Week 1
I have finally started my abatacept injections this week after a long delay, mainly due to Bupa losing the prescription twice!!
It has been a very testing time, my mother-in-law died very suddenly and we had the funeral this week. A huge amount of travelling left me fit for nothing on Tuesday, so I did the first injection wednesday morning (9th April). Didn't bother reading all the side effects,the list went on forever. Luckily I didn't have any allergic reaction. The syringe is really high tech, with an "ultra safe passive needle guard" Basically this means when you have pushed the plunger all the way down, you release your thumb on the plunger and the needle is pulled back into the syringe.
I have been advised it will take 12 weeks to see a result. There are only 15 patients on this drug at my hospital. My knee replacement joints and my right ankle are still swollen after a high dose of steroids, this is going to be a long 12 weeks. the rheumy nurse said to me last week we don't want you to have any steroid until after my first 3 month appointment to assess if the abatacept is working or not. No chance....I won't last 12 weeks without steroids.
No side effects at all from the drug which is good news, I am exceptionally worn out today, physically and mentally but I think that is probably due to the last few weeks I have had. Time to completely chill out...
I will keep you posted of my abatacept journey.
Rebecca
