Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications Starting Enbrel This Friday

Thought I'd drop in with a quick update... can't believe the last time I posted was just before my vacation in late September...

So much has happened since then... I tripped over a wire in the dark at our local fair at the CNE on Sept. 2, and spent the next month on crutches-vacation in Florida was very disappointing, on crutches and looking for wheelchairs when I could. This really set me back, and I've been in a flare since then.

I guess I haven't been here for a while because it's taken all my strength just to get back to work since I sprained my left foot and ankle (it was a very severe sprain of not just the ankle, but the whole foot-I tore a lot in there). It's been over 3 months now, and whereas all the bruising seems to have faded, I still can't shake all the swelling, and my arch has totally fallen, and I'm still going for therapy on the foot. It's still quite painful, but at least I can use the foot now and carefully walk on it... It's just taking sooo long... Enough of that...

My rheumy has suggested that the next step for me are the Biologics-I've been approved for Enbrel through Trillium, and it looks like I'll have my meds and training this Friday. I'll try to keep you all posted on my experiences and questions...

Any advice from all you Enbrel pros out there???? Did I read somewhere that it's better to let it warm up for 15 minutes or so before injecting, and where are the least painful or favourite spots to inject (wierd question, I know...)

Any tips would be most welcomed....

Hey Sigrid,
That's a big decision going for enbrel! But I'm excited for you already, and very glad to hear you were approved for funding.
If you're getting trained to do injections on Friday, I'm sure the nurse will have more than enough info for you. It'll probably be a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll get it. I did my very first injection infront of my nurse, just to be sure I could get it right, and I find that injecting into my tummy rolls hurts less (definately not a weird question!), but I'm sure that kind of ouch is nothing like what you've been experiencing as of late. Three months is a long recovery time - after I tore my achilles, it took about that long to start walking again too. I feel for ya.
Oh one more thing - be patient with this stuff - sometimes it takes a month or more to really get going...but you probably already know all this! Apologies if you're reading this for the tenth time.
Good luck and keep us posted! Here's to many pain-free days ahead!

Thanks Megan - I'm approaching this with my eyes wide open... I've considered waiting until I'm in chronic pain, all the time (like I was before I started working out), but I've noticed that even though I work out as best I can with such a painful foot, it seems like I'm inflaming more often and for longer periods of time. I've lost ground somehow...

Achilles-I hear that's possibly the worst-I feel for YOU!

Yes, it is a big decision, but I've also swallowed a lot of Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories for many years now... Apparently Trillium approves you for funding with a Dx of bilateral, symmetrical sacroiliitis-that's their criteria... I am looking forward to possibly having many pain free days-I'll be patient-thanks for your tips and advice...

All the best in your studies...

Both Enbrel and Humira are available via pen delivery. If your insurance will allow you to use this method I highly recommend it over the traditional syringe.

Good luck!

Interesting-I'll look into it... Thanks bunches...

Sigrid, how did it go on Friday?

I'm so sorry to hear about your foot (believe me, I empathize mightily). It can take us a bit longer to heal from these things than other folk. Keep up the physio if you can and hopefully you'll be walking easily again soon.

Many hugs,

Ah yes, the saga of my foot... I thought about you a lot these past months-I know you can commiserate... Still limping on that foot...

It actually turned out to be Saturday, and I'm still waiting to see changes. My right SI is still biting me (a truly apt description of what goes on in there-don't you think?), along with a host of other AS junk, so I approach this Saturday's injection with both anticipation, and some trepidation, because I'll be doing this solo this time.

I keep worrying about sticking the needle in a place where blood may go up into the syringe-the nurse says in this case, you'd have to dispose of that dose-can you imagine that? At $396.25 CDN per syringe (even though mostly covered by Trillium) I can't possibly imagine doing that... She also suggested I dispose of the dose this past Sat. when I accidently touched the needle tip to the alcohol swab after eliminating the air pocket from the needle prior to injecting... I didn't follow her advice-I seem to be doing fine... (aside from wanting to howl at the moon when it comes out....)



Has anyone using Enbrel ever had this (blood entering the syringe) occur? If yes, what did you do about it?

To be honest Sigrid, I never even bother to check! Bad me.

Thanks, Megan... You are now viewing the Enbrel world through the eyes of a newbie-I think I just need to chill out and stop thinking about all these things... Thanks...

Howl away, honey. That's what it's there for!!!

Yah, the SI/sciatic butt bite. Gives 'Bite me' a whole new meaning, eh.

Good luck with the self-injection. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Many hugs,