Update after seeing rheumatologist

[Cydney96]

Hi everyone,

So I've seen my rheumatologist and she has decided to put me on etanercept. I hate injections, but will have to learn to get used too them 😂.

I've also had my steroid injection, so I can't wait to feel the benefits of that!!

Hopefully after my holiday I'll be settled on the new drug and my RA will finally start to be controlled.

Feeling a lot more positive than I was this morning, just really hoping this medication is here to stay and work for a long time.

Thanks for all your support

Cydney x

[Downtime]

It sounds as if you're getting good care. Hopefully the steroid injection will kick in for your holiday and the etanercept will start to make a difference soon. Enjoy your break and take care.

[Cydney96 in reply to Downtime]

Thank you!!

[Hidden]

You know the injections have the skinniest needle ever (for Humira anyway, I bet it's the same with etanercept). Or there's the auto-injector which I hear makes it super quick. I use the injections and don't feel anything .... nothing, zilch. The needle slides into my midriff bulge like a knife into melting butter. You might even start to think of it as 'fun'. I do, but then perhaps I've just completely lost the plot!

Good luck, hope you get a great result, so many of us do with biologics.

[Cydney96 in reply to Hidden]

Oh I really hope so!!, I think we all begin to lose the plot after a little while, but that's what makes us so great!😂😁.

Thank you so much

[Ladydingle in reply to Hidden]

Hi Postie 2 Hope you don't mind me asking,see you arebon Humira. I started last week and was wondering if you get many infections.

Thanks Sue

[Hidden in reply to Ladydingle]

I've been on Humira since 2014 and have had one cold in all that time. I get a little apprehensive sometimes, for example when I realised I'd absent-mindedly eaten half of pot of yogurt that had been out of the fridge for 24 hours in a hot kitchen. As I understand it, anyone on biologics should avoid salmonella etc. like the plague. (Not sure if you can get salmonella from festering yogurt, but you get my drift). But I was fine.

I think that on balance my immune system must still run a little high ... and biologics don't knock out the immune system, they just target a specific part of it, they're smart drugs. I realise that some may be more prone to infections but a lot of us find that it's quite the opposite.

[Ladydingle in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply really appreciate it.

Sue

[Mhairi54]

The injections are so simple to do, and quick! Hoping your new meds make a real difference for you as it has done for me! Really didn't want to start it when it was first discussed with me - now I would hate to be without it!

[Cydney96 in reply to Mhairi54]

Ooh this is good to hear!!, thank you so much x

[Paula-C]

I've been on entanercept since end of 2012. At my first twelve week follow up appointment was in remission and still am. No side effects at all. This drug gave me my life back. I forget I've got RA. Hope it works its magic for you. Xx

[Buddyrescue]

Hiya....please don't worry about the injections, put it into perspective....take your day and it's literally a couple of seconds...inject then done, just be positive and imagine less pain, less stiffness = happier you....be positive!!!!

Xxx

[Gillian15649]

New Etranacept is Benepali . Changed from Enbrel 3 months ago. Just an pen . Push into leg and it does th rest. Very easy. Hope it works as well for you as for me. Have been in remission for over 3 years. I think I am so lucky to be able to have a drug like this. Has helped me so much. Hope it does the same for you

[Nitrobunny]

Yay!!! The steroid injection should kick in very soon and hopefully have you feeling much better. Best of luck and here's hoping you can be feeling great long term!

Best~

S

[rawillbebeaten]

All the very best - I hope that Etanercept works as well for you as it did for me. I was very nervous about injecting myself but I got used to it quickly and the miraculous results made any slight discomfort more than worth it.

It worked for me for 12 years and after a bit of trouble I am now on Rituximab which is working (fingers crossed)

Hope you have a lovely holiday and a pain free future

Michele

[Cydney96 in reply to rawillbebeaten]

Does the injection hurt?, I'm a massive baby and hate them 😂😂. Thank you!!

Hopefully that drug will work for you for a long time now.

Thank you!!

Cydney

[helenlw7]

I've been on etanercept for about ten years and it has really changed my life. I still have all the symptoms of RA but no where near as bad as before.