Starting adalimumab (humira)

[Bucket13]

Hi, Hope you are all staying strong and smiling through the difficult days.

I will start Adalimumab on Friday 30th June - a nurse will show me how to inject with a pen eek!. Im going on holiday to Greece early July so I just hope all will be ok as I’m feeling anxious about using the toilet urgently as I have ulcerative colitis. I’m also on predisolone steroids for 6 weeks (each week lowering my dose).

Any experiences / advice/ tips anyone can give me starting Adalimumab (humira) injections?

Many thanks

Debbie

[VeraSa]

I'm on Adalimumab(Amgevita) for over a year now. The first time a nurse came into my home, she was amazing, explained everything ,showed me everything and well, I did not need her again, as could manage it myself. The injection itself is quite simple and not painful for me at all.

It can take several weeks or months until Adalimumab shows results and about your journey, you should definitely talk with her and as well with your IBD Team. If you need your pen while on holiday, you will need one to take with you and it needs to be cooled and I'm not quiet sure, but I think you will need an letter from your IBD Team that shows the reason you carry such pen with you (can't tell you for sure, as I barely leave the house anyway)

Wish you good luck with your treatment. For me it is a blessing as I finally could get off prednisolone after taking it for 10 years plus. 🌹

[Bucket13 in reply to VeraSa]

thank you for your reply and encouraging to hear how it worked for you. How long did the injectins take to kick in for you?

I have a cooler wallet I bought especially for the holiday xx

[VeraSa in reply to Bucket13]

It took a pretty long time for me, but I guess everyone is different. I am now on 1 pen weekly. Don't know my blood/stool results atm, as my app. got cancelled due strikes.

Enjoy your holiday 🥰

[012703060610]

I inject methotrexate once a week and can do it all on my own no issues. If you don't have prefilled pens and they give you vials, you can buy the smallest needle tips on amazon and they screw right onto a bulk purchase of other needles. I use my belly and don't feel a thing. My husband was injecting my butt and it was worse.....mostly due to him being nervous! We are talking about Humira too with my rheumatologist and GI. I'm on methotrexate and LDN to treat multiple autoimmune disorders. LDN is something worth looking up if you are not familiar with it. Best of luck!

[Seasouth]

I was on humira pens for some years. It really will be better than you're expecting. Despite having a few very big tattoos, I still don't like regular injections.

The main things are to ensure you get it to room temperature first, and that you are as relaxed as possible - these truly take the edge off.

It's not anywhere near as strong a sensation as a blood test even. The pens are super simple to use and when you get the hang of it your whole prep/inject session can be done and dusted inside of 10 minutes and you can carry on with your day.

Cycle the location of your injections - and keep a note. Eg. Left thigh, right, left tummy, right and you'll be ok.

Ps I was in a bad flare years ago and went to Greece and had the absolute best time - the food there was particularly kind to me (and I love Mediterranean food so that was a relief) - grilled things, excellent salads, amazing seafood. You might find it takes the edge off your symptoms a little anyway

[Bucket13 in reply to Seasouth]

thank you so good to hear

My only worry is I won’t have my first injection until tomorrow then go 5 days later - I hear they can take 8 weeks to kick in!! I’m on a short steroid meds - only 3 whilst on Greece so i hope they will be enough xx