Rheumy nurse has booked me in mid April to start on the anti tnf journey like Paula (lovely blog Paula has done with her journey).
A couple of things for me to do before hospital appointment like go to hospital for chest xray and a jab from the doctors.....butterflies in my tummy for this new chapter!

Jane
Xxx

hi Jane,

yes i feel the same as Paula,

i was filled with dread and trepidation when i was put forward for Anti-TFN ( in my case Humira ) but having been on Methotrexate and Hydroxy for 18 months without success i knew i had to go for it.

unfortunately unlike Paula i had a good 6 months wait for the funding to come through from my PCT.

but i had a lot of support in that time from my Consultant, my lovely Rheumy Nurse and my very trusted GP who i have known a good 25 plus years, also the NRAS Helpline.

it is going into the unknown and for me when D Day arrived i didn't know if i would go ahead with it, but my Rheumy Nurse did my first injection rather than the Community Nurse that is sent out to you, i went over to my Hospital as she knew the state i was in.

once the first injection was done my confidence grew and i again went over for my Rheumy Nurse to watch me do the second injection

i got good results on the next month's bloods and 18 months on i am still doing well .. in Clinical Remission. i hope you get the support you need and can go forward to thinking this is a new start on feeling well with a new drug.

do keep posting here we will all try to help you,

Suzanne x

Haven't put many posts on recently, ra pain & flare up.
In prep for rheumy appointment mid April for anti tnf's I've had pneumonia jab today, got chest xray left to do.
I have been reading posts but no energy to respond, fingers feel stiff swollen like over cooked sausages. Things aches/click/crunch.
Rheumy can't see me till mid April - fully booked....roll on April.
Xxx

Hi Jane - I've just replied to your knee blog, but realise now that you've having a really tough time waiting for the const't - so very sorry. Hang on in there - there are so many success stroies on here and I'm sure that in a few months time you'll be welll on the way to writing your own!

Paula - that's a great idea. I emailed mine last Thursday and managed to get a cancellation to see the nurses on Monday morning - so it pays to be persistent. Good luck Jane - Sylvia xx

Hi Jane - lots of extra support winging its way to you - can you feel it yet??? Very best wishes and thinking of you and your lovely family - stay nice and warm and comfy over Easter - the weather looks pretty grim so definitely a time for snuggling up under a warm fleecy blanket and watching the TV all together.

I'm currently sitting in a hotel room all on my own at GAtwick - my daughter is flying back from Canada and I want to be there when she arrives tomorrow morning!!!! Can't wait to see her - it's been 3 months!! SOOOOOO excited, it's like Xmas trying to wait for my pressies!! So, probly better go to bed and tomorrow will get here quicker! Night night

Sylvia xx

Hello everyone.
Sorry I have been rather q on here...flare up from hell (if you pardon the expression)
Hands/fingers/wrists swollen with liquid poking up, making finger movement not good and pins & needles.
BUT 2 days 2 go until rheumy appointment to start on anti tnf's.
Don't worry I'm so happy to be just 2 days away
X

Oh Jane, your last comment's nearly had me in tears. I'm not amazing, the drug is.

I had all the same fears that everyone else had and will have in the future.

I've been so, so lucky with the drug and I hope with all my heart that you will as well.

I had a bad flare while waiting to start the drug, funding was in place straight away but I had to wait just over four weeks for the x ray report and then obviously the drug being delivered and the nurse coming out, not a good time at all, but steroid tablets again came to the rescue and helped me cope. I said somewhere in all my ramblings that by the time D Day came, I was more worried about the drug not working than the drug itself.

I decided on Enbrel for exactly the same reason that your nurse did, not much in your system if there is a reaction. I had no reaction at all, not even the common one of a rash at injection site. Oh, silly me, I did have one immediate reaction to the drug......I felt loads better the next day!!!!!!

Just to remind you about injection day. Mine was on a Friday, I realised afterwards that earlier in the week would of been more sensible. I did worry that if I did have any reaction to it the next day, Saturday, there was no Specialist Nurse of GP available to speak to until Monday morning.

Seen whats been put by Rich about an unmarked van delivering it. I did ask about this on the forum..... did it arrive in a brown paper covered van don't want neighbours knowing my business. They probably think I've ordered something off the internet.

I have Healthcare at Home doing my deliveries and I haven't had any problems at all. They phone and you arrange a delivery date and you can go on line the night before and see your deliver slot time, they've always delivered within the two hour slot, even when we had all the bad snow.

Fingers, toes, legs and anything else that I can cross that it works for you!!!!

Paula x

good luck when starting Jane,

and look forward to hear how you get on,

let's hope this is the one for you.

Suzanne x

Healthcare at home will deliver enbrel next Thursday
The nurse will ring 2 working days later.


Do I get a medal/tanker/keyring for joining the tnf's gang?! Or a cake!
Xxx

No medal, tanker or anything nice to wear......just an alert card to carry in your purse!

Paula x