HUMIRA

• By tjane
• Reply 3459411
• October 15, 2012 at 9:22 am
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Hu Kristin I have not been on Humara but some others have. There has been some discussion about this on another post. I am sure someone wiil come in and can advise you. Most of the post have ben positive about Humara and seem that is works about 10 years. Good Luck terri

• By Andrew99
• Reply 3460183
• October 15, 2012 at 1:41 pm
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Hey Kristin, Tnx Terri, thats the same thing I do if someone has a important question that does not apply to me, thats whats great about this site:)

I have been on Humira for just over two year now, and I love the stuff. Especially after being on Remicade for few a few years, Humira is ten times more user friendly, I can take the shot within 5 minutes:) I have Crohn's and a super sonic long story, but can keep it simple no prob. I have a colostomy, I started it after I had a blockage caused by a flare up. It was 5 day hospital thing Steroid Iv's flagyl, cirpo and that got it to subside and no surgery thankfully. My GI doctor started me on Humira right after that, and have had zero CD issues since then!, and no noticeable or bothersome side effects at all!:) So, me I'm all about it and really have nothing negative to say about it, just all positive results for me and the CD is completely under control:) I'm sure you get more response's to, and from others who have been on it longer than I have. I know the list of side effects is massive, but me personally I don't even spend any anxiety over that, to me the medication and the great results are the really important thing!:) Ask away if you want to talk more about it?!

Andrew

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3460205
• October 15, 2012 at 1:49 pm
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Hi Kristen..
I can not speak to this, as I've never been on this medication. I pray that if you do take the Humira that it is as effective as it has been for Andrew!!!

Andrew.. Happy that Humira has helped you so much in the past couple of years! I get minor flare ups, but nothing major which required any of the "bigger drugs". Thanks for chiming in and telling us your experience.

• By Kristin66
• Reply 3461135 · In reply to 3460183 by Andrew99
• October 15, 2012 at 7:53 pm
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Hi Andrew,
Thank you so much for your sharing. The pain is getting progressively worse by the day unfortunately my appointment with the specialist next week. I will call my GI doctor and see if i can do something to be more comfortable until then.

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3461274
• October 15, 2012 at 8:36 pm
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Kristin... Obviously your Crohn's is active.. reason they want to put you on the medication. What are you doing for your diet right now? I'm so sorry you are suffering.. My insides ache for you... I know that pain all too well...

I pray that your GI can offer something to give you some relief until you get to the specialist!

I would rather give birth 10 times over, than to feel the unending pain from crohn's! Praying for a cure..... soon!!!

hugs.. prayers..
Mare

• By tjane
• Reply 3461364
• October 15, 2012 at 9:03 pm
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When I was in severe pain from Crohns I would always head to the tub. Somehow the warm water helped. Maybe you could try that. Sorry you have to wait a whole week to see the Dr. Have you called to see if there are any cancelation so you can be seen sooner. Sometimes you have to call everyday. Ive done that before and eventualy I was able to get an appt. a little earlier than my scheduled appt. xox terri

• By Jonsey
• Reply 3462463
• October 16, 2012 at 9:19 am
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I haven't been on it yet but I will be starting it as soon as my insurace company approves it. I will let you know how it goes.

Marilyn

• By Jonsey
• Reply 3462478 · In reply to 3460183 by Andrew99
• October 16, 2012 at 9:23 am
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Andrew,
I will be starting on Humaria some time with in the next week. I am waiting for the doctor to call after my insurance company approves it. Could you tell me if your insurance company pays well for the drug. I am not sure how my coverage will be. I am on Athema Blue Cross Advantage. I heard that the drug is very expensive. Do you have any info on that at all. Thank you,

Marilyn

• By JGail
• Reply 3466479
• October 17, 2012 at 3:42 pm
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Kristen .. I have had Crohn's for over 40 years. About 3 years ago I was put on Humira. The doctor found that I had many strictures in my intestines (I have an ileostomy). I was having many, many blockages because of that. Since I have been on Humira I have been doing very well. It is easy to use and thankfully have had no side effects. My insurance covers most of the cost and I only pay $36 a month for it. Before I went on Medicare I paid $3!

I hope that Humira helps you as much as it has helped me. I just had a CT scan done and they are telling me that there were no signs of active Crohns!

Good luck!

• By Jonsey
• Reply 3466865 · In reply to 3466479 by JGail
• October 17, 2012 at 6:39 pm
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JGail,

I talked with my insurance company today. They told me that it is going to cost me $2,400.00 a month for Humira. I guess that is what it will cost for the start up kit. They said after that it should be a lot less. My insurance on pays $2,970.00 a year for prescription medications. I called Humira and they at getting me in touch with some different programs that might help with the cost. I can't afford this price, so if I can't get help I guess I have nothing to fight for the Crohns. I had my surgery Aug 16th . Things were going fine and then I got pyoderma gangresum. That is a open ulcer that is near my stoma. Trying to get that to heal. I just feel like giving up. What is a person to do. Just roll up and die.

Marilyn

• By Jonsey
• Reply 3466878 · In reply to 3460183 by Andrew99
• October 17, 2012 at 6:42 pm
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Andrew,

How do you pay for the Humria?? My insurance said it would cost me $2,400.00 a month. I am retired and have part D insurance with Anthem Blue Cross. If you have any info on cost please let me know.

Thanks, Marilyn

• By Andrew99
• Reply 3474217 · In reply to 3466878 by Jonsey
• October 20, 2012 at 12:26 pm
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Hey Marilyn and everyone, thanks for the great support and thumbs up about the Humira working for me, it was a shot in the arm for me!! or leg actually:) I had to say that:, but I really mean it though!!:) Marilyn, uggh, yeah Humira is big time expensive and I'm beyond fortunate that my insurance has not been a issue with any thing, up until I moved to Minnesota that is in 2010. That's when I got and have Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota. Even the stater kit should be covered, just everything. I know that stuff is super expensive, I pay 45 dollars a month for it, so that's for the two shots I take for the month. I also did get the Humira card that helps wtih the cost of it, did you get one of those? My GI doctor is a specialist for CD and UC and I don't know it it the GI doctor who can take care of that? Yeah, investigate as much as you can about getting financial assistance. I really hope you can get that take care of!, so you can worry just about health and getting better and not the admin. red tape stuff ya know! Let me and us know how things are going when you can for sure!:),

Andrew

• By Andrew99
• Reply 3474261
• October 20, 2012 at 12:50 pm
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Hey Kristin,

I have not been on inspire in almost a week?, I don't like going that long, but work until about 11:00pm and still getting my routine down:) I still cant believe I'm working to begin with and mainly more then anything, with no pain or discomfort!:) I completely forgot how much better working is when your not gritting your teeth all day long. Waring a fully packed duty belt to and armed, so I actually was able to make it work, I'm passed the supper anxiety part of it two now that my confidence is so up now that the ostomy wont just fall apart on me, and while at a situation,lol:)

I really hope your feeling better! Were you able to get some pain medication so to get some relief at least while your in transition, let alone when the Humira takes affect if you decide to use it? Does you GI feel strongly about going on it?, I forgot do you have CD or UC? I know with me that is, I'm really into taking a very aggressive approach on hitting my CD. I don't concern myself with the side effects at all, I guess due to how messed up I was for so long and bed ridden, I wanted to avoid anymore of that:) I'm 46, and a day still does not go by when I think about the literally knife stabbing stomach pain I had for about 10 month in 1987. Then when the CD was diagnosed, I could not wait to get into the O.R.:) I was 21 and I really looked the way I felt to, I was 115 pounds going into the hospital, it took them a week to build up my strength for the operation. It went great and was fine until 2002

I guess that's why maybe I am so aggressive about going with the big gun meds?, in 1987, uggh, CD and UC were really unheard of then. Sorry to babble on about my stuff, but it may explain my thinking a little more I why I'm so all about the Humira, and it 10 times easier then Remicade to:) Did you or are you close to deciding yet?, and I hope you got some pain relief mainly so you can be comfortable doing deciding and researching!:)


Andrew

• By Andrew99
• Reply 3474305 · In reply to 3461274 by Mare5785
• October 20, 2012 at 1:10 pm
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Thanks Mare!!, I'm glad your flare ups are staying minor and hopefully will just stop in general and you don't need the heavy meds:) How is your energy level and appetite, is that all good and does not really interfere with with daily activities?

Andrew

• By Jonsey
• Reply 3474405 · In reply to 3474217 by Andrew99
• October 20, 2012 at 1:53 pm
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Andrew, I am retired and I have Anthem Blue Cross Advantage for my drug coverage. They only allow 2,900.00 a year for meds. So, that is the problem for me. I have used up all buy $300.00 for this year. That is why I can't afford the start up kit for Humira. Then I would be in the donut hole and would have to pay over $4,000.00 before I would get out of that. I just don't have that kind of money. I just wonder what will happen with my health and the Crohns, if I can't get help to pay for the Humira. Looks like I will really get sick again. I had my surgery on Aug. 16th. I thought that would take care of my health and then I got the pyoderma gangreosum by my stoma,that is like a open ulcer. The doctor said it was from the Crohns. That is why they wanted me to start the Humira.
Have any ideas, anyone, what may happen if I can't get the Humira. Will the Chrons come back right away??

Thanks, mrailyn

• By Andrew99
• Reply 3488424
• October 25, 2012 at 1:19 pm
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Hey Marilyn,

I see what your situation is with your health insur., I'm not sure but contacting the company of Humira, they could or refer you on how to get financial support to cover the cost of Humira. I know there are ways of getting that support, I would call or e-mail Humira directly and see what options there are? Or ask your GI doctor what they think of course? Crohn's is crazy, there is no way of telling if or when it will come back? Try not to worry about that part right now, that ya just have no control over, that's how I look at things with all my stuff. Investigate all you can about the financial support aspect, or even go to a UOAA or CCFA support group meeting to get some ideas, it will make you feel better mentally about making this work somehow?

Andrew