Re: Enbrel anybody on 4 inj wk?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My doctor is now agressively persuiing Medicaid to authorize my Enbrel to 4x a

week, 2 and 2. There are some research trials going on now with this amount. The

P is trying to come back and the PA is doing nothing but causing me PAIN.

Especially in the SPINE. talk about OUCH, right?

Wondering if my NSAID needs to be changed too.....

My dr was not in today but will be asking for a referral to a rheumy for sure.

It is time we get the back looked at....

So, my question is, anyone else on 4 injections a week and what is your

experience with that?

LeAnn Cayer & Furbrats Blossom & Meriko

Heart Bandits American Eskimo Dog Rescue

Oklahoma Referral Chapter

Railroad Coordinator

www.heartbandits.com

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/9/2004 7:37:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,

cornth1313@... writes:

Guess, I'll have to study those research trials so I can start

nagging my insurance and Dr's again. Seems like just once I'd like

not have to figure out what I need before my Dr's do. ooops there I

go again. What a crab, I AM!

Hi Lori,

I guess I am in the same boat as you. I am sorry about the basal cell.

Hopefully you can take care of that right away and everything will be fine. My

rheumy was giving me a hard time also about doubling the Enbrel because of

insurance. but my derm is a teaching doctor in NYC and he is all for it. He

may be starting a trial in his office on the double dose. He also said that it

is helping about 50% of the people that the regular dose did not help. So

as for vitamin C, where did your doctor get this?????

Janet

[Guest guest]

" Pitty Pot " readers be forewarned.

I recently asked my rhuemy about going to 4 injections of enbrel a

week. He wants to take me off mtx completely, over a period of time,

which is what I wanted also... But I'm afraid the enbrel isn't going

to 'cut it' by itself. One of the reasons I was told to stay on

combination therapy with mtx was... Because, " the mtx would help me

to keep from building up antibodies to the enbrel. " <sigh>

My rhuemy said, that it doesn't matter how much enbrel you take after

a certain point, that it's like vitamin C and your body will just

throw off the rest. <not sure on that one either>. One thing we did

both agree on was that my insurance would freak if we tried to put in

for a double dose.

Yesterday, was not a good day for me: overtired, angry at my car

keys and doors and the ice cream scoop and the extra heavy front door

and scared it will all start over again after doing so well, since my

first shot of enbrel in March. *here is usually where the loved ones

remind me I could hardly get out of bed 6 months ago. Which is why

you all are getting an ear full. <smirk> I can't complain,but

sometimes I still do.

Found out I have basal cell skin cancer on the back of my arm which

will need surgery, no biggie, but dang it all, I want the full

remission and no problems. It's always something and I guess that

just makes me tired. I could go on for hours and hours about how

crappy 'it' all is. But, as I write even this much, I feel silly for

complaining. My first symptoms started at 12 years of age and I'm 44

now. I'm doing pretty good for a Grandma and 'most of the time' I'm

not too unhappy and I don't yell at the ice cream scoop. I really am

grateful, really, er...well I will be 'again' soon.

Guess, I'll have to study those research trials so I can start

nagging my insurance and Dr's again. Seems like just once I'd like

not have to figure out what I need before my Dr's do. ooops there I

go again. What a crab, I AM!

Lori

--

[Guest guest]

I am on Enbrel and was under the impression that you should not use Enbrel

with any kind of existing cancer?

[ ] Re: Enbrel anybody on 4 inj wk?

> " Pitty Pot " readers be forewarned.

>

> I recently asked my rhuemy about going to 4 injections of enbrel a

> week. He wants to take me off mtx completely, over a period of time,

> which is what I wanted also... But I'm afraid the enbrel isn't going

> to 'cut it' by itself. One of the reasons I was told to stay on

> combination therapy with mtx was... Because, " the mtx would help me

> to keep from building up antibodies to the enbrel. " <sigh>

>

> My rhuemy said, that it doesn't matter how much enbrel you take after

> a certain point, that it's like vitamin C and your body will just

> throw off the rest. <not sure on that one either>. One thing we did

> both agree on was that my insurance would freak if we tried to put in

> for a double dose.

>

> Yesterday, was not a good day for me: overtired, angry at my car

> keys and doors and the ice cream scoop and the extra heavy front door

> and scared it will all start over again after doing so well, since my

> first shot of enbrel in March. *here is usually where the loved ones

> remind me I could hardly get out of bed 6 months ago. Which is why

> you all are getting an ear full. <smirk> I can't complain,but

> sometimes I still do.

>

> Found out I have basal cell skin cancer on the back of my arm which

> will need surgery, no biggie, but dang it all, I want the full

> remission and no problems. It's always something and I guess that

> just makes me tired. I could go on for hours and hours about how

> crappy 'it' all is. But, as I write even this much, I feel silly for

> complaining. My first symptoms started at 12 years of age and I'm 44

> now. I'm doing pretty good for a Grandma and 'most of the time' I'm

> not too unhappy and I don't yell at the ice cream scoop. I really am

> grateful, really, er...well I will be 'again' soon.

>

> Guess, I'll have to study those research trials so I can start

> nagging my insurance and Dr's again. Seems like just once I'd like

> not have to figure out what I need before my Dr's do. ooops there I

> go again. What a crab, I AM!

>

> Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

" crabbing " and taking a turn on the pitty pot are perfectly fine.

We all have experienced your feelings.

I have composed posts, and by the time I finish typing, I just delete

it because, just typing it out makes me feel better.

So even though you hit " send " , it's fine. Sometimes just putting

thoughts down helps me to recognize what I really feel.

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

I ran accross this information on Enbrel, don't know if you have

seen it or not. Most doctors don't tell you everything about the

drugs they want us to take. If it was me, I'd think twice about

Enbrel, but if I had to take it, I would want ALL the facts.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00954.html Sorry if I'm

sticking my nose where it don't belong, I just thought I'd share

this site I found...Be carefull out

there...Carl

> " Pitty Pot " readers be forewarned.

>

> I recently asked my rhuemy about going to 4 injections of enbrel a

> week. He wants to take me off mtx completely, over a period of

time,

> which is what I wanted also... But I'm afraid the enbrel isn't

going

> to 'cut it' by itself. One of the reasons I was told to stay on

> combination therapy with mtx was... Because, " the mtx would help

me

> to keep from building up antibodies to the enbrel. " <sigh>

>

> My rhuemy said, that it doesn't matter how much enbrel you take

after

> a certain point, that it's like vitamin C and your body will just

> throw off the rest. <not sure on that one either>. One thing we

did

> both agree on was that my insurance would freak if we tried to put

in

> for a double dose.

>

> Yesterday, was not a good day for me: overtired, angry at my car

> keys and doors and the ice cream scoop and the extra heavy front

door

> and scared it will all start over again after doing so well, since

my

> first shot of enbrel in March. *here is usually where the loved

ones

> remind me I could hardly get out of bed 6 months ago. Which is why

> you all are getting an ear full. <smirk> I can't complain,but

> sometimes I still do.

>

> Found out I have basal cell skin cancer on the back of my arm

which

> will need surgery, no biggie, but dang it all, I want the full

> remission and no problems. It's always something and I guess that

> just makes me tired. I could go on for hours and hours about how

> crappy 'it' all is. But, as I write even this much, I feel silly

for

> complaining. My first symptoms started at 12 years of age and I'm

44

> now. I'm doing pretty good for a Grandma and 'most of the time'

I'm

> not too unhappy and I don't yell at the ice cream scoop. I really

am

> grateful, really, er...well I will be 'again' soon.

>

> Guess, I'll have to study those research trials so I can start

> nagging my insurance and Dr's again. Seems like just once I'd

like

> not have to figure out what I need before my Dr's do. ooops there

I

> go again. What a crab, I AM!

>

> Lori

>

> --

[Guest guest]

If you notice that information is from 1999. This is no secret and is

prominently stated on the package insert, even stated in the new TV

commercials for Enbrel. All powerful drugs have the potential of severe

side effects in some people. Most of the problems with Enbrel have been

associated with other co-existing chronic disease or a pre- existing chronic

infection. That's why a competent RD will give you a TB test and al lot of

blood work to rule out any chronic infection before you start. Enbrel has

been a miracle drug for many of us with minimal side effects. Remember, if

Aspirin was discovered in this era it would be a prescription drug with lots

of warnings, reported deaths, and syndromes. Maybe as many as Enbrel and

probably a class action law suite to boot. I am not saying that a person

should not be as informed as possible about their treatment options. I am

saying that you have to balance risk with benefit and not scare yourself

away from a potentially beneficial treatment because of hyperbole or

exaggeration. No risk, no gain and the risk is totally justifiable. The

alternative may be to sit and suffer. Personally I believe Enbrel is much

safer and tolerable than MTX as well as astoundingly more effective. After

4 years on and off Enbrel, I now only do one Enbrel injection a week and no

other medications for PA except maybe an occasional Viox.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/04 12:37:07 AM GMT Daylight Time, cornth1313@...

writes:

Yesterday, was not a good day for me: overtired, angry at my car

keys and doors and the ice cream scoop and the extra heavy front door

and scared it will all start over again after doing so well, since my

first shot of enbrel in March

Hi Lori,

I know what you mean. All sorts of inanimate objects have been cursed and

swore at by me. Even the clothes I am wearing gets it sometimes if I catch a

finger or thumb on something.

See what happens? It starts off as skin/bone/muscle disease and ends up

driving us mad. Lol

Take care,

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

We've all got a case of the crabs here now and then, LOL.

Hope by now the ice cream scoop is your friend again.

Wishing you wellness,

Kathy F.

" Pitty Pot " readers be forewarned.

I recently asked my rhuemy about going to 4 injections of enbrel a

week. He wants to take me off mtx completely, over a period of time,

which is what I wanted also... But I'm afraid the enbrel isn't going

to 'cut it' by itself. One of the reasons I was told to stay on

combination therapy with mtx was... Because, " the mtx would help me

to keep from building up antibodies to the enbrel. " <sigh>

My rhuemy said, that it doesn't matter how much enbrel you take after

a certain point, that it's like vitamin C and your body will just

throw off the rest. <not sure on that one either>. One thing we did

both agree on was that my insurance would freak if we tried to put in

for a double dose.

Yesterday, was not a good day for me: overtired, angry at my car

keys and doors and the ice cream scoop and the extra heavy front door

and scared it will all start over again after doing so well, since my

first shot of enbrel in March. *here is usually where the loved ones

remind me I could hardly get out of bed 6 months ago. Which is why

you all are getting an ear full. <smirk> I can't complain,but

sometimes I still do.

Found out I have basal cell skin cancer on the back of my arm which

will need surgery, no biggie, but dang it all, I want the full

remission and no problems. It's always something and I guess that

just makes me tired. I could go on for hours and hours about how

crappy 'it' all is. But, as I write even this much, I feel silly for

complaining. My first symptoms started at 12 years of age and I'm 44

now. I'm doing pretty good for a Grandma and 'most of the time' I'm

not too unhappy and I don't yell at the ice cream scoop. I really am

grateful, really, er...well I will be 'again' soon.

Guess, I'll have to study those research trials so I can start

nagging my insurance and Dr's again. Seems like just once I'd like

not have to figure out what I need before my Dr's do. ooops there I

go again. What a crab, I AM!

Lori