Comments for Lyza Danger Gardner http://www.lyza.com The online home of an aspiring polymath Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:46:25 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Lyza Gardner http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-543537 Lyza Gardner Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:46:25 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-543537 Hi, everybody! Thanks for your great ongoing comments and discussion. As part of an archiving process for my web site, I am disabling comments at this time. However, I see this post as an important point of community for those of us using Humira, and hope I can re-enable discussion at some point in the near future! Hi, everybody! Thanks for your great ongoing comments and discussion. As part of an archiving process for my web site, I am disabling comments at this time. However, I see this post as an important point of community for those of us using Humira, and hope I can re-enable discussion at some point in the near future!

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by joanna http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-539720 joanna Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:42:05 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-539720 oh natalie, your son's fear is very valid. i am 23 and after my loading dose, don't think i can even take my next shots. the pain was just excruciating. did you ever figure out a way for your son to have less pain? oh natalie, your son’s fear is very valid. i am 23 and after my loading dose, don’t think i can even take my next shots. the pain was just excruciating. did you ever figure out a way for your son to have less pain?

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by joanna http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-539714 joanna Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:29:15 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-539714 wow this post pretty much sums up my experience. i feel so much better knowing that i am not alone. like you, i have IBD and experience shots, infusions, and bloodwork ALL the time. you'd think i'd be totally fine with humira shots. HELL to the NO. the nurse came over to do my loading doses today and i already had the humira out of the fridge for 45 minutes. i iced my legs and gut and hoped for the best. i could only take 3 of the 4 loading doses because i thought i was going to have a heart attack. the pain i experienced was like my legs being sawed off. i could not even fathom giving myself the injection because i would just faint. my hands, feet, and lips went numb, my chest was tight, i got really cold, and was hyperventilating. my pulse was through the roof. it sounded liked i was being murdered on the couch. honestly, i don't think i can do the next doses. my UC symptoms aren't bad enough for this kind of agony. wow this post pretty much sums up my experience. i feel so much better knowing that i am not alone. like you, i have IBD and experience shots, infusions, and bloodwork ALL the time. you’d think i’d be totally fine with humira shots. HELL to the NO. the nurse came over to do my loading doses today and i already had the humira out of the fridge for 45 minutes. i iced my legs and gut and hoped for the best. i could only take 3 of the 4 loading doses because i thought i was going to have a heart attack. the pain i experienced was like my legs being sawed off. i could not even fathom giving myself the injection because i would just faint. my hands, feet, and lips went numb, my chest was tight, i got really cold, and was hyperventilating. my pulse was through the roof. it sounded liked i was being murdered on the couch.

honestly, i don’t think i can do the next doses. my UC symptoms aren’t bad enough for this kind of agony.

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Susan http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-528588 Susan Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:06:17 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-528588 Me again, it's been a while! I have switched to using my stomach to inject the Humira syringe and that is less painful for me. Out of curiosity I checked and both the pen and the syringe have the same exact gauge & length of needle (27 gauge 1/2"- which is very small), so that is not why one may feel different than the other in terms of pain. I don't feel the Humira needle going in, it's the stuff itself. I do agree, after having to use pens again for a month as the pharmacy messed up & got them instead of the syringes & I had to take them because it was the day I needed it, the pens really do hurt more. I can see why they are better for some hands or folks who are squeamish about seeing needles, but the suckers make it hurt more! Maybe it's the "bang" or the angle- the pen is perpendicular whereas the syringe goes in at a 45 degree angle, so the pen needle goes deeper into the skin. The stuff burns like lava going in, but at least the pain goes away fairly fast. I am back on injectible methotrexate 15 mg/week and doing well, the bod is quiet for now. I am going to speak w/ my rheumy next visit about lowering the dose on the MTX w/ the hopes to get off it. I also have necrotising scleritis in both eyes and they are quiet now too & the ophthalmologist is a happy camper & thinks this is a good time to try to lower the dose or maybe get off it. I had foot surgery the end of August and the surgeon never called the rheumy like she said she would to discuss my meds, so I assumed it was OK to stay on all my meds and I did. (It wasn't, of course, but I assumed she called and secured the rheumy's blessings.) Anyhow, I rapidly developed CRPS (RSD) in the foot after the surgery and I have been through months of agony with that. Trust me, it is horribly painful, makes RA a piece of cake, and you can't even tolerate air on your skin. Has anyone else had surgery or serious injury to a hand/foot/wrist/ankle while on their meds and had this problem? I went to PT & pain management and refused pain killers or the nerve blocks she offered, so I am just dealing with it myself as I am really doctor shy now. Of course the foot surgeon says the meds had nothing to do with the CRPS, but she could be lying to cover her mistake as the rheumy would have said no to the surgery until I stopped the drugs and of course the drug companies are not going to admit their drugs caused any problems. It may have nothing to do with the drugs I was on when I had the surgery, I will probably never know. Happy new year to everyone, maybe this will be the year they find a cure for one of these horrible diseases? Me again, it’s been a while! I have switched to using my stomach to inject the Humira syringe and that is less painful for me. Out of curiosity I checked and both the pen and the syringe have the same exact gauge & length of needle (27 gauge 1/2″- which is very small), so that is not why one may feel different than the other in terms of pain. I don’t feel the Humira needle going in, it’s the stuff itself. I do agree, after having to use pens again for a month as the pharmacy messed up & got them instead of the syringes & I had to take them because it was the day I needed it, the pens really do hurt more. I can see why they are better for some hands or folks who are squeamish about seeing needles, but the suckers make it hurt more! Maybe it’s the “bang” or the angle- the pen is perpendicular whereas the syringe goes in at a 45 degree angle, so the pen needle goes deeper into the skin. The stuff burns like lava going in, but at least the pain goes away fairly fast.

I am back on injectible methotrexate 15 mg/week and doing well, the bod is quiet for now. I am going to speak w/ my rheumy next visit about lowering the dose on the MTX w/ the hopes to get off it. I also have necrotising scleritis in both eyes and they are quiet now too & the ophthalmologist is a happy camper & thinks this is a good time to try to lower the dose or maybe get off it.

I had foot surgery the end of August and the surgeon never called the rheumy like she said she would to discuss my meds, so I assumed it was OK to stay on all my meds and I did. (It wasn’t, of course, but I assumed she called and secured the rheumy’s blessings.) Anyhow, I rapidly developed CRPS (RSD) in the foot after the surgery and I have been through months of agony with that. Trust me, it is horribly painful, makes RA a piece of cake, and you can’t even tolerate air on your skin. Has anyone else had surgery or serious injury to a hand/foot/wrist/ankle while on their meds and had this problem? I went to PT & pain management and refused pain killers or the nerve blocks she offered, so I am just dealing with it myself as I am really doctor shy now. Of course the foot surgeon says the meds had nothing to do with the CRPS, but she could be lying to cover her mistake as the rheumy would have said no to the surgery until I stopped the drugs and of course the drug companies are not going to admit their drugs caused any problems. It may have nothing to do with the drugs I was on when I had the surgery, I will probably never know.

Happy new year to everyone, maybe this will be the year they find a cure for one of these horrible diseases?

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Marion Anderson http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-476362 Marion Anderson Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:06:12 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-476362 I have to inject every week into my stomach and yes, it HURTS!!! Allowing it to warm up makes a huge difference. I replied though because I have a question: Has anyone else ever have the needle end come out of the box all loose? My last one moved in whatever direction I turned the pen. Needless to say, I passed on the injection. Hopefully I can just return it to the drugstore in the morning. I'm just wondering how common this might happen. Thanks. I have to inject every week into my stomach and yes, it HURTS!!! Allowing it to warm up makes a huge difference. I replied though because I have a question:
Has anyone else ever have the needle end come out of the box all loose? My last one moved in whatever direction I turned the pen. Needless to say, I passed on the injection. Hopefully I can just return it to the drugstore in the morning. I’m just wondering how common this might happen.
Thanks.

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Becca http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-467852 Becca Mon, 26 Nov 2012 03:22:19 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-467852 I'm 20 years old and I was diagnosed last year with Stills Disease. I was originally taking Kineret, but I started to have an allergic reaction and was forced to find an alternative. I must say that this post was so relatable! I read it to my boyfriend (the stabber lol) and was telling him that it was so true! I am definitely going to try all of this! I use the pen, but I'm contemplating trying to do the syringe! Needles just make me nauseous (I have my boyfriend do it because I cannot get past the mental block and terror to actually jab myself). But maybe if I just look away and breathe, it'll help with that, and be less painful!! We'll see! I’m 20 years old and I was diagnosed last year with Stills Disease. I was originally taking Kineret, but I started to have an allergic reaction and was forced to find an alternative. I must say that this post was so relatable! I read it to my boyfriend (the stabber lol) and was telling him that it was so true! I am definitely going to try all of this! I use the pen, but I’m contemplating trying to do the syringe! Needles just make me nauseous (I have my boyfriend do it because I cannot get past the mental block and terror to actually jab myself). But maybe if I just look away and breathe, it’ll help with that, and be less painful!! We’ll see!

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by cecilia http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-467815 cecilia Mon, 26 Nov 2012 02:51:32 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-467815 I have severe RA that has affected me 30 + yrs. Joint pain comes with the territory of RA. Yes, it helps to know others endure the Humira injections as I did with my 1st shot 2 wks ago. I remember the worst moment in time following the 1st injection. I felt unable to hold my grip of handling a primeval scream for a few minutes afterword. My ability to keep RA flares at bay with Humira is worth every minute of torture. I know the worst of the shot pain will help manage my RA; & for that I can SMILE!!! I hope this sobering outcome helps readers better cope while on Humira shots every 2 weeks. I have severe RA that has affected me 30 + yrs.
Joint pain comes with the territory of RA.
Yes, it helps to know others endure the Humira injections as I did with my 1st shot 2 wks ago.
I remember the worst moment in time following the 1st injection.
I felt unable to hold my grip of handling a primeval scream for a few minutes afterword.
My ability to keep RA flares at bay with Humira is worth every minute of torture.
I know the worst of the shot pain will help manage my RA; & for that I can SMILE!!!
I hope this sobering outcome helps readers better cope while on Humira shots every 2 weeks.

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Cory http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-458708 Cory Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:19:50 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-458708 I use Humira for psoriasis and take an injection twice a month. I prefer the syringe over the self injecting pen because it gives me more control of the pressure that I have heard a lot of people speak of. Definitely get the medicine to at least room temperature, greatly eliminates the pain from injection. My biggest issue was after the injection I would have swelling, redness and a noticeable heat at and around the injection site. My dermatologist recommended taking a anti-histamine an hour before injecting and another immediately following. This has greatly reduced the swelling and irritation following my injections. I hope this helps others. I use Humira for psoriasis and take an injection twice a month. I prefer the syringe over the self injecting pen because it gives me more control of the pressure that I have heard a lot of people speak of.

Definitely get the medicine to at least room temperature, greatly eliminates the pain from injection. My biggest issue was after the injection I would have swelling, redness and a noticeable heat at and around the injection site. My dermatologist recommended taking a anti-histamine an hour before injecting and another immediately following. This has greatly reduced the swelling and irritation following my injections. I hope this helps others.

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Bob Newman http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-454565 Bob Newman Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:51:14 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-454565 My first two shots of Humeria were the most painful I have ever taken (I take three shots of type R and N [nsulin every day of my life) I left the pen out of the frige for 45 min for my third shot. I put a folded towel in my teeth... pinched my right side of my lower abdomen hard... pr.essed the pen down hard.. expecting the pain... gritted my teeth... pressed the purple button with the music on loud... and then....no pain at all. I looked at the pen after fifteen seconds and to my amazement I saw the yellow marker. Prayer works My first two shots of Humeria were the most painful I have ever taken (I take three shots of type R and N [nsulin every day of my life)

I left the pen out of the frige for 45 min for my third shot. I put a folded towel in my teeth… pinched my right side of my lower abdomen hard… pr.essed the pen down hard.. expecting the pain… gritted my teeth… pressed the purple button with the music on loud… and then….no pain at all. I looked at the pen after fifteen seconds and to my amazement I saw the yellow marker.
Prayer works

]]> Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Sardines http://www.lyza.com/2010/11/18/how-to-make-humira-injections-hurt-less/#comment-453104 Sardines Sun, 11 Nov 2012 22:01:04 +0000 http://www.lyza.com/?p=3713#comment-453104 I used Enbrel for several years in a pen and thought the pen was the greatest invention on earth. You don't get spooked by the needle, because you can't see it, fast, efficient, etc. Then I self-injected Methotrexate for a while with syringes, learning how to draw it out of a vial, tap out the bubbles, etc. From that, I discovered that I preferred having control over the speed of the injection. I went for syringes when I was switched to Humira. Thank god. The drug itself hurts. Let it warm up for at least 30 minutes, 2 hours is not too long. (One time I was in a rush and rolled it between my palms to warm it up for only 5 minutes. Big mistake. It hurt like hell.) Take your time. I do 2 mls, stop for 15 seconds, 2 more mls, etc. When it gets really painful, I pull the needle out a millimeter or so to find a new "void" in the tissues to force that drug into. When all else fails, I have stopped and reinserted the needle elsewhere. You're not supposed to do that, but I'm not doing to throw away such an expensive drug. Also, I disinfect a huge area before I start (4 or 5 square inches of skin, top of thigh) so I have this option. Lastly, I live alone, so I give myself permission to groan out loud and curse the gods that gave me an auto-immune disease. I used Enbrel for several years in a pen and thought the pen was the greatest invention on earth. You don’t get spooked by the needle, because you can’t see it, fast, efficient, etc. Then I self-injected Methotrexate for a while with syringes, learning how to draw it out of a vial, tap out the bubbles, etc. From that, I discovered that I preferred having control over the speed of the injection. I went for syringes when I was switched to Humira. Thank god. The drug itself hurts. Let it warm up for at least 30 minutes, 2 hours is not too long. (One time I was in a rush and rolled it between my palms to warm it up for only 5 minutes. Big mistake. It hurt like hell.) Take your time. I do 2 mls, stop for 15 seconds, 2 more mls, etc. When it gets really painful, I pull the needle out a millimeter or so to find a new “void” in the tissues to force that drug into. When all else fails, I have stopped and reinserted the needle elsewhere. You’re not supposed to do that, but I’m not doing to throw away such an expensive drug. Also, I disinfect a huge area before I start (4 or 5 square inches of skin, top of thigh) so I have this option. Lastly, I live alone, so I give myself permission to groan out loud and curse the gods that gave me an auto-immune disease.

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