Humira

I plan on writing about all of the various drugs in detail, but since Humira is the most recent one, I'll start there.

My doctor offered me Humira maybe 6 months ago, but I wanted to try more "traditional" Crohns drugs first.  By traditional, I mean drugs that come in pill form.  Humira was originally developed as a drug for rheumatoid arthritis.  It's injected subcutaneously, because if taken orally, the digestive system would destroy it.

This is what it looks like.

I wasn't thrilled about giving myself shots.  I'm not great with needles (not terrible, but not great).  I've been known to have vasovagal reactions (aka, get close to passing out).  

I was concerned about the cost.  I have good insurance, but I know Humira can be ridiculously expensive.  But my cost was pretty good, $35 for a months supply (but my receipt said my drug plan saved me over $3000).  

After that, I had to go to the injection clinic to learn how to give myself shots.  This didn't go great.  I made my husband come with me.  He is worse with needles than I am.  But I wanted him to see how to do it, in case I really couldn't.  The directions suggested injecting in the tummy or thigh.  The first shot went ok, the second one really hurt for some reason.  And then I almost passed out.  

I've gotten better since then.  I've been using it for almost two months.  I've found that pinching my stomach fairly hard while giving the injection helps a lot.

 As far as side effects, I have a few.  I usually get run down for the next day or so.  Also I get a mild injection site reaction, it kind of looks and feels like a hive.

In terms of results, it's inconclusive so far.  But hopefully it will help me out. 

History

Here are my bare-bones facts-

• I was diagnosed in July 2011.  I'd been having symptoms off and on for eight years.  They were brushed off or misdiagnosed during that period.  
• My dad also has Crohns.  He was diagnosed six years before me.  We both had the same doctor, at the same time, and she did not get it for either of us.  (Her lazy guesses included gastroenteritis, IBS and lactose intolerance).
• My dad actually lost 30-40 lbs while the doctor was not helping.  That was a lot for him.  I lost 20 the first time around.  It wasn't as drastic for me, I was overweight.  At 5'6, I went from 163 to 140 in a little over a month.  
• After that bout, for the next few years, my symptoms were manageable, so I dealt with them, and ignored them (when possible).
• Thank God for Kaiser.  (I was nervous about starting Kaiser in 2010.  I'd heard horror stories.  But they've been fantastic). When the next really bad flare up started (March 2011), the doctors actually started diagnostic testing.  It started with blood work, then moved on to urine and stool test.  Then a sigmoidoscopy, then colonoscopy.  The colonoscopy was the answer.  

Crohns Info-

• From wiki:  [Crohns is a] chronic inflammatory disorder, in which the body's immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract possibly directed at microbial antigens.^[5][7] Crohn's disease has traditionally been described as an autoimmune disease, but recent investigators have described it as an immune deficiency state.
• It's found equally in men and women, and often runs in families.
• People of Jewish decent have a greater risk of developing Crohns.
• Aside from the normal gut problems (nausea, diarrhea, cramping, pain, frequent bathroom trips, etc) it can also have secondary symptoms: fatigue, joint pain, skin lesions, and inflammation of the eye. 
• According to my doctor, of people diagnosed: 
• 33% have a one time flare up that can be controlled with medicine and diet.  
• 33% will have periodic flare ups and generally do well on medicine
• 33% have chronic Crohns, and will deal with flare ups often, which are difficult to control with medicine.
• People with Crohns have a greater risk of certain types of intestinal cancers.
• Crohns is more common in smokers.
• So if you're a Jew, who smokes, watch out!  My dad is 100% Ashkenazi Jew, and I'm half, neither of us smoke.
• Stress exacerbates the symptoms.
• Drug treatments often include: Prednisone, Mesalazine (Pentasa, Asacol, etc),  Azathioprine (Imuran (a drug given to kidney transplant recipients)),  Methotrexate and Mercaptapurine (chemo drugs), Remicade and Humira: subcutaneous injections.
• There is no cure, just management.  An exact cause is unknown.
• From the Crohns and Colitis Foundation:  About 70% of people with Crohn’s disease eventually require surgery.