Re: I DID IT!

[Guest guest]

Ok...truthfully, I freaked out more over having to feed my daughter's new pet

frog (named Hicks after the American Idol) a live cricket while she is at her

father's house. I will hold a snake or a frog or a lizard but the crickets give

me fits. Go figure. At least I had Hicks (and his refusal to eat the dead ones)

to keep things in perpective for me. I find that the strangest things give me

insight into what is truely important nowadays. This morning I am the same....

still walking like Fred Sanford but with more hope. No changes but I know that

takes a few weeks sometimes if it works at all. I'll try the other stuff if this

does not work. I am not one to give up. -Betz

[Guest guest]

Congrats Betsy! Another week or two and it will be second nature. Just

remember that with most folks it takes a few weeks to a few months for

full effects. Doesn't work like tylenol, more of a slow long term

slowing down of the overactive immune system.

Kathy's recommendation is a good one - I keep a bottle of Benadryl gel

around and use it for this as well as other itches and rashes, works

great!

Hope you get some good relief soon! -

[Guest guest]

Betz~

I am still waiting on my Enbrel at the pharmacy... but when I do get it, I

still need to go back to the rhuemy office because there they will show me how

to inject. Did they show you beforehand? My insurance is in the midst of

talking to my rhuemy and everything should be good to go. Hopefully I will have

it by Tuesday which is when my appt is....

Betz... did it make you feel better or does it take several months to " kick

in " ....?? It sounds like some people are waiting months...

Are you taking anything else with it??

Jody

[Editor's Note: Jody, I believe the majority of people on Enbrel are also on

something else with the " something else " often being MTX. Studies have shown

that Enbrel with MTX works better than either Enbrel OR MTX as a monotherapy.

If you are also taking MTX, you should probably be taking folic acid along with

it. These are all things to discuss with your rheumatologist. Kathy F.]

Betsy <itsbetsy@...> wrote:

Oh yikes...I just gave myself my first Enbrel injection. I was so happy

at the pharmacy just to GET it. Then I got home and sat on the sofa for

10 minutes before I could get up the courage to stick the dang thing

in. The needle was longer than I imagined and I called the help number

and asked if I had to stick it ALL the way in. The nurse said yes. So I

took a big breath and did it. It burned but I lived. And I am so proud

of my little self that I had to tell ya'll. I was a bit nervous after I

did it for a few minutes. I have to confess that even after all the

talk about booze last week all I could think was " I need a drink " and

all I had in the house was Kool-aid so I'm sucking that down right

now. And again...I just sat on the sofa afraid that my leg wouldn't

work if I tried to walk. It puffed up a bit and then went down some.

Now it's not noticable unless I run my hand over it. So next week maybe

I won't be so silly. Heck...next week maybe I'll have just come back

from a 5 mile run! Not really. If I start feeling better and get

obnoxious on ya'll, just hit delete. Sharing and caring,

-Betz

[Editor's Note: Congratulations, Betz, on taking this big step. Most of us

have been there and truly, it does get easier. If you continue to have a site

reaction, try rubbing a little Benedryl cream after your next injection. Kathy

F.]

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dave. I do feel more alert today which is something I have not felt in a

long time. I also did not need pain meds until this evening. And I have the

Benadryl gel now...just in case. Today there is nothing at the injection site at

all. I can do this. I feel like a little kid who just rode her bike without the

training wheels for the first time and everyone in the neighbor hood is excited

about it. Thanks again! -Betz

math_nawi <math_nawi@...> wrote:

Congrats Betsy! Another week or two and it will be second nature. Just

remember that with most folks it takes a few weeks to a few months for

full effects. Doesn't work like tylenol, more of a slow long term

slowing down of the overactive immune system.

Kathy's recommendation is a good one - I keep a bottle of Benadryl gel

around and use it for this as well as other itches and rashes, works

great!

Hope you get some good relief soon! -

[Guest guest]

Yes....Kathy is right but my Rheumy is not sure I should go on the MTX. I have

an iron metabolism disorder that makes my liver sketchy. She said that MTX is

not liver friendly and wants to see how I do on just the Enbrel. I plan to ask

my Hematologist about it next time I see him. He's in Oncology/ Hematology so he

prescribes MTX regularly. Today I feel more alert and did not need the pain meds

to get out of bed. Do I feel lots better? No. But I do feel better. I did not

believe it at first and wondered if it could just be in my head. I have a friend

in town who felt better in 2 hours. I think most people feel better in a few

weeks after 2 injections. It's different for each of us as this disease is

different for each of us. Even the same form of cancer plays out differently for

each patient. And the poor doctors have to figure it all out. Not an easy job.

I had given myself allergy shots in the same place where you inject Enbrel. I

did that for 2 years everyday so I had

experience with giving myself a shot. This needle is longer than the allergy

needle but I was not worried. I have neighbors in my building who were aware

that I was doing this yesterday and they checked on me a few times. Pests. lol.

But you gotta love and appreciate it. If I had not given myself shots before I

would have done this in my Rheumy's office. There's no way I would have done

this on my own. And I don't think I'd advise anyone else to do it on their own

the first time. I hope you get your Enbrel soon as I know the waiting and the

wondering is not easy. Good luck with it and let us all know how it goes. -Betz

Jody son <jodpaulson@...> wrote: Betz~

I am still waiting on my Enbrel at the pharmacy... but when I do get it, I

still need to go back to the rhuemy office because there they will show me how

to inject. Did they show you beforehand? My insurance is in the midst of

talking to my rhuemy and everything should be good to go. Hopefully I will have

it by Tuesday which is when my appt is....

Betz... did it make you feel better or does it take several months to " kick

in " ....?? It sounds like some people are waiting months...

Are you taking anything else with it??

Jody

[Editor's Note: Jody, I believe the majority of people on Enbrel are also on

something else with the " something else " often being MTX. Studies have shown

that Enbrel with MTX works better than either Enbrel OR MTX as a monotherapy.

If you are also taking MTX, you should probably be taking folic acid along with

it. These are all things to discuss with your rheumatologist. Kathy F.]

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Betsy...

I pick up the Enbrel today after school (2 more weeks!) ... and Tuesday will

be my first injection at the office.

I, also, was not a candidate for MTX because I am trying to get preggers. So,

I don't know how long I will be on the Enbrel this time around anyway.

I am excited for you, Betz! I know you will keep up updated on how it is

working for you.

Toodles,

Jody

Betsy Jack <itsbetsy@...> wrote:

Yes....Kathy is right but my Rheumy is not sure I should go on the MTX. I have

an iron metabolism disorder that makes my liver sketchy. She said that MTX is

not liver friendly and wants to see how I do on just the Enbrel. I plan to ask

my Hematologist about it next time I see him. He's in Oncology/ Hematology so he

prescribes MTX regularly. Today I feel more alert and did not need the pain meds

to get out of bed. Do I feel lots better? No. But I do feel better. I did not

believe it at first and wondered if it could just be in my head. I have a friend

in town who felt better in 2 hours. I think most people feel better in a few

weeks after 2 injections. It's different for each of us as this disease is

different for each of us. Even the same form of cancer plays out differently for

each patient. And the poor doctors have to figure it all out. Not an easy job.

I had given myself allergy shots in the same place where you inject Enbrel. I

did that for 2 years everyday so I had

experience with giving myself a shot. This needle is longer than the allergy

needle but I was not worried. I have neighbors in my building who were aware

that I was doing this yesterday and they checked on me a few times. Pests. lol.

But you gotta love and appreciate it. If I had not given myself shots before I

would have done this in my Rheumy's office. There's no way I would have done

this on my own. And I don't think I'd advise anyone else to do it on their own

the first time. I hope you get your Enbrel soon as I know the waiting and the

wondering is not easy. Good luck with it and let us all know how it goes. -Betz