adalimumab newby...

JONNYFRESH

Hi,
Im new to the site and am looking to seek guidance from others regard my condition now that I have finally accepted I have it and that its not going to go away any time soon.
I have lived in denial for 18 months hoping the diagnosis was wrong and that things would improve but alas this is not the case..
Im a 42 year old man and have always been fit and healthy.
I was diagnosed with reactive arthritis following a bout of the flu some 18 months back then diagnosed with RA a few months thereafter and begun taking methotrexate..
12 months on this drug has done nothing for me and the only time I've been pain free is when I've taken steroids (prednisalone) for short periods of approx 3/4 weeks at a time.
My specialist has finally agreed a new course of action is required and yesterday we agreed I will begin to take Adalimumab.
We discussed the drug at length and I agreed i need to use it as the methotrexate by itself has done nothing to relieve my symptoms.
I would be lying if I said I am not concerned regard the side effects and also the possibility that it doesn't work..
Any thoughts from other users are very welcome..
Thanks for taking the time to read above..
Regards

[Deleted User]

Hi JOHNNYFRESH
Glad you have decided to visit us on the forums and that you are facing up to your Arthritis, it is very hard and a decision we have all had to make.
You will find all forums welcoming and sympathetic to you and all you want to say.
So just choose a forum you like LWA and Chit Chat being the most popular and get chatting.
All the best Christine :autumn-sun:

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. It must be so hard to come to this from a healthy background, I was born with auto-immune troubles so for me it's just more of the same but for you it must be so much harder. People think they know what 'arthritis' is or means but, truthfully, they have no idea until they are affected.

I think I am right in saying that adalimumab is the 'proper' name for humira, yes? I have been taking that (together with injected methotrexate) for nearly eight years now, I am very lucky in that I am not troubled by side-effects which is a blessing. I know from reading on here that for some it makes all the difference in that they can return to something resembling their previous 'life' and I hope that proves to be the case for you. I wish you well. DD

frogmorton

Hello Johnny and welcome to the forums from me too.

I am sorry you are struggling at the moment. Some of us are lucky and find a medication/combination which helps us easily. For some it takes time to find the right one/s.

I think all meds have their side-effects, including things like paracetamol, which we all take without thinking! You know though that you will be monitored and looked after closely. Lots of people on here take humira and swear by it. I hope you will be one of those.

This forum is a great place to mix with others who understand and get support/tips to make life easier. It can also give out families and friends a break from us talking about our struggles a bit!!

Anyway enough from me. I hope you find this a good place for you

Toni xx

stickywicket

Hello from me, too I'm so glad you've accepted your diagnosis and are now able to move on and deal with your conbdition. It must have been a tough journey when you've been so active but it's the only logical and sensible way to go. Well done!

I take a combination of methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine and that combo works for me. I can't say I've ever been painfree and I don't aim for it as that can lead to more and more so-called painkillers. But my blood tests are good which shows the disease is under control.

I've never taken humira so can't help on that front except to say that all the meds have scary-sounding side-effects but they are only potential whereas the damage of the disease unchecked is virtually guaranteed.

Good luck and I hope it works for you.

KateinWiltshire

The length of time it takes to find the "right" drug combination for you is one of the real bug bears of treatment for inflammatory arthritis. One is always waiting to see if the drugs work and in the case of methotrexate stick out the incremental increases over time.

It can take a long time with the only consolation is that you've started the journey. Not much of one I confess but I willing to bet that we've all gone through this process and feel for you.

Starting a biologic is a good step though.. here's hoping it becomes effective very rapidly...

barbara12

Hello JONNYFRESH and welcome to the forum from me
Sorry you are struggling with the pain, I cant offer any help but we are all here to talk to to...and there is the search at the top of the forum that is really helpful for past post