Day Six on Enbrel

I've been meaning to blog for days about my first injection, but just figured there would be more to tell as the days passed.

First of all, it didn't hurt much. That's where Googling can get you into trouble! I'd seen so many other patients write on-line about how painful these shots are, but it wasn't bad at all. Burned for a minute or so and then it was over. And I injected myself, pretty darned easy with the Sureclick injector.

So much happened in a few short hours at the hospital, I won't go into detail except to tell you that the nurse who instructed and supervised me was wonderful (as are all of the team members I met that morning) - and to say that the facilities were something else! Beautifully appointed with real wood panelling, lovely lighting and comfortable furnishings. It felt more a visit to an estate than to a hospital (thanks to a very generous donor who wanted to make the patients going through clinical trials feel more comfortable - and it works!)

My first (almost) week on Enbrel has been up and down. At the end of first day, I was completely without any pain. Something that hasn't happened in a very long time!

Second day was unexpected. I'm usually upbeat and optimistic, and I was a depressed, weepy, glop of girl who couldn't shut up about all things sad and grim. I have no idea where that came from! I'm blaming the drugs, but sure hope that it doesn't happen again.

Third day was the toughest so far. I woke during the night with bad stomach cramps, nausea, fever and wondering why I had done this to myself. I called into the Enbrel hotline around lunchtime (they want to hear about pre-specified side effects, fever being one of them) and they suggested going to a walk-in clinic to see if I'd picked up an infection at the hospital (Enbrel greatly reduces my immunity). I decided to wait it out, and sure enough by evening I felt a bit better. Even ate a little, but that day sure helped with dropping off a bit of the steroid weight!

Since then it's been easier, but I can't say that my ECD symptoms have eased at all. The bone and chest pain returned after that wonderful first day, but I do realize it can take a few weeks for any benefit of the drug to make itself known. I don't think that I've been having any side effects from the drugs since Saturday except maybe being a wee bit sleepier than my already frequently napping self!

I'm so used to taking an assortment of pills daily that it feels a little odd to be waiting for my next injection on Thursday. Every night I dream that I've gone to the fridge for the next dose of my liquid gold, and awaken quite relieved that I've not jumped the gun accidentally!