Etanercept/Enbrel

debsmartin

Hi All

Well just done my injection after having my scare with the stomach rash and pain which was only an allergic reaction, but must say feel very wary/scared keep checking to see if any new reactions have occurred. The injection still gave me an odd sensation when injecting almost like I could feel it going in - don't know if I'm imaging it or if anyone else gets an odd sensation when injecting.

My rash is still there but not quite so red - hope that Cherrys rash is improving as well

debs

dreamdaisy

Try not to keep checking, that can make anxiety worse - if it does react you will feel it. I am sure all will be well and if not, you know what to do: contact either your GP or your rheumatology department asap to let them know and they can tell you what to do. These are powerful meds, there is bound to be some sort of reaction from time to time: I do mine before bed, that way I can sleep off most of the discomfort, rather than battle with it during the day. I do fortnightly humira jabs - they sting like a wasp sometimes! DD

debsmartin

Hi DD

I know your right I'm forcing myself not to check, I'm glad you said about the wasp sting because that exactly describes the sensation that I felt, thanks for that

debs

dreamdaisy

Yup, it's horrible. I leave mine out of the fridge for about 20- 30 minutes - they say no more than 15 but I do what suits me. It can be very painful: do you have the pens or syringes? When I was on enbrel I had the syringes, so I had to mix the stuff which was easy. The enbrel was painless for me, I think because it was a fairly 'thin' mixture, tho I did find the site alternation a nuisance - I hate injecting in my thighs. At least with the humira I can stick to the stomach as I alternate each side for that, so it's a month between jabs. There are fewer nerve endings on the stomach - and in my case oooooooodles of flab! Lovely large target area! It is, however, a 'thicker' mix, like the meth (which feels like an electric shock as it goes in). It gets one down, sometimes, doesn't it? Having had a reaction you now know what to look out for, which is comforting in its own odd way! I am sure things will be fine today - the main thing is is it helping? If it is, then that is a good thing. Make sure you rest today, I think that helps it too. Thinking of you. DD

debsmartin

I have syringes for enbrel and I also take it out 30 mins before injecting, the thing that worried me was I didn't feel a thing the 2 times I did it at hospital but 2 of the 5 times I've done it at home its been painful. The rheummy has told me not to inject into my tummy again until I have seen them again next month so I'm just alternating now on my thighs, she also said it was not unusual to be painful but its still worrying. The injections have really helped me so I'm glad I can carry on with them. So I'm just keeping everything crossed that I get no reaction this time

debs

dreamdaisy

Only two out of five at home isn't bad going: I have had three painless ones in fourteen months. It is strong stuff, there is bound to be something! That's why I do mine last thing, take a couple of pian relief tabs and go to bed. I do miss most of it that way. Is that a thought for you? How are you feeling at the mo - OK? DD

debsmartin

dreamdaisy wrote:

Only two out of five at home isn't bad going: I have had three painless ones in fourteen months. It is strong stuff, there is bound to be something! That's why I do mine last thing, take a couple of pian relief tabs and go to bed. I do miss most of it that way. Is that a thought for you? How are you feeling at the mo - OK? DD

Feeling ok at the moment but then again it was about 12 hours later that the reaction came up. I suppose thats something worth considering though to inject at night, because I did mine in the mornings at hospital I just carried on doing it at the same time.

debs

debsmartin

delboy wrote:

It's the preservatives in the solution that you can 'feel', I never got that when I mixed my own. I too had reactions on my stomach so only alternate between thighs now and have very little discomfort.

Persevere it's well worth it.

I think the discomfort is worth it for the pain relief it has given me so I'm really hoping everything will be ok this time. It is reassuring when you know others have gone through the same thing as what your going through you don't feel quite so alone thats why I think this forum is great

dreamdaisy

I'm so glad it had given you some pain relief, that is a good thing! As del says, it is worth persevering - if it's working for you then hang-on-in-there. DD

skezier

Hi Debs,

I still can't help you but hoping it all calms down and leaving you a ((( ))) Cris x

debsmartin

skezier wrote:

Hi Debs,

I still can't help you but hoping it all calms down and leaving you a ((( ))) Cris x

Thanks for that its much appreciated

debs

dorcas

Hi debs

it's good that the Enbrel is helping you and that the rheummy's said for you to continue to use it; but it's understandable you are anxious about further reaction.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the reaction you had calms down and that you have no further problems with this jab and the rest to come.

If you do have concerns then phone rheummy for advice.. they won't mind at all and would rather talk through anything that's worrying you than have you feeling anxious.

(((hugs)))

iris x

cherrybim

Hi Debs,

Pleased to hear that things are brighter. My rash has faded too and before injecting yesterday I checked with my lovely biologics nurse as to whether I should do one or two. He told me "just the one". He's done a bit of research with the manufacturers who said that in some patients the double dose for the first 3 occasions could be a "bit fierce". Cimzia doesn't hurt or sting and I can remember him telling me initially that some of the anti TNFs could feel like putting lemon juice into a cut, ouch

One thing I thought of was the way I was advised to do the injection by the Cimzia nurse. She told me not to take any notice of the instructions which advised a 45 degree angle. That would guarantee it to be painful apparently :shock: but to insert the needle straight down. It definitely seems to work for me

Oh and the other thing was to take the piriton x 3 on the injection day.

Will be thinking of you and hope that things are all ok

Cherry xx

dreamdaisy

Morning debs, how are things today? DD

debsmartin

dreamdaisy wrote:

Morning debs, how are things today? DD

Hi DD

Well its Friday morning and thankfully no new rashes have appeared so things are looking good this morning. Keeping everything crossed still though.

Hope you are ok

debs

debsmartin

cherrybim wrote:

Hi Debs,

Pleased to hear that things are brighter. My rash has faded too and before injecting yesterday I checked with my lovely biologics nurse as to whether I should do one or two. He told me "just the one". He's done a bit of research with the manufacturers who said that in some patients the double dose for the first 3 occasions could be a "bit fierce". Cimzia doesn't hurt or sting and I can remember him telling me initially that some of the anti TNFs could feel like putting lemon juice into a cut, ouch

One thing I thought of was the way I was advised to do the injection by the Cimzia nurse. She told me not to take any notice of the instructions which advised a 45 degree angle. That would guarantee it to be painful apparently :shock: but to insert the needle straight down. It definitely seems to work for me

Oh and the other thing was to take the piriton x 3 on the injection day.

Will be thinking of you and hope that things are all ok

Cherry xx

Hi Cherry

Glad your rash has faded too, thats for the advise for injecting - my rheummy had told me to inject the needle straight down as well so I think the pain from the sounds of it is to do with the enbrel. Still no reaction today so only thinking positive thoughts today.

Hope you are ok

debs