Comments for Lyza Danger Gardner

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Susan

Susan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:15:18 +0000

I had to switch from Remicade to Humira because my body suddenly decided it didn’t like the Remi anymore & I learned to spell anaphylaxsis. Too bad, it was working so well for me (for RA) and I had even been able to get off methotrexate & pred completely. They started me on those Humira pens and I hated them & think they hurt more, someone hit it on the head talking about a sense of pressure. I switched to the syringes and that is easier for me and I feel more “in control”. I do let it warm up about 30 minutes as that’s what the Dr told me to do- let it come to room temp. I did find icing the site until it is cold enough I can’t really feel it when I lightly touch helps a lot. I pinch on top of thigh, stab, aspirate then count to 15 as I slowly put it in. When done I put the cotton ball on & then the ice pack for a couple minutes and I am good to go. I also think part of it is mental, now that I am used to it, it’s not such a big deal & not so uncomfortable. Just thinking about how it is a small price to pay to get/stay better helps too. Unfortunately the Humira alone is not working for me as well as Remicade was & I have had to start back on methotrexate. I just can’t tolerate the oral MTX and, after another ER visit, I am switching to the injectible, which is apparently very hard to get right now. I think that’ll be a piece of cake compared to injecting Humira! At least for me, I like giving myself injections at home a lot better than going for infusions.

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Lise

Lise — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:21:58 +0000

Hi. What a great post, thank you.
I had my 4th humira injection (pen) today for my PsA (diagnosed 2 years ago) and was feeling such a baby for my near-panic attack prior to having the injection, so decided to look online. Sorry to share the pain, but I’m so glad to find that others feel the same – I thought I was just being really pathetic!
I’d lifted the pen out of the fridge about an hour earlier, but it’s just so damned painful. I see that someone says the syringes are better, but I also read elsewhere that it just makes the pain last longer. I am torn about what to do – I’m all for reducing the pain, but I don’t want to run the risk of just prolonging it!
I am very impressed with those of you who managed to endure 4 – I only had to do 1. I know I wouldn’t have managed any more!
Good luck to everyone.

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by lauren

lauren — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:37:30 +0000

Hello and thank you so much for posting this info! I just started Humira, with my first injections at the hospital two weeks ago. I only had 2 syringes, thank goodness. After the first shot I had to lay down and the nurse got me apple juice to drink- I had no idea how bad it was gonna hurt. I’ve been dealing with my Crohn’s for 20 years and still was not ready for that pain. I left the hospital thinking that I might just have to switch back to Remicade-to being stuck in the hospital for hours with an IV every two months. Today is my second dose, at home, but now I am armed with the knowledge that it does hurt and that other people live thru it and honestly it- is nothing compared to the pain of Crohn’s and that I can do it!

Thank you thank you thank you!

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by M Corbett

M Corbett — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:25:41 +0000

I am not alone!!!!! Thank you everybody!!!!!! I have just had my sixth injection (pen) this evening. I promised myself this time I wouldn’t push my boyfriend away (he administer the humira), wouldn’t scream anxious expletives or bite my pillow with clenched teeth while screaming. I didn’t even put on an episode of Sex and the City to distract me. I was convinced I could handle it. However I did push my boyfriend away and I did scream in writhing pain. Number 4 is the moment of torture BUT(!!!!) this is the first time in my life since 18 (now 36) thY I have been free of pain from Ankylosing Spondylitis. I am grateful for this opportunity. I am also doing Bikram Yoga which has also changed my life. I recommend Bikram Yoga to everyone. If u can do humira, you can do Bikram. Best wishes, Mary

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Christine

Christine — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:37:16 +0000

Thank you so much for your help! Your ideas made tonight’s injection so much less painful!

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Bruce F

Bruce F — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:22:27 +0000

Glad I found this site. I was on Enbrel for plaque psoriasis for three years and it eventually stopped working, which is why I switched to Humira. Enbrel pen injections were nothing, a pinch and done. I expected the same for Humira, and hey! Only every two weeks, not every week like Enbrel.

Then I gave myself the first pen injection and was WTF????? I’ve been hit repeatedly with a baseball bat and that was nothing compared to this Torquemada-like torture.I figured it was just a sensitive day, but over the year I’ve been on Humira, I’ve dreaded every other Friday. The only shot I ever got that even was close to this was some phenergan I was given after surgery, and that hurt because it was thick liquid.

It controls my psoriasis very nicely, but whatever is in this stuff is really painful.

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Vanessa McMullin

Vanessa McMullin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:37:15 +0000

Just tried my first “heated” injection…I left it on a heating pad for a few minutes. It was SO MUCH BETTER. Still stung, but I’ll take it. Does anyone feel really tired for a couple of days after their injection?
Thanks

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Erin

Erin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:18:05 +0000

Hi I’ve been taking humira for about a year now, I started out with embrel 2 years ago. I’m only 18 and have to take it because I have psorisis and the arthritis associated with it. And I will be taking the medicine for the rest of my life. But anyways I have probably the worst needle phobias ever, I can give other people shots but can’t deal with getting them myself. So my mom Gives them to me in the back of my hip like right above my pants and butt. This has always been the least painful for me because 1 I can’t see it and 2 there’s not many nerves there because its just fat. The second one came from my mom since she’s a nurse. I also let it sit out till its about room temp and it helps a lot. :)

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Larissa

Larissa — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:22:43 +0000

I have taken Humira for around 3 years, and I’ve despised every single injection. I’ve developed a slight phobia of sorts to the sound of the injection “click” (more like a gun shot) so that I either have to have the TV blaring, the bathroom fan on, or the faucet running when I’m about to inject. I often psych myself out–I’ll hold the pen up to my stomach and get ready to inject, then pull away because I can’t bring myself to do it. This happens multiple times as I get continually more anxious about the fact that I have to stab myself, as well as the fact that I’m wasting water because the faucet is still running. It’s torture.

I also leave my pen out of the fridge for about 45 minutes before I inject. The only other tactic I’ve discovered that sometimes–and ONLY sometimes–seems to lessen the pain a bit is to exhale forcefully as soon as you inject. It’s hard to do when the pain makes you gasp/scream/wail. But it seemed to help a couple of times.

Comment on How to make Humira injections hurt less by Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:00:52 +0000

Thank goodness I found your blog! My 7 year old son has just spent the last 2 hours crying and screaming refusing to even allow the Humira pen anywhere near him and we are all emotionally and physically exhausted from it. He has SAPHO syndrome and is due for his second Humira injection today and he is completely terrified by it. What concerned me was knowing he has been through so many other medical procedures and has an extremely high pain threshold yet the Humira injection completely terrifies him. It was very supportive to read everyones comments here and to know his reaction is real and valid. We need to find a way to help him cope with these fortnightly injections and all of the suggestion on here are going to be so much help for him. It gives us a little hope we can maybe find a way forward. I was also wondering if people have thought about the effects of stress from worrying about having the injection and the impact that has on the condition the Humira is supposed to be treating? Thanks again for your wonderful blog!!