Hi Andrew,

I am currently on Enbrel for psoriatic arthritis, have been on it for
18 months after waiting 3 years to get good enough insurance to make it
affordable.  Previously, I was on both mtx and Arava - a combination
that had us watching my liver VERY closely.  Specific points:
1)  Enbrel was not the miracle for me that it has been for many, but it
has controlled things a bit better than the previous combo did.  I
really appreciated the improvement in eneregy I got with it!

2) I found the shots to be easier than I anticipated.  My brother, with
an almost 40 year history of insulin-dependent diabetes, says it's the
new silicone-coated needles that go in much more smoothly and easily.
I HAVE had some trouble with the Enbrel stinging as it is injected, but
I just follow the instructions my RD's office gave me and pause to let
the stinging calm down whenever it becomes too much.  How much stinging
I get varies, I figure it has to do with what nerve endings are near
where I poke in the needle.  But I'm not thrilled with the thought of
the new auto-inject Enbrel because controlling the speed of injection
controls the stinging.

3) as for travel - I am currently at my mom's, having flown down here
last Saturday.  Enbrel provides a travel kit when you start the med
that is an insulated pack for transporting it with a gel ice pack and a
sharps box.  The sharps box is really too large for traveling.  I
learned from someone else on the newsgroup to carry a cork instead -
just stick the needle in the cork and break it off the syringe after
your injection.  Much easier for traveling.

I was worried about carrying the gel ice packs on the plane after the
most recent restrictions went into place, but I couldn't get an answer
out of the TSA (though I am still getting automated responses!).  So I
figured I'd just go for it. Ultimately, I had to pull my Enbrel out of
the pack and let them Xray the pack.  Then they hand-inspected both the
pack and the medicine.  Two of the TSA personnel had a discussion about
whether the ice packs were allowed for the purpose of keeping the
medicine cool and they agreed they were and passed me on through.  Oh,
and I do travel with two gel packs in the cooler bag as you never know
what will happen.

If you have the option, it would probably be best if you can stay in
places that have mini-fridges in the room to keep the Enbrel cool.
Otherwise, you will probably have to learn how to use ice from the
motel to keep it at the right temp which will be trickier.  You can
always carry an inexpensive refrigerator thermometer with you to check
the temp.

I found it a little amusing that I flew from Michigan to northern
Florida and the one Enbrel shot I brought with me has a retail value
that exceeded the cost of my plane ticket by a good $50!

Nann