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Enbrel......................

6/16/2011

1 Comment

 
After visiting the RA Doc last week she decided to put me on Enbrel. I was alarmed at first. I did not want another drug that would make me want to eat everything in sight and punch strangers. Prednisone makes me crazy enough, I think I may change my name to Sybil. But, after talking with my Doc, doing some research, and having a mom that knows how to make you look on the sunny side of things, I am ok. Scared, but ok. I just got off the phone with an Enbrel nurse and they seem very helpful and kind. But, the problem here is, why? What am I taking that requires a lunch box size kit, 24 hour nurse access, and phone calls from the Enbrel people every few days. As much as my parents may argue, I know I am not  special, so why all the attention? This must be a pretty serious drug for so many different people to be spending so much time talking to me about it. Or, am I being a baby? So, if you have some Enbrel stories, please share.
1 Comment
Cathy link
6/17/2011 09:39:24 pm

RA Girl, I had to chuckle when reading this post because I had the same experience last summer when I started on Enbrel. It freaked me out a little bit that I kept getting phone calls. It felt like I was in a sci-fi movie and everyone was coming together in a plot to take over my body. The cost of the medication (without insurance or Enbrel help) freaked me out, the phone calls freaked me out, the nurse coming to my house freaked me out, everything about the process freaked me out! It was so much attention focused on me. I felt the same way, "Geez, I am special, but really? This special?"

The calls do become very occassional. The bag is actually a little smaller than a lunch bag and is used to hold her Enbrel shot, an ice bag, and a travel Sharps container. It is actually kind of nice.

The bonus at the end is I feel good on Enbrel. I was in pretty bad shape before taking it and now with a combo of Enbrel, methotrexate, and diet I feel really good most days. The pain and swelling I have is very minor to what I have experienced in the past. I hope the same for you. Good luck. Please keep us updated. Many people, including myself, do have rashes or bruises around the injection site but so far that is my only side effect. Oh, headaches at the beginning but they went away after a month or so.

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