Anakinra

[LJRT]

I was wondering if anyone has tried Anakinra? What is it like?

I was on Tocilizumab but have just been taken off this due to very low WBC and very low neutrophils.

I'm really nervous as I struggle doing one injection a week as I have a panic attack every week.

[oldtimer]

That's interesting and I see that there have been some previous posts - see right. Let us know how you get on with it.

[bubblyalex]

I can’t help on the anakinra.

Just wanted to say big hugs to the panic attacks. 💕 I am not in any way medically qualified so take what I say with a pinch of salt ... I would though call health net or whoever provides the meds and say you are having panic attacks. Ask for more training. My first training the woman made me so on edge and panic to the point I just couldn’t do it. I wanted her out out out of my house now now now if you know what I mean. It wasn’t at all great. The second training was a different lady who was so patient and kind and I was able to do it. She didn’t hurry me or stand over me looking ready for grab the blinking thing. 😕

Again none of this is qualified ... A friend who equally is totally needle phobic ... she told me the best advice she was given and it really helped me ... get as comfy as you can be. I get into bed ... do some deep breathing zoning out for at least 5/10 mins before. More if it helps. Zone out ... then keep breathing deeply before you start and until you finish. Stay comfy and relaxing and breathing afterwards for again another 10 mins or so. I lie down for about half an hour. What is sure fire certain is if you are stressed or in any way tense it hurts and bruises and stings and and and. If trying goes belly up wait half an hour (go and do something nice and distracting) before you try to zone out again. These meds can be out of the fridge for a time (hours/days) so you don’t have to do it within an hour of it being ready -check the instructions for yours. Say to yourself this med is going to make me better. ... now I’m starting to sound like a hippy counsellor... 🥰😁 apologies to hippy counsellors. 💕

[LJRT in reply to bubblyalex]

Thank you so much you would think after 4 years of weekly injections I would be use to it 🤦🏽‍♀️. Thank you so much for your advise xx

[bubblyalex in reply to LJRT]

I don’t know. I’m no expert ... only been at them 6 months I think. I think it can be overwhelming here and there so it’s always good to go at it gently but definitely. The are times where I find it easier than others. More often than not it’s about how I’m feeling I think. The reality is we need them ...trying to find calm to do them I think works best and if I don’t take my time I sure know it and can see it ... much more whopping bruises if I rush. I have the nordimet pens which I found easier than the one time I did the metoject one. The Amgevita is like the metoject and I do struggle a little more with it. I get in a muddle with what to do 🤷🏻‍♀️. 🍀🍀🍀