Man I wish my infusions went that fast! They start me at 10 drops per minute and work up to 150. Even then I'm there for almost 5 hours! Counting checking in, them mixing my dose, and sitting for 20-30 minutes afterward with just saline to make sure I'm ok.

I do it in the surgery unit, so it can be crowded, but it's normally just me and my husband in the "room." They have little TVs which we don't get TV at home (only a few channels from the antena) and can see why we don't like paying for it. Just flipping through with nothing to watch! We normally watch silly things like the price is right! Bring magazines and snacks and drinks. They normally gie me lunch and have REALLY good mashed potatoes. I told the nurse last time how much I like them and she says one of her other remicade patients orders just a big bowl of mashed potatoes for lunch, that's what I did and it was heaven! I normally go in with OJ (my blood sugar crashes with needles!) and decafe lattes, so needless to say between that and the fluids from the IV I'm up peeing every 30 minutes!

I normally get a slightly heavy feeling in my chest, which calms down about 5 minutes after the infusion is done. Nothing too serious. I can't do IV benedryl (but I can take the pills) but I take allegra an hour before. The next day I'm very tired.

This time I started the remicade after being off it for a bit, but I remember being tired last time, but this time I had to go home during work. I felt like I was hit by a bus. Not quite sick feeling, but sick feeling, it's hard to explain.

The first time I started it it took about 2 months to really kick in, then worked great for about 6 weeks. This time it's only been a week or so, so I'm noticing anything. Plus my dr won't call back about being on cellcept or avara. I'm hoping it's not too late to start those. But really I don't think it'll work great for me again. My body has a weird way of dealing with drugs. Everything I have taken stops working. The drs don't know what to do with me.

But I hope it works well for you! I know many here love it!

my photos http://www.pbase.com/gardengirl13 avatar is the tattoo I got shortly after getting my AS diagnosis, it says "to be in good health"