Well, I’m starting humira in the next 3-4 week

[forislava]

Well, I’m starting humira in the next 3-4 weeks so I count that as a success and the next step on having my life back. Having said that… please tell me it’s not a certain cancer dead sentence while on this..? I know I’m silly, but I used to be a researcher and can’t help it… statistically I’m free game any way just having RA, but, but… lymphoma…? Please someone slap me and tell me something positive for humira before I go ballistic…. Gosh, these days I’m hysterical, stopped the bloody hormonal s*** they gave me just so I stop bothering them as it turns out most common side effects is depression and anxiety?!?!? No wonder I was suggested to get antidepressant too, which I didn’t, but come oooon! Im taking the hot waves, mood swings, whatever… if nothing shows up in the next few months I’ll deal with it, right now I'm sufficiently depressed and scared on my own with no medication… sorry… a dumb attempt of black humour… My GP is lucky she’s not working today… So, back to humira, I’ll take all positivenes you kind people can give me!

[Neonkittie17]

Good luck with it working well for you and giving you relief and movement. If you take care to use a high factor sun protection and you don’t lay baking in the sun your skin should be protected in that way. Keep a check on all skin freckles and moles just as we all do or should do. It’s natural to feel apprehensive with any new med. I’m sure you’ll get confidence in it. 🙏🏻

[forislava in reply to Neonkittie17]

Well, that’s obviously in my past but I had plenty of it so no drama I’ll still prefer beach as destination to any other if I can, but lots of sunscreen How high sunscreen we are talking about? My DH needs at least 40 and I’m fine with 10 or 15 if I’ll use any at all, but given the circumstances does it need to be higher than 15? I know re keeping an eye on my skin and take a very good care of it, although I always did, good hygiene and finger crossed I should be fine… Thank you so much for your quick reply!

[Neonkittie17 in reply to forislava]

I use F50 but that’s my fair skin. Sorry if you’ve had problems there before. I’d burn very quickly if I had factor 15. I have fair skin but still get a little sun on it even with F50. Our skin is often thinned by steroids whether injections or oral. Do you take vitamin D?

[skinnycappuccino]

Hello forislava - I'm really pleased you can start Humira soon 🌷 I've not been on it myself but I'm a huge fan of biologics in general, they're wonderful meds!! I was scared as well before my very first biologic (Simponi) but it worked extraordinarily well for me and very, very fast too!!

Of course that differs from person to person and it can take a few months to work properly so don't give up if it doesn't kick in straight away. I hope very much Humira will work as well for you as my biologics have worked for me: They gave me 8 years of remission with very little noticeable disease activity.

All the very best and let us know how you get on, Christine 🍀

[forislava in reply to skinnycappuccino]

Thank you so much😥😢 I had to battle with my entire family to accept my decision and I am so so scared, but I know this is the only way ahead for me at this point. I can’t stand being in the corner and can’t wait to get back my life - if not 100%, I’ll settle for 90-95%, but I plan to live it the way I want it. Thank you again, I’m depressed and in pain and angry that I have to explain over and over again this and that so I stopped - educate yourself if you want to know, obviously you were not listening the first 10 times I tried to explain it to you!

[skinnycappuccino in reply to forislava]

Hello again forislava - I think you have the right attitude. You tried your best to make your family understand RA and the medication it needs to be treated with but if they don't (want to) understand, you need to concentrate on yourself and not waste any more energy.

I know how scary it is to start a biologic, but you also know how bad RA is! I'm "only" 35 years old and have had RA since I was 25. Despite being put on a biologic fairly soon (1 year after diagnosis), I have irreversible damage in my feet (especially my right foot), which means I cant go jogging anymore, which I used to love. If I imagine what would have happened if I hadn't taken the treatment offered to me - I'd be in a wheelchair now (that's also what my rheumy told me at the time). I'd hesitated to start Simponi and only agreed to it after a couple of months because things had got so bad. Don't let your family or your fear put you off your treatment, it's your best option and could allow you to live a pretty normal life.

I wish you all the best and I admire your strength: it can't be easy when you feel like you're on your own (which you're not!), Christine 🍀

[Wobbies]

When I started on biologics, I was petrified, sure I would succumb to sepsis or cancer but as time has gone on and nothing happens, have got blasé about it. When they work, they are fab and you won't even think of side effects.

[forislava in reply to Wobbies]

🙏 Thank you, thank you!!! This is exactly what I need to hear!!! So it’s not me just being horrified, but as you said - when they work they are fab. So I’m implanting in my head that they WILL work! Thank you 🙏

[Wobbies in reply to forislava]

They will work and you will be fine.

[janmary]

I’m also about to start Humira - over 10 years diagnosed , been on various doses of MX inj since, had side effects with other DMARDS and Tofacitinib Never shows much in blood markers but clinically obvious - just about to start after a bad year. Not keen , but here we go - lets see how it goes!

[forislava in reply to janmary]

Well, I’m not keen either but it is what it is, right? I don’t know how you survived 10 years on MX inj, but if you survived that then you are indescribable!!! I truly hope it will work for both of us!! Just try to think positive… and when you do let me know how you managed so I can think positive too🤣

[forislava in reply to forislava]

Indestructible I mean!! Sorry, autocorrector obviously got it wrong…

[Green230461]

I was on it for over nine years and it was brilliant 🤩 Hope it works well for you too

[bimini]

I loved humira! It worked for me for a good 8yrs until it just didn’t anymore. I was petrified and just waiting for the cancer but it gave me my life back and put me in remission. Enjoy the benefits whilst it lasts. My specialist said 8yrs from it was good. I am now trying another new one that is scaring me but we must do what we must do to have any normality. Hope that helps you.