Wellness

[winamac1]

On 8/20/2014 wvumountiefan said: I have been on Humira for almost a year and I have done well with it. I was on Methotrexate for at least 8 years and was very noncompliant with it because it made me so sick. 2 years ago my dermatologist tried to get me to start Humira and I'm a nurse and know about side effects and I chickened out. I finally dove in and I'm so happy I did because my derm dr told me that the Methotrexate was far more dangerous. I work with small children daily and I did find that especially last winter I would get a little run down quickly, but I do take Vitamin C and D daily to help. The injection does burn but nothing I can't handle. My psoriasis is gone and my self confidence is so much better. I don't regret it at all. HTH if you need anything else let me know!

MTX can have liver problems and it can cause nausea. It is widely used though. The issue with MTX is that it does not stop the progression of joint damage (if you have RA or Psoriatic Arthritis). The TNF inhibitors do--such as Humira.

The skin clearance of MTX isn't as good as some of the other biologics though. It's considered the gold standard "start place" though for those with RA.

[wvumountiefan]

On 8/25/2014 winamac1 said:

On 8/20/2014 wvumountiefan said: I have been on Humira for almost a year and I have done well with it. I was on Methotrexate for at least 8 years and was very noncompliant with it because it made me so sick. 2 years ago my dermatologist tried to get me to start Humira and I'm a nurse and know about side effects and I chickened out. I finally dove in and I'm so happy I did because my derm dr told me that the Methotrexate was far more dangerous. I work with small children daily and I did find that especially last winter I would get a little run down quickly, but I do take Vitamin C and D daily to help. The injection does burn but nothing I can't handle. My psoriasis is gone and my self confidence is so much better. I don't regret it at all. HTH if you need anything else let me know!

MTX can have liver problems and it can cause nausea. It is widely used though. The issue with MTX is that it does not stop the progression of joint damage (if you have RA or Psoriatic Arthritis). The TNF inhibitors do--such as Humira.

The skin clearance of MTX isn't as good as some of the other biologics though. It's considered the gold standard "start place" though for those with RA.

I regret taking that drug!! It makes me sick just thinking about it. My liver enzymes have always been WNL so I'm thankful for that!!

[divine]

.

[winamac1]

On 8/25/2014 wvumountiefan said:

On 8/25/2014 winamac1 said:

On 8/20/2014 wvumountiefan said: I have been on Humira for almost a year and I have done well with it. I was on Methotrexate for at least 8 years and was very noncompliant with it because it made me so sick. 2 years ago my dermatologist tried to get me to start Humira and I'm a nurse and know about side effects and I chickened out. I finally dove in and I'm so happy I did because my derm dr told me that the Methotrexate was far more dangerous. I work with small children daily and I did find that especially last winter I would get a little run down quickly, but I do take Vitamin C and D daily to help. The injection does burn but nothing I can't handle. My psoriasis is gone and my self confidence is so much better. I don't regret it at all. HTH if you need anything else let me know!

MTX can have liver problems and it can cause nausea. It is widely used though. The issue with MTX is that it does not stop the progression of joint damage (if you have RA or Psoriatic Arthritis). The TNF inhibitors do--such as Humira.

The skin clearance of MTX isn't as good as some of the other biologics though. It's considered the gold standard "start place" though for those with RA.

I regret taking that drug!! It makes me sick just thinking about it. My liver enzymes have always been WNL so I'm thankful for that!!

That's good news that your liver enzymes are WNL. I do know many don't like taking MTX, but the Dr.'s use it a lot in RA. Plus, it's cheap being generic.

[LilacTree]

On 8/25/2014 winamac1 said:

On 8/20/2014 wvumountiefan said: I have been on Humira for almost a year and I have done well with it. I was on Methotrexate for at least 8 years and was very noncompliant with it because it made me so sick. 2 years ago my dermatologist tried to get me to start Humira and I'm a nurse and know about side effects and I chickened out. I finally dove in and I'm so happy I did because my derm dr told me that the Methotrexate was far more dangerous. I work with small children daily and I did find that especially last winter I would get a little run down quickly, but I do take Vitamin C and D daily to help. The injection does burn but nothing I can't handle. My psoriasis is gone and my self confidence is so much better. I don't regret it at all. HTH if you need anything else let me know!

MTX can have liver problems and it can cause nausea. It is widely used though. The issue with MTX is that it does not stop the progression of joint damage (if you have RA or Psoriatic Arthritis). The TNF inhibitors do--such as Humira.

The skin clearance of MTX isn't as good as some of the other biologics though. It's considered the gold standard "start place" though for those with RA.

MTX was the first med I was put on when diagnosed with RA. It made me sick as a dog. All I did was throw up, I could not function at all. I've never taken it again. I was then prescribed Plaquenil and thought I had died and went to heaven. That med worked beautifully on me for six months and I thought, "OK, I can handle this." Unfortunately, I developed an allergy to it and had to come off it.

They wanted to put me on the biologics next, but I was too afraid after reading about it (and hearing about it on TV). I know it works for many, but I also know I would have side effects. Like everyone else who takes them, they work for a while, and then one has to switch to another one, and another one.

So I wound up on low dose prednisone for the last ten years, which is a miracle for pain, but over the years destroyed my bones. I now have severe osteoporosis and last year back surgery which did no good at all. I have aged twice as fast as I normally would have. I am down to 5-6 mgs a day now, one day 5 mg, the next day 6 mg. I am hopeful I can get off altogether but don't see that happening.

I should take more vitamins and eat better. But I don't expect to ever be cured. Autoimmune diseases don't get "cured."

[wvumountiefan]

On 8/18/2014 ccassaday said:

I am starting Humira tomorrow. I am scared because I am reading how much it hurts. I do insulin everyday with a pen and have no problem. Does Humira really hurt that bad?

How's everything going? Hope all is well! Hang in there and remember you have our support if you need it!!

[ccassaday]

Ok finally had my first dose and training today. THis is why you shouldn't Google health stuff. Almost everything I read people were talking about how much it hurt. Some even said it was the worse pain they have ever experienced.Lol.. I barely felt it. I was like where is this so called pain. I hope it works well for me.

[elainemasey]

I was on Humira for RA. I was told to ice the area before the injection. The shots were never too bad. Good luck!

[ccassaday]

No short term side effects with the first dose. I noticed a difference within in a couple of days. I have psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. It is also making me feel for energetic. I hope with the second shot it gets even better.

[Mindy D]

Lymphoma, is not just any side effect. The question is, does the benefit outweigh the risk? I might risk the side effects if I had the severe pain associated with RA or with psoriatic arthritis,and Chrohns ,but I would never risk it for psoriasis, without the arthritis. It has been awhile. How do you feel, now?