Becky:

I was scared stiff the first time around. Now I just find a convenient
spot, usually on the flabbiest part of my belly and just jam the sucker
in. It helps to let the solution warm up a few minutes and yes, it
sometimes stings. But honestly, where you're shooting has very few
nerves, except on the surface of the skin. So if you simply give a nice
smooth jab through, it barely hurts at all. In fact, once it's in, you
could probably walk around for an hour with it sticking out of you and
hardly notice--not that you'd want to.

As for ice, don't bother. As for the burning, it's minor. As for the
odd time (rare) that you bruise or draw blood, don't freak out; you've
only nicked a capillary. There's nothing vital anywhere within range of
the needle, unless you have a knack for injecting yourself in the neck,
groin or armpit.

I've done thighs, buttocks and belly with no problems. I've had friends
do my shoulder. Once I knocked the syringe off the table and it landed,
needle-first, into the top of my foot. In excruciating pain, but not
wanting to waste a dose, I left it there and gingerly pressed the
plunger. Success!

It quickly becomes boring, even comical. Don't worry. Regarding side
eefects: Study the circular or look it up on RxList.com. You'll find
many terrible symptoms in tiny percentages--no more than a placebo--and
a few, such as respiratory infections to look out for. As for bladder
and other exotic happenings, they are both rare and idiosyncratic--in
other words, the correlation with the drug has not been shown in wider
tests. Which doesn't mean they're imaginary, just that people like us
with RA often have a constellation of pains and maladies, of which
some, all or none may be related to any one drug.

Also remember, though MTX, Enbrel, even Advil are serious drugs, this
is a serious disease and even the worst drugs--and Enbrel is not even
close--have far fewer side effects than medicines for cancer, lupus and
other biggies.

So keep asking questions, maintaian a close relationship with your
doctors, but hit the disease hard and take the appropriate medicine,
dammit! Hope this helps.

Hi Becky,

I was scared when I started Enbrel too.  I have to say, I was more
frieghtened of MTX the whole time I was on it.

Enbrel has been great for me. A little burn going in with the 50 mg
injection, but other than that, easy as pie.  And the little burn is
well worth the benefits.

As far as side effects, what are the alternatives?  We either take
these drugs and have a small risk of a side effect, or we don't treat
our disease and we will have a 100% of getting worse.  I'd take the
slight risk every time.  Drug companies have to list all those things
to cover their butts.

Peace...
Melvin

Hi Becky

I have been on Enbrel for more than 3 months and I continue to sing
it's praises.  I had a sinus infection (didn't know it was brewing
before my first injection), but I skipped one week and my RD told me to
continue with Enbrel.  The infection did not come back, and have not
had one since.

The needle stick is easier than the Mtx. injection, for me anyway.  The
needle doesn't go into the muscle, so it doesn't hurrt at all.  There
is some burning while the Enbrel is being injected into the tissue.  I
have found the burning to be more intense if I do not allow the Enbrel
to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.

My doctor did not give me injection instructions because I had used
Mtx. injections for many years.  Also, he did not give me the start up
Enbrel kit with the Enliven information.  Someone here suggested that I
call the manufacturer of Enbrel before my first injection.  It was good
advice as I was able to speak with an RN who assured me and went over
the injection technique.

I would suggest that if you do not have the start up kit, or any
information about Enbrel, you should call your doctor.

I wish you well.

Bonnie

I just posted about the burning under another enbrel post. But in regards to
the infections, I've never had a problem with it. I don't know if I'm odd in
this regard, but I seem to be much more "bug" resstant than a typical non RA
person. I work around young children (ped. speech therapist) and very rarely
pick up viruses. I did have to go on antibiotics recently for a skin abscess
(not related to the RA) and ended up with a yeast infection. First one since
the last time I had antibiotics about 6 years ago....

I can't answer much about the pain of the needle. I get very little pain
because I've had two c-sections. Most of my lower belly is numb on the
outermost skin layers. Everyonce in a while I get a prick but it's well
worth it for what the enbrel does for me.

Hey Becky,

I've commented on some of the other stuff in other Enbrel threads so I won't
repeat my coments about the stinging and all of that.  I've had times when I
had sinus infections almost constantly but we'd managed to improve that
greatly before the days I went on Enbrel.  But I can tell you that they
haven't come back since I've been on Enbrel.  The only way the Enbrel has
affected my sinuses was by giving me enough energy to do more gardening, so I
got stuffed up from the molds and pollens in the soil!  Oh well.

I haven't been prone to yeast infections and have had none on Enbrel.  Enbrel
really shouldn't cause any problems of that sort as it does not kill off
beneficial bacteria the way antibiotics do.  So you still have your body's
natural defenses against yeast overgrowth.

Becky, I have chronic sinus infections, turned out it had nothing to do
with medication but with the nosebone or septum I believe it's called.
Not everything is due to reumatic causes or meds so you may look into
that as well. I had x-ray's taken of my nose so that's how I know.

About the bladderproblem and yeastinfections;

I suffered bladderproblems and urinary duct problems (yes, you are
allowed to LOL as I am dutch so my native language is netherlands, but
still count on you to figure out what I am talking about), and always
used to have antiobiotics around.
I have found enough rest and sleep somehow makes it better and using
special soap and only wearing cotton undies do help.
When we were in Australia a couple of months ago (surprise for my aussie
cousin who was getting married) trouble started again and as it was in a
weekend I would have to go through a lot of trouble to find a dr to
write a receipt, so I thougth it would be best to go to one of the
chinese drugstores (24/7) in the redlight district, as I thought they
would probably know what would be next best thing to antiobiotics.
Figured they hear about that problem all the time from their customers...
They gave me a bottle with tablets, made of extracts from plants, I told
them it better be good, because my body cannot be fooled.

It's called, or so I believe, I'm not even sure if that's a brandname:

Urinary Tract Support.

And I must say: it did help! Even better and faster than antibiotics
ever have! I can only speak for myself ofcourse.
I like the idea of not having to use chemical antibiotics.
Amongst other things they claim the stuff has antibiotical activities.

While travelling we did go into many other stores but there were only
two other ones that sold the stuff.
Before leaving, we went to the same drugstore again and purchased all of
the bottles left! Left a very happy shopowner I can tell you ;-)

haven't had to use them many times since, the tablets seem to keep away
the bladder and yeast problems for an acceptable while.

I don't know if they can be bought in the US, haven't seen them over
here, but there's the site-address that's on the bottle:

www.ethicalnutrients.com.au

Maybe they can tell you where to buy them in the US so you could try a
bottle.
I used 5 tablets 4 times daily for the first two days.
Also, what I really like; there's no added artificial flavouring,
couloring or preservatives.

Sorry to sound so promotional, but I was so happy I found this and it
was only by accident.

I am experiencing less trouble with enbrel than I did the first time
(been off it for a while last year).
It's just some sort of sun-allergy/eczema on my tummy and back now, big
time, I have a feeling it could be the Enbrel, but I'm not sure.

Very weird it's not my arms, legs or face

Nikki