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

Trina, you're a sweetheart-thanks for the tips... Ben told me about icing prior, so I've done this the last 2 times. The first time, under the tutelage of the nurse, the needle went in absolutely pain free-I couldn't believe it! The second time hurt like the Dickens, but I sucked it up and did it anyway. That's when Ben advised me to ice.

The nurse told me what you did about prepping the site, and I think what makes things worse, is the tiny droplet of solution that just won't come off the tip of the needle after expressing the air bubble, no matter how many times I flick it. She also suggested I squeeze the flesh while injecting at an angle, and that I insert with tiny pulses, a bit at a time. She advised that I release the flesh once the needle was fully inserted, and gently pulse the solution a bit at a time so it goes in gradually. This really helps, but it takes a while. Good thing I'm not queasy about needles. I also find that placing the needle so the angled slot faces up and the pointiest edge goes in first makes it easier and more painless to insert. I then gently turn the needle half rotation once inserted, so the solution injects downwards into the tissue, rather than just under the skin-am I explaining myself well?

Kudos to you for your guts to inject into.... your gut! I haven't been so bold, although I do have sufficient adipose there as well as in the thighs-maybe I'm just a bit sucky after all!!!

I've noticed that my butt's not biting me as much the last couple of days-maybe something is starting to go to work there after all?

Hi Sigrid

Thanks so much for posting this question. I'll hopefully be starting Enbrel myself in a few weeks, if all goes well, so it's really helpful (not to mention kind of scarey!) reading all your repsonses and replies!

Hope it's going well for you? I'll be following your progress with great interest

Good luck.

Sue

Sue, I'm glad this thread is helpful to you-I trust all will go well with you and Enbrel, when you finally start it.

I find the Enbrel support to be quite good-I once called at 1:00 am and they had a nurse available to speak with and answer my questions... Can you imagine that? 1 o'clock in the morning...

So keep us posted with your experiences as well; we have so much to learn from each other.

Hiya Sigrid,

This may sound bad....but I just blew that tiny droplet from the needle before injecting Hehehe...I figure a quick blast of air would get it off...and it did and I'm still alive.... I'm so bad!

I did notice that the bite in the bum got a bit better for the first few weeks, but then it came back...ugh. So, now I'm off the Enbrel and waiting for the insurance to approve me for Remicade. Keep your fingers crossed.

Stick with the Enbrel for a while and see if it helps. I hope it does for you!! Get lots of rest and eat well -the stuff can really run your immune system into the ground. I got a respiratory and sinus infection, and I have never in my life had either before!

Talk to you soon!

Trina

Oh Trina, you naughty girl... The nurse who trained me would tell you that you contaminated your needle by blowing on it and would need to dispose of that dose!!! I think I'm still a bit shocked from her reaction, so I won't follow your example-I hear her voice echoing in my head-ugh!!!

I've been quite healthy actually-no colds, and I work in a dental office and some of our patients come in quite sick. Whenever my throat feels the slightest bit raw, I place a couple drops of Oregano Oil under my tongue, drink a lot of water to flush it down, because it is mighty strong stuff, and I've not had a cold or anything in the last 2 or 3 years. I used to take Echinacea, until it so overstimulated my immune system and set off a flare of Iritis, so I no longer use this herb-only Oregano Oil, one of my other soapboxes, besides exercise.

I hope you're all recovered from your infections by now, and can get lined up for Remicade soon. Are you covered by Trillium or a private drug plan through an employer?

I see also that you're in Ontario, where abouts? I'm about 20 minutes west of Toronto, near the lake (without mentioning the actual town).

I know what you mean about butt bite-mines been quiet for a couple of days now, but I'm having a lot of pain in my C- and T-spine. Nevertheless, I'll celebrate the small victories. (where's that dancing graemlin-we should have one of those too!)

You should find out where the closest Remicade clinic is to where you live, so you don't have to travel too far. There are 2 pretty close to me. I'll cross that mountain if I need to.

aloha, siggie.

and sarah too...

as the enbrel folks will gladly tell you 37-40% of folks doing up the ole enbrel will get an/several/some/many
injection site reactions( ISR's) over the duration of time.

new people tend to get 'em more than folks who've been on enbrel for a couple years...

1. one 'theory' is this shows the skin and body are showing a sign of reacting to the med...a good thing, because
it means a 'response'.

2. my rheumy's general theory about ISR's is operator error...there is a hump to get over in terms of being comfortable
with giving yourself shots...the actual physical 'doin' it' part...he said beginners move the needle around once it's in,
have hesitations about the prick (will that get thru the censors?) of the skin...

AND YES...don't panic...it can light up five, six little red splotches and do it on the 'other' leg...and yeah it looks ugly,
unless you really, really, really messed up your shots, it won't harm you it's just ugly.

and 3. my rheumy also commented about the little dingle drop on the end of the needle...ok, again, remember high school
chemistry and the property of solids,liquids and gasses...temperature and pressure are the variables...45 min or an hour
is not out of line to get a prefill 50 to room temp...warmer has less 'grab' to hold onto the little bubbles, and they tap
up the barrel of the syringe easily...then SPRITZ the little stream thru the tip of the needle...a spray in the air; NOT
a dribble or a drool...then hold a finger against the plunger to prevent movement and shake the whole thing once...
IF you get the little drop off the needle, then there isn't BIO-WHAMIE in the little hole in your skin...it's all a half inch
deep under your skin.

also...if your slow injecting the enbrel there is more risk of moving the needle around in the hole or half pulling it
out and then sticking it back in...all little skin wounds...also if you do a real slow soft gentle 'stick' you can feel the
needle getting hung up on about each of the three/four layers of skin...that feels hinckeyer than a push with just enough
force to get in all the on one push...needs less courage too.

when i started enbrel back in 04 i got it for free from enliven services...their program called for you to do the
shots for FOUR months bfore evaluating response (this ain't alka seltzer...plop plop fizz fizz relief is just a swallow away)
Enbrel's own graphs show a couple months is normal just to see if it helps much...and your response/improvements
keep growing for six months...so keep shootin'

best to you again,
aB

Sigrid,

I use the oil of oregano with great success also. It is very strong but it sure works for me. As long as I catch it when the cold is starting, once it takes hold it doesn't seem to work though. What a great way to stay cold free!

Debbie

I know I know...so bad. But I figured that it was my own cooties that I was blowing on to the needle...oh well, won't have to worry about it anymore.

I have a drug plan through my employer, so now I'm waiting for my Rheumy to fax it to the company so that they can approve it. I'm sure that I won't have a problem getting approved since I have tried Enbrel. Luckily they do infusions in the Rheumy clinic, so I don't have to travel very far at all. I'll just bring a blanket and pillow and have a little nap while I get infused!

I'm about 25 mins east of Toronto (of course, without mentioning the actual town). I went into Yorkdale mall yesterday to return some things that my husband bought for me for Christmas (went to that mall because we don't have th designer stores that are in T.O.). What a zoo that place is! Lovely stores though...was exhausted after driving and walking around the mall though - came home and layed down for two hours. Good thing I had my cane with me!

I hear you with regards to small victories. I have finally realized that I have limitations (hard for someone to admit in their twenties), and now celebrate when I have achieved something that I haven't been able to do in a while. Like today, the pain is tolerable and I was able to carry the laundry basket up the stairs without too much difficulty. I really hope that the Remicade woeks because I would really love to dance again....I so miss it

Well my dear, I hope that the bum and spine bites are kept to a minimum. I'm off to sit on a bag of peas for a while

Take good care,

Trina

aloha bennie-you are such a sweetie-here's a cyber hug... <<>>

You're such a great coach. I really appreciate your efforts in teaching this newbie the "how-to's" and "where-fore's"...

Oddly enuf, when the red blotch appeared, the thought crossed my mind that finally there was evidence that there was some potency and effect in my bod. I've done 5 injections now of the '50, and I've never had problems with rashes or evidence of an injection, except for the tiny hole. I only bled a bit after the second-that was the one I did solo without ice-and I was inserting it with the slot facing down, whereas the pointiest end of the needle is if the slot faces up (by slot, I refer to the diagonal needle opening where the solution comes out once inserted).

Thanks for the tips on the drop-I've been producing a slow, steady dribble-maybe with more practice, I'll obtain a spritz. I'll leave it to warm up longer-I've been going 30 min. It wasn't as challenging today. Sounds like you do a slow steady injection of the needle-I'm still a little wussy about that-I've been doing small pulses until the syringe is against my skin-that way I barely feel anything, and slow pulses to insert the stuff. Is there a difference between injecting the stuff down into the skin with the opening deep into the flesh, rather than the slot facing up? I have a small concern that a bubble of solution will be created near the surface of the site after injecting-or am I just overthinking this? I guess I'm just ignorant about where all that liquid goes between the various levels of tissues... I don't want there to be a tender lump of solution sitting near the top surface of the skin waiting to get metabolized.

It's also reassuring to know that this is a "marathon" and not a "sprint" as far as results go... I don't eat at fast-food restaurants -so why should I expect Enbrel to be that fast?

Thanks again, coach...

I haven't actually had a cold in such a long while, I didn't know whether oregano oil would stop one alreay gripping the body-I always use it at first appearance of a sore/scratchy throat-through your experience, I'll always endeavor to take it right away...

Thanks,