one by mosquito (the enbrel)I was so worked up from the TV stuff that My wife had to promise me spare ribs and sauerkraut for dinner and sour cream raisin pie for dessert to get me to the clinic for my flu shot. (and then she stiffed me on the pie) Really and truly its a few minutes out of your day and no more.
When it does start to work, its almost like a thief in the night thing all of a sudden you realize you are bending over and tying your own shoes (I realized I hadn't seen my feet directly in 20 years..)
thanks i appreciate the advice. Im not expecting miracles or anything, its got to be better than what im dealing with now. Sunday i had to roll myself off the couch and pull myself up..ive slept a few hrs a nite for the last week...crying doesnt seem to help lol so i just go on...
As lamb said, some people feel it overnight (I did - very lucky), but for others it takes a while. Even for me, it didn’t reach maximum effectiveness for about 5 months, and I’ve been very lucky, though like most, I’m not “the same” as I was before, and although I can do heaps, find I still need to pace to get the best out of a day.
As for the shot, a bit like lamb says, an annoying mosquito (not as bad as a March fly), if it works for you, then you will find yourself looking forward to that shot!
The best thing is I have not had any side effects. The next good thing it has just about cleared up my P skin. It hurts if I inject into my thighs as there is not enough fat on top and it is recommended to hold it straight up. In saying that, it only hurts for a few seconds while the liquid goes in? The best place with the least pain is if I inject into my belly fat and then it is more like a mozzie bite. I pinch up some flesh and push down hard, otherwise it doesn't seem to work properly. I do get an itchy spot and it leaves a mark like a large ring worm and it itches for several days and this has lessened as time has gone on. The pamphlet says this can happen.
I hope this works for you. Enbrel worked so well in the beginning and then the effect was less, but it is still working, just not to the degree I had hoped. I am hoping that this will level out more over the next few months. I am grateful for every bit of improvement I can get. If I don't improve I will be taken off this treatment.
Everyone is so different and don't expect things will go the same way for you as it has for me. Mine is not the usual. So stay optimistic.
Bella, get the pre-filled syringe and do it yourself in your side. It's less painful. I don't like getting the pen on my thighs and the pen is worse around my middle.
Andrew said:
Bella, get the pre-filled syringe and do it yourself in your side. It's less painful. I don't like getting the pen on my thighs and the pen is worse around my middle.
tomm is my first shot, and im nervous and anxious. Ive hobbled around for the last week. I cant put ant weight on my left hip. The medicine has got to be better than the disease.. Wish me luck......
I do prefilled syringes and it is really easy. Worked almost immediately but may be slowing down now which sometimes happens. Hard to say if my fatigue and brain fog are related???
well i took it like a champ only cried a little lol just kiddin..hope it helps, i will keep yall in the loop....
Sounds good! My first time doing an injection on myself ever was when I was trying to get pregnant. It took a lot of mental prep time, which did nothing but make me nervous, and then a quick shot and it was done. Congrats!
driveshaft said:
well i took it like a champ only cried a little lol just kiddin..hope it helps, i will keep yall in the loop....
Like Lamb said, some people warm it up a little. I do and it's helped a lot. I agree with a few others about the location. The abdomen has been the best for less pain. I push it in really slowly and I hardly feel it. I started Enbrel last Sept. and it helped within a few months. My PsA has progressed quickly and I'm off to a different biologic, but I believe in Enbrel. I take methotrexate as well, and this med helped the psoriasis disappear quickly. Good luck to ya.
Oh good, you're still alive! I was worried there for a minute!
Why the heck not expect a miracle? There's plenty of people with PsA who go on Enbrel and their disease goes into remission. Let's hope for the best!
well ive taken 2 shots now with absolutely no relief. If it takes 2 to 3 months to kick in im screwed, i will b crippled by then.
Tell your doc it's not working. There's options. For instance many start Enbrel with two shots a week for the first three months. You can ask for that. You can also add MTX. That can increase Enbrel's potency. It's not time to give up yet, not even close.
Can you make another visit?
I will give him a call tuesday. Can inflammation cause sciatica ? My left hip is killing me, and i have numbness in my lower left leg..
It may or may not be related to your PSA. Sciatica is usually the result of a back problem. Hip pain might also be referred pain from a back problem.
Numbness is a sign that something is wrong and there could inflammation that is causing pressure on to the nerve that relates to your leg.
Lean on the side caution and do what you can to prevent any permanent numbness by seeking a medical assessment as soon as you possibly can. Do not wait days.
I relate this to my own experience with herniated discs. The contents of the disc spilled out and put pressure on the nerve root. I now have permanent partial numbness on one leg from the knee down and across my foot but not in my big toe. This came and went several times and eventually it stayed and now is permanent. This could have been avoided.
Hi
I have been Enbrel now for 20 weeks and to be honest have not seen any improvement. I also have numbness and tingling in my legs and my arms and have been told it is part of the psa.I also have it in my spine and this can be detected by a mri scan. I have been told that they monitor you more closely if it travels to your spine. Enbrel can take uptp 12 weeks to start working.God i sound so depressing but just telling you what it is like for me on the up side I have known it to be a miracle cure for some people who are using it. Hope it starts working soon for you
thanks yall.. 20 weeks wow,
Catherine,
what does your doctor say?