hi all as you all know I was due to start Himira 40 mg!but need to have test and things befor I could start,well the test are back and I’ve had the delivery it’s sat in my fridge I’m so scared to inject it!!!
Can anyone give me some encouragement,people who are on this medication I’m on metratrexate also!
I really need to take it!!help!!!🙏🏽
usually the delivery company organise a nurse to come and supervise the first injection, and ensure you don’t react to it. Has this not been organised for you
Hi thanks for replying!
No the nurses video called me and talk me through how to do it!but no one’s coming I need to do it myself 🤔
I agree with you I use benapali and had a lovely nurse came out and showed me,bit odd not coming round to check.PS thanks for your input as a nurse very helpful and much appreciated.
Thanks for replying 👍
Hi there, I get how you feel - starting a new medication is often a bit nerve-wracking for me too. I started adalimumab a while back (different brand name but same thing essentially). So far the injections have been completely fine, so hopefully they will be for you too.
One thing I've found helpful personally with starting new medications and doing injections is watching YouTube videos of other people doing theirs - it's reassuring and makes it feel so normal. And you'll soon get used to it anyway. There's lots on there about adalimumab / Humira, here's a few: youtube.com/results?search_...
Do you have the injectable form of methotrexate? Because if you're doing those injections, you probably already know (and are doing) all the things you need!
Wishing you all the best with it. Let us know how you go!
Hi thanks so much for replying!
The metratrexate I’m on I inject 15 mg every week..it’s not the injection that’s worrying me it’s the side effects after I’ve done it!i’ll be waiting for them to start and every little twinge or pain I’ll think it’s the injection 😂
How was you after your injection did you get side effect’s?
Very little by way of side effects - MUCH better than methotrexate! I think biologics often are better for side effects because they target a much more specific aspect of the inflammatory process than the conventional DMARDs.
Aww that’s good to know!did you inject your first one yourself or did an health professional do it?
Also do you find you pick up more infections since been on the biologic?
I injected it myself, but had a nurse with me. Very straightforward! I haven't noticed any increase in infections so far 
Thanks for replying 👍
You're welcome. I hope it goes smoothly whenever you decided to start. Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻
When faced with situations like these I say to myself; ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’. In this case you might get it wrong (unlikely but just try again/ask for more advice), it might sting a bit (but not as much as RA hurts). Go for it!
Thanks for replying 👍
Hi My. I'm the same, absolutely hate any new meds and first taking them. I was told how to do my Benepali jab over the phone would you believe. I too was told a nurse would come and supervise the first jab in person but no she rang me! I was petrified the first time I did it. But it was all fine. I told my hubby if I start going weird in any way call 999, that's how scared I was. If you already I inject MTX then go for it pretend it's just another MTX.
I also watched a couple of videos which helped.
I've not had any more infections to speak of than I used to have before biologics and been on it since November last year.
Be brave it's a good feeling once you've done it I was so proud of myself. X
Thanks for replying 👍
Hiya I’m glad your test came back all clear & you can start this new drug I hope it works for you. I have a new drug to start also which is in my medical cupboard it’s so scary isn’t it.
I’ve been on Himira I found it helped slightly but my antibodies was fighting off the drug & my specialist changed me to cimiza which I had bad side effect so off we go again now on another journey & another drug meanwhile I’ve been in prednisone 10mg since the start of Covid so I really need to find a suitable drug so I can tapper down and get of these.
Good luck, ps I thought tablet form would be less daunting then an injection turns out I’m a baby lol
I always take it out of the fridge for a couple of hours to make sure it’s room temperature first. It shouldn’t sting then. I also inject in my tummy- I found it stings and bruises less than my thighs. It’s honestly fine. Don’t worry!! I’ve been doing it for about 3 years now. I’m MUCH better, practically back to normal!
Hi
I inject 10mg methotrexate (with a pre loaded pen) and 40mg Amgevita (same as humira). Always inject in my tummy now as it stings less than legs and take the Amgevita pen out of the fridge an hour before I need to inject. Methotrexate is the stinger for me … no issues with Amgevita at all and now been taking it for 4 years. Started to make me feel so much better within 48hrs although the improvement began to fade before the next injection was due. It probably took a couple of months (4 injections in my system) before the improvements became continuous.
A massive game changer for me… wouldn’t be without it. Weirdly I probably have fewer infections, coughs, sneezes than I did before RA and I’ve had no side effects with Amgevita that I’m aware of. Good luck with yours 👍
Thanks for replying
My nurse told me to take the injection out the fridge 20/30’mins before injecting so that it’s not going in cold, apparently that hurts more. I also only inject in my stomach, away from belly button (again, both Rhemy nurse & home nurse suggestion as they say the thigh is much more painful - I’ve not tried the thigh). I’ve been injecting since September of last year and it’s only hurt twice. The first few times I took it felt dizzy and woozy, but fine the next day (nowhere near as bad as metho), so now I do my injection an hour or so before bed. Best of luck, it’s made a massive difference to my quality of life. I had one bad chest infection at the beginning of the year, but other than that fine. I’ve had these type of infections previously, but this time around dr we’re much more careful with me, insisting I go to a&e & had intervinous antibiotics, followed by more at by mouth at home. I don’t think this infection was any worse than previous ones, just the precaution and extra attention given by the doctors because of the meds I was on.
Thanks for replying
hello
I have been on Humira for about 6 years and it has worked so well for me
I take the injection out of the fridge to warm up for 5 mins then inject into my tummy
Very quick and only slight sting
Try not to overthink the doing of it.. just do it. After the first time it will be easy
It has transformed my life!
Thanks
To re-inforce what others have said - take it out of the fridge for about 30 minutes beforehand. Inject into your stomach at least palm's width away from your belly button.
I press, hold for a count of ten (and then plonk a small plaster over it as I bleed from everywhere on the slightest injury). I've not had any side effects excepts for an increase in catarrh.
Injecting into your thigh is an option but most people find it more painful and more likely to bleed/bruise.
If you've been injecting Methotrexate, biologics are a doddle.
Thank you 😊
I was similarly scared when I started my biologic, even though I had injected the mtx before. Like you, it wasn’t the injection that scared me; I was scared of side effects. Some practical advice: Inject during business hours and have your phone handy just on the very off chance you did need to call for help. Preparing for problems, even when they are very unlikely, may give you some extra peace of mind (well, it works for me, though everyone is different). I was lucky to be able to do my first injections at a doctor’s office (was still terrified because I had serious side effects from hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate). They had me stay for 30 minutes after the injection; I think if you feel ok for 20-30 minutes, it’s going to be ok. Finally,I am drug-sensitive to the point that dmards landed me in hospital, but the biologic has been gentle-I’ve had no problems with it, and wish you the same!
ice the area first….
My first was humira, it was easy to inject and worked for 4 years.it was the side effects of mtx I couldn't take.I have too drive an hour and a half for infusions, so doing humira at home was great lol
Thank you 😊
I had a nurse visit for my first but actually did it myself with her watching. Never looked back since. Just make sure you have it out of:the fridge for 30mins before you inject. Take care
Thanks 😊
Hi Mybirthday,I picked mine up today! It's now sitting in the fridge waiting for Monday (my preferred day). Good luck...I hope we both get the much needed relief that we need. Spin x
thanks 😊
Hi HeadlnASpin.
How long did it take for you to get the injections home once the doctor decided to start humira???? I had an appointment 4 weeks ago and the doctor decided to start humira. I had all the tests done the same day at the hospital. I have no further news from the hospital.
Hi they said it would take 6-8 weeks but I got a call last Wednesday to say all my results were in…could I go to an appointment on Friday? Of course I jumped at the appointment and was really surprised because it had been less than four weeks. The biologics specialist was lovely and let me take the drugs home with me that day (I knew how to do the injections because they’re the same format as MTX). I took my first dose yesterday as Mondays are the best day for me. The brand I’m on is Yuflyma and she said they try to keep patients on the same brand of adalimumab if they can. Good luck, hope you get an appointment soon.
Thank you very much for your answer. I hope it will go that quickly for me too. How you feeling after first injection???
Not too bad at all actually. Certainly better than the first MTX injection!
Thanks 👍
Methrexate made my tired and a bit woozy. But nothing at all from Humira.
Thanks 😊
hi. I totally understand how you feel. I had a nurse show me and stay with me the first time in case I reacted. I now go and sit in the car outside my GP practice. Inject and wait half an hour just in case. Sounds daft but reassures me
Thanks 😊
Thanks 😊
I have been using Imraldi for quite a few years and Humira before that. I have not had any side effects but I do find that taking the syringe out of the fridge an hour or two before injecting means that the actual injection stings less.I hope that it works well for you and that it makes as huge a difference to you as it had to me
Thanks 😊
I inject with Humira and have done for many years. It put me in remission. I did my first with the nurse and she stayed with me to make sure I didn’t have a reaction to it. I was still scared when I did it alone but it’s really easy and the needle is very fine. Unlike the bio similars Humira doesn’t sting so you shouldn’t even feel it!I always inject into stomach as I can pinch a good inch 😂I haven’t noticed any side effects. You are very lucky to get the original as I have seen many posts were the NHS are trying to cut costs and put people on the bio similars! Leave it out the fridge before you inject. I was lucky to eventually stop taking MXT ( I had bad side effects). Fingers crossed it works for you.
Thanks for your reply 👍
Hi Mybirthday1975.
How long did it take for you to get the injections home once the doctor decided to start humira???? I had an appointment 4 weeks ago and the doctor decided to start humira. I had all the tests done the same day at the hospital. I have no further news from the hospital.
Hi!
I had all the test done like you but it has taken a long time before I got the call to say the prescription was getting sent! I actually thought they had forgotten about me tbf !!
Hope you’re not waiting much longer!👍
Thank you very much for your reply. At the hospital they didn't tell me how long it would take or what it would look like.
It’s a doddle! We couldn’t do it at first and resorted to using a cardboard box to practice the 1st injection. The box went BANG! We laughed so much it relieved the tension. But, we soon realised just how easy it was. Give it a go, you’ll be surprised, plus the Humira was the answer to my RA probs.
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Starting meds today need help 
