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I've been living with Chron's for 30 years.  I've been on most of the "old" stuff - steroids, 6MP, azulsufadine, etc.  I was doing Remicaide for about 10 years until I had a major flare with a 98% blockage in December.  My doctor suggested Humira, but my insurance wants to start me on Cimzia. From what I have read, it's very similar to Remicaid with similar side effects.  

I'm nervous about giving myself the shots and starting something new.  

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!  

Thank you!  

Reply posted for suzy0317.

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I've been on Cimzia since 2010 and have very similar experiences as others. I leave the dose out for about 30 minutes so it comes to room temp. The nurse suggested this when I began my start up doses because apparently it hurts worse when it's cold. Make sure you set it upright (needle up) and get rid of that air bubble, flick the syringe a couple times if you need to center the bubble under the needle. The stomach is very painful compared to the thighs (IMO). Be sure to clean the area thoroughly and pinch the entire time it's being administered. Make sure you rotate injection site locations. Push slowly! It seems to hurt worse the faster it goes in. I'm able to administer the injections to myself now but have someone help you if need it. I used to call up to my hospital and had a nurse give it to me when my mom wasn't available. Good luck, I hope it makes you feel better! :)

 Reply posted for suzy0317.

I found that it is just easier to have someone else give the shot.  My husband does mine.  The pain is barely there compared to the Humira shot, which for me was excruciating.

 Reply posted for corvuschik.

Been on Cimzia for close to 4years or so. I found taking the shot in the stomach was more painful than in my thigh. i also let it warm up for about an hour before injecting. sometimes I get a small burning type pain. But is less to no painwhen it's warmed up and injected slowly- almost don't have a choice as its thick. We found that 1 dose every 2 weeks works best for me than 2 doses 1x a month. Crohn's has been relatively quiet with Cimzia. also take imuran.

 Reply posted for suzy0317.

One tip I received that was very effective was to inject the medication very slowly once the needle was in. It's counterintuitive because you just want it over with because it hurts and no one wants a needle in their body for long. But it really does help to take your time and go slowly -- if it hurts, pause a few seconds then inject just a teeny little bit more in, till it's all gone. Has been hugely helpful, as I used to have extreme, want-to-pass-out pain with these shots.

 Reply posted for suzy0317.

Thanks so much for the replies....I started the new meds last week.  I have my first at home shots this upcoming Sunday (1/25) so I'm hoping to get through it.  :)  

My Remicaid treatment seemed to give me more of an energy boost right after the treatment.  I find that I am more tired than usual after the first Cimizia shot.  I am hoping that will improve as I move forward with the medication.  

It's such a luck of the draw thing as far as what will work and what won't.   After 11 years in remission, I can't believe I have to start treatment shopping again.

Best of luck to you.....and thanks again for the comments! 

 Reply posted for suzy0317.

Thanks so much for the replies....I started the new meds last week.  I have my first at home shots this upcoming Sunday (1/25) so I'm hoping to get through it.  :)  

My Remicaid treatment seemed to give me more of an energy boost right after the treatment.  I find that I am more tired than usual after the first Cimizia shot.  I am hoping that will improve as I move forward with the medication.  

It's such a luck of the draw thing as far as what will work and what won't.   After 11 years in remission, I can't believe I have to start treatment shopping again.

Best of luck to you.....and thanks again for the comments! 

 Reply posted for suzy0317.

I was on Cimzia for about a year and a half.  It worked great for me at first but it got to where the last few days before my next injection, I would start to feel like I had a mini flare up.  My doctor eventually doubled the time frame from once a month to twice month.  Unfortunately, I was taken off Cimzia and put on Methotrexate. I had no side effects from Cimzia. The only thing bad about them were how painful the medicine was.  I tried ice/no ice and found for me that letting them come to room temp and injecting into an uniced leg then applying ice worked the best. It also helped that my wife is a nurse as is able to give them to me so I didn't have to stick myself.  Good luck!
 

In two days I take my final loading dose of Cimzia.   So far for me it's been great.    I feel like Superwoman until a few days before my next dose, and then I start to get tired and have a lot more GI symptoms for the few days before/after injecting.   Since I'm newly Dx'd, I haven't been on a lot of other meds so I don't have much to compare this to - ABX when I left the hospital and Lialda for a few weeks after that, to see how my body would tolerate it (not very well....).    I'm glad to have a very pro-active GI doctor.    I feel very fortunate to potentially change the course of my life by taking this medication now, before major damage is done. 

I didn't have any problem injecting - I watched the Cimzia video a couple of times before the nurse came to show me how to do it and she commented that I didn't even need her to show me what to do.   I've never injected anything into myself before, but for me it wasn't a big deal at all.   Small amount of pain when injecting, but with as good as I've felt for the past few weeks, it's definitely worth it.     I injected into my stomach area, which for me worked well (lots of extra skin after having two kids).