Injections

[Philip]

It would seem that alot of members on here need to inject because of R A, do all sufferers end up injecting?

[LavendarLady]

Hi Philip. I don't know how many sufferers inject themselves. I was on Methotrexate tablets for some months but they made me so very sick - I got fed up with throwing up all over the place and saw my RA consultant who put me onto MTX injections. Initially I had some sickness and still do occasionally but now much better. I also self inject my anti TNF Enbrel which is a simple medi pen. I do know RA sufferers who are still on tablets, some on morphine patches (I can't take morphine as allergic) and I use Nurofen liquid capsules if I get a flare up. I think it depends on the person concerned and their reaction to particular ways of doing things. Some can't bear the thought of injecting themselves although I am now so used to it, it doesn't bother me. It also depends on the progress of the disease as to how it is treated and when injections are the better bet but the anti TNFs are injected or one of them is dripped in at the Hospital over about 4 hours. I also have steroid injections from time to time if a flare up is bad which brings the reaction down very quickly but that is administered by my consultant. I now see him every 3 months but can contact earlier if need be.

Good luck to you as I see from an earlier post, you are newly diagnosed. I was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago and it took a long time to come to terms with it and cope. LavendarLady

[Gina_K]

I have had no probs with methotrex tabs 20 mgs (so far), iron stomach! yes I surprised the number that inject. The only drug I ever had a severe reaction to was neurontin. Grrr!

I inject my Humira and its a doodle prime, point grab a bit of fat and press pen.

Philip, take my advise & cross bridges when you come to them, don't anticipate problems, most of the time you won't know you are taking stuff, its just a life change and you will get used to it.

Is mtx making you nauseous?

[Philip in reply to Gina_K]

I'm not anything apart from morphine patches, I do inject 7 times a day for my diabetes lol but nothing for my R A as yet

[Philip in reply to Gina_K]

Thank you, I'll get there I'm sure lol

[Hidden]

Hi Philip, LavendarLady responded very well to your question and gave you all the information you need really.

It is only over the past 8 years at a guess that injections have become more popular to the RA world, MTX being one of the first and does cut down on the side effects, the newer Anti-Tnf's were the next in line Enbrel and Humira the injectable ones. Most of the other are through infusion. I myself have be been on all the Anti-Tnf's had endless infusions of steroids and am now currently on Rituximab which is also an infusion alongside MTX injections.

Please try not to worry over the injections believe me if you have to inject in the future you will because if it's something that's going to help your ra it surprising what you can do. I had a needle phobia when I was young even the sight or thought of a blood test made me feel faint! I laugh about it now though.

Any advice you need Philip just ask.

Take care

mandy xx

[Philip in reply to Hidden]

I dont have a phobia about needles any more as I inject for my diabetes and as I inject at least 7 times a day , I thought I could do without any more lol.

thank you I do love it here.

[Hidden in reply to Philip]

That's brill, no needle phobia your half way there then! lol

here's me going on about injections and phobias you now more than me!

Sorry about your diabetes I didn't realise, ra just adds to your problems.

Good luck

Mandy xx

[Philip in reply to Hidden]

thats ok Mandy, ill forgive you lol, I have fibromyalgia too COPD and ME and diabetic nuropathy and the impact that all these things have on as you know your self, driving me mad. and the wife too lol but god bless I dont know how she copes with me and my illnessesseesseseessss and then RA, lol but Im a possitive sort of person and I supose thats how I get by.

[Philip]

Wow this is all very scary lol thank for your help ,

Hopefully with everyone's help and support I'll be ok thank you

Philip

[Hidden]

Hi Phillip

Yes is is all very scary but most things are until you understand them.

I think Gina is right, don't waste energy on things that actually may never happen.

I have been injecting for 8 weeks now, thats because, two and a half years down the line I am on Methotrexate which is very good but was still sufferring and all the other drugs they tried me on did not agree with me.

The thing to remember is that we are all individual so your RA route though similar in places will never be exactly the same as anyone else's. Take it all one day at a time. Keep blogging and askig questions. This site is full of amazing people always ready to offer help and support.

Take care

Sue x

[Philip in reply to Hidden]

I have noticed how brilliant this place is for giving support, Im so glad I found you all , thank you.

[juliep]

Hi Philip. I am on methotrexate and like most people thought i would get all the side effects that can occur.....i think im lucky as i did have vomiting once and feel a bit rubbish for a day or two but other than constant mouth ulcers i dont really have any other side effects. I too an diabetic so as i already have several injections daily it would not bother me to do anymore but so far so good. good luck and just take each day as it comes. you never know what will happen so dont waste time worrying about things that may not happen. Jules x

[Philip in reply to juliep]

Ill do my best not to worry but if I do I know where to turn to .

[Hidden]

Phillp did I read right you are just on morphine patches and diabetes injections?

You mean you dont take any DMARDS?

[Philip]

Im sorry but You did read right, I dont know what DEMARDS are?

[Hidden]

Hi Philip

I haven't introduced myself or read your introduction ... I will no doubt find it somewhere!

RA, however mild, requires control. It's possible that your other problems and associated drugs, may make the RA more difficult to treat but it would be most unusual for a rheumatologist not to offer some form of treatment to slow down the progress of the disease.

RA, as you will be aware, is incurable. It can however be treated with disease modifying drugs which will bring the auto-immune processes under some control. Left untreated the disease can lead to long term and irreversible joint damage. There are many options for treatment but usually you are offered a combination of pain relief, anti-inflammatories and a DMARD such as Methotrexate, Sulphasalasine or Hydroxychloroquine. There are others but these are the more usual ones available at the outset.

Think I will go find your first post in case I am missing something!

Lyn x

[Philip]

Hi Lyn thank you for your reply.

When I went to the Rheumy on 31 may,he told me I would be starting on some sort of meds but I don't know when, unless he writes to my GP and he dies something lol, at the moment I really am struggling to walk , the in my feet and my ankles is absolutely killing me as you all know only too well. The morphine isn't even touching the pain at this moment in time,I've had paracetamol I think I'll phone the samaritans and have a cry on Their shoulder ,lol I'm sure the pains will subside soon

[Hidden]

Hi Philip

Think towards the end of next week I would be giving your GP a call as it is important that the meds are introduced quickly to get the best response and avoid potential joint damage. The damage in my feet happened very quickly and despite a couple of ops to remove the damaged metatarsal heads I still experience pain and discomfort. Regular soaking of the feet and gentle massage may help temporarily.

Here's the link to a blog i wrote about 'feet' a few months ago. nras.healthunlocked.com/blo...

Lyn x

[Philip]

Thank you Lyn for the link, I read it and read it again but Im lost for words, are things settled down now that youve had the op?