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Took four in the stomach today....shots that is

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Posted 8/31/2007 7:39 PM (GMT -8)
Took my loading dose of Humira today...four shots using the pen.  The nurse gave me one ...my wife the other three.  I am a baby when it comes to shots and I can not even use the pen on myself....

I have found that the fear of the shots in the stomach (not enough meat on the thighs to shoot there) was much greater than the reality.  The med going in hurt...but not the needle...the burn/ache lasted for a minute or two with each injection.  My stomach muscles are sore, but that is probably from all the tensing of the muscles I did.

It was really a breeze and I have felt fine ever since...left the office, went shopping for supplies for a dinner party...cooked the meal for our dinner, cleaned up (at least helped clean up)...

now we wait and see.

My doc is not following the normal load....I am doing the 4 today...waiting 2 weeks doing 2 more and then I am supposed to do two loads every two weeks....hope the insurance goes for it.

Posted 9/1/2007 4:22 AM (GMT -8)
Hi So glad you got your shots started I guess your wife really stuck it to you!!!! The great thing is your on your way and let us know how it goes thank your wife for us for looking after you. lol gail
Posted 9/1/2007 5:07 AM (GMT -8)
Hope it works for you I am thinking of Humaria instead of Remicade since I have horrible viens.

By the way we go to the same medical building for GI's but different docs, small world.

sm
Posted 9/2/2007 3:31 AM (GMT -8)

Sugarmarie said...
Hope it works for you I am thinking of Humaria instead of Remicade since I have horrible viens.

By the way we go to the same medical building for GI's but different docs, small world.

sm

They warn not to shoot the meds in the same place so as to keep the scarring down.  I never noticed any scarring ...still don't see any, but two lab techs have mentioned that my right arm is showing signs of scarring.  So with two shots every other week coming up ...my wife and I will have to be sure to rotate the placement of the shots  ...even with rotating if I stay on this stuff for a year...that will mean by years end, 14 hits in each area.

You live in the Tampa Bay area?

Posted 9/2/2007 6:50 AM (GMT -8)
Maybe it wasnt you its the guy with the J pouch, who was that then??????
He e-mailed me the name of his doc in SW FL. Sorry I had a brain fart.

Get better soon,sm
Posted 9/3/2007 11:15 AM (GMT -8)

Sugarmarie said...
Maybe it wasnt you its the guy with the J pouch, who was that then??????
He e-mailed me the name of his doc in SW FL. Sorry I had a brain fart.

Get better soon,sm

Sorry wrong guy...No J pouch here.  Right state wrong city...oh well

Posted 9/3/2007 1:54 PM (GMT -8)
I dont know about you but I got my four shots in the stomach last thursday and I am already noticing a differnece.
Posted 9/3/2007 3:28 PM (GMT -8)

FinalMacGyver said...
I dont know about you but I got my four shots in the stomach last thursday and I am already noticing a differnece.

Have not really noticed any positive things yet...The shots them selves were a breeze.  The trepidation was based more on things I read here....but the shot itself (using the pen) was no problem.  The only real pain (and not a terrible amount of that) was the burn of the meds.  The discomfort lasted a good 5 to ten minutes.

Shots were Friday morning and from about 6 hours after the shots through today I have experienced some very pronounced increase in my joint pains.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday were low output days (2 or 3 BM) but today was very rough....maybe 12 to 15 trips to john.  My appetite has been good...but it was for several days before the shots.

I see the doctor again in a month....by then I will have done four more doses.  We shall see what happens.   I am happy to hear you have had some positive results....that is very good news.

Posted 9/4/2007 5:37 AM (GMT -8)
I am glad your shots went well. I did my loading dose the end of April - I did two in the thigh and two in the stomach - I agree with you - not enough meat on the thighs. I have done them all in the stomach ever since. I thought I wouldn't be able to give them to myself also but my husband refused to give them to me because he said he couldn't ever intentionally hurt me so I do give them to myself in the stomach and it isn't all that bad. The hard part is actually pushing that button knowing it is going to burn. But like you said a few minutes and it is over with. My stomach muscles are sore for a while afterwards too. Make sure you stay a couple inches away from your belly button also. Good luck - I hope it works well for you. MB
Posted 9/13/2007 12:28 PM (GMT -8)
I just took two more in the stomach about a hour ago. Wow did it burn more than I remembered last time. But it passed after I put a ice pack on it.
Posted 9/13/2007 5:16 PM (GMT -8)
Hi I live in Tampa Bay. I may have to switch from Remicade to Humira soon but with my ins its a $200.00 copay per shot and there is no way we can afford that. Remicade is only lasting about 2 weeks so I have to go every 4 im not looking forward switching.

 

Posted 9/13/2007 5:24 PM (GMT -8)
rlc06 You may want to go to www.myhumira.com/InsuranceHelp/Default.aspx . You might be ablle to get your co-pa ydown to something more manageable.
Posted 9/13/2007 5:30 PM (GMT -8)
Okay..I'm on my 3rd dose of Humira. Seems to be treating me decent. Tapering the Prednisone still at 15mg per day for another week and a half. Good luck with your Humira. I'm too chicken to take it in the stomach and I do the ice pack before the injection! Still burns though.
Posted 9/14/2007 5:03 AM (GMT -8)

rlc06 said...
Hi I live in Tampa Bay. I may have to switch from Remicade to Humira soon but with my ins its a $200.00 copay per shot and there is no way we can afford that. Remicade is only lasting about 2 weeks so I have to go every 4 im not looking forward switching.

 

Is the remicade less expensive?   For me the co-pay on 12 loads of Humira every 84 days is only $50...(not trying to make you feel worse)...but in comparison the remicade would have cost me over $700 per infusion.  It had to do with the outpatient issue.

When I first spoke with my insurance company they okayed the treatment and said the three month cost would be $50, but then they also said the first six doses that would be used for my initial dosing would cost just over $300 each.  The insurance company looked at the dosing phase as something different than the maintaining doses...it had a whole different entry number.  After about an hour I convinced them to only charge the $50 for the loading.  maybe you are running into the same issues....possibly your company can put the treatment under a different code.

Also...initially I was going to have to pay 40% (or just over $300) per shot if I used my local pharmacy....but because I use the insurance comapnies mail-order program I get the $50 per 3 month price.

Posted 9/14/2007 6:09 AM (GMT -8)
hspenser...I can't thank you enough for this post. Talk about making me feel more comfortable about the future. I have been weighing all the possible meds that my GI wants me to take and was pondering Humira as the next step. It is either that or Imuran because I have decided I will never take Remicade.
Also, great advice to call the insurance company for a discussion on co-pays. Not all insurance companies are trying to scam you. They just have a list that they follow and often just type a number the doc gives them into a computer to get an answer. If you call and talk to a human, you can get different answers than the standard response. I am currently discussing the prospect of Humira with my carrier becuase I don't want issues with skipping Remicade option to be a concern. My boss also knows about my condition (I work in health insurance so that helps) and she has agreed to write a letter to the carrier explaining the benefits of Humira over Remicade for my situation if I need a letter.
Keep me up to date on this med is working for you. You are my guinea pig now:-)
Posted 9/14/2007 6:50 AM (GMT -8)
I got my first four shots on Wednesday, after seeing a new GI at my college. We still don't have insurance approval, but he was going to charge the visit as a nursing visit to get around the approval issue for now. My insurance has denied Humira twice for me now, both times because I'm under 18, even though I've had a delayed reaction to Remicade, and can no longer take it. That part is frustrating, to say the least, but hopefully, the appeal that my GI from home put in will do the trick. Anyway, so far, the Humira seems to be working, I've noticed less cramping the past couple days, and it's been nice to wake up pain free.
Posted 9/14/2007 8:01 AM (GMT -8)
Habs Hockey.....I just got back from Doctors....also I took two more shots last night.  things are okay...better but not great.  I told the doc I rate life two weeks ago as a 5...now it is a 7.  Still 6 to 7 trips to the john (today 7 so far) and the same pain and nausea when I go...but my recovery time from each trip is much faster and my energy levels are much higher.  i truly am hungry throughout the day and three meals a day has been the norm for the last 2 weeks.

The shots last night only hurt as much as the first 4...so no problem there.  Actually having them done at home while lying in my own bed probably helped ease any tension issues.

I don't know a lot about insurance comanies and how they work...but I do know that my insurer..CIGNA...never questioned my going straight to Humira and bypassing remicade.   I personally feel that they look at each one as treatment options.  They did call my  doctors office and asked for more information, but they approved it without any real issue.

I hope you get the treatment you want and that it gives you the relief you want ...

I told the doctor if this is all get out of Humira it is enough for me...if I get more even better...but if it slips down and I get less relief, then it is not worth the effort, pain or risk.  I am double dosing Two shots every other week) so I am optimistic it will work.

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