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Date: 23.10.2010
From: connor

Subject: Enbrel

My Rheumatologist is considering putting me on a course of injections with something called Enbrel.

My problem is Psoriatic Arthritis.

I wondered if anyone else is on this and what sort of results you may have seen.

Regards to all.
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Date: 23.10.2010
From: Rose

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hi Connor, I am sorry I cant help you with Enbrel but I can tell you that I was offered a choice of that or Humira. I chose Humira as I also have bowel disease and it has had good reports with both diseases. I have an injection every two weeks and as far as I am aware the side effects of both are pretty much the same. I have not, however, suffered any side effects with the Humira, only the MTX that I take with it. Dont know if this helps but I am sure someone will come on soon who has experience with Enbrel. I wish you all the best. Just to add I dont have any trouble with giving myself the injections either, they are small, easy to handle and fairly painless. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Rose X
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Date: 24.10.2010
From: connor

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hello Rose,

Thanks for replying. If I actually get started on it I'll post again.

Regards, Connor.
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Date: 24.10.2010
From: kylee

Subject: Re: Enbrel

hi i started enbrol 3 weeks ago havnt yet seen inprovement however its suppose to take some time. i am having to miss this weeks injection as i have a sinus infection and a chest infection so im on a course of anti biotics. injections are very easy to do i dnt even feel them. the drug does lower your immune system so unfortunatly illnesses will be regulaar when i went to gp regarding my chest infection he did say that it is very common in the winter for people on these types of drugs to get infections. hope this can be of some help
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Date: 25.10.2010
From: connor

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Thank you Kylee......
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Date: 25.10.2010
From: Laura

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hi Connor,

I started Enbrel about 2 months ago and also Methotrexate, I feel 100 times better than when I first got RA, I was completly bed bound some days, I'm not completly pain free and this weather isn't helping but I do feel as if it's helping!

I don't have any really bad side effects from it and when I do have them I think that's more from the Methotrexate!

Best of luck with it if you go on it, I hope it works for you :) keep us posted :)
Laura
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Date: 27.10.2010
From: connor

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Thanks for replying Laura. Glad its working for you. Your post perked me up a bit.
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Date: 27.10.2010
From: Laura

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Your welcome Connor :)

If you have only worries just drop a post on here, I wasn't very keen on starting the meds at first but I'm coming round to it all now and I'll offer what advise I can
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Date: 28.10.2010
From: Tom H

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Laura, your post has perked me up as well as I've just started MTX and will go onto enbrel after xmas in all probability.
Can you walk properly? I have a dream that I'll get back on the golf course, these posts give me hope

Cheers
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Date: 28.10.2010
From: ant

Subject: Re: Enbrel

hi connor, i have ra and was put on enbrel 3 wks ago! felt the improvements after just 4 days!!! i would say go 4 it as anything that helps is a bonus! was bed bound some mornings but now get up with no bother! p.s the injections dont hurt either! hope this helps mate??
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Date: 28.10.2010
From: Laura

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hi Tom, glad it perked u up :) I can walk properly now, well unaided anyway, I have my good and bad days. I managed to ref a rugby game last Sunday, second half the knees where a bit sore but nothing a bit of co-codamol couldn't handle but then this weekend my knees hurt like mad everytime I got up out of the chair but I aren't gonna complain too much cos this is 10 tones better than 5 month ago when I felt absolutley crippled...the thing that's getting me the most is feeling exhausted all the time, do you guys get this?
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Date: 29.10.2010
From: connor

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Laura you mentioned exhaustion/ fatique.

My psoriasis is of course unpleasant and so is joint pain, but what really gets me down is the exhaustion.

I seem to feel permanently tired and don't want to do or go anywhere without making a big effort.
I regularly have what I call a fatique flareup which can last several days and when these hit I have trouble just summoning up the energy to get out of bed in the morning.

I'm not a lazy person, never have been, and have several hobbies, woodwork, metalwork motorcycles etc. etc. I still want to do all these things, but to get started needs a big effort and I find that a lot of the time I just can't be bothered.

Methotrexate made the fatique symptoms worse so my dose has been reduced to see if that helps. Currently I'm down to 15mg from 20mg.

I'm very lucky since I have 4 beautiful Golden Retriever dogs who of course need caring for. ie Feeding and tidying up after them....I think if it was not for them I would have turned into a vegetable by now.

Fatique, in my case the most difficult aspect of Psoriatic Arthritis to live with.
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Date: 29.10.2010
From: louloubelle

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hi Connor

I've been on enbrel for 8 years and it has been life changing!!! I too have PsA and had to have both hips replaced (I was just 21 and 22 when I had those done and I'm now 31).

I was 80% covered in psoriasis and was unable to walk without sticks. After a week I was able to walk without the sticks and within 3 months was fully mobile. The psoriasis completely dissapeared after a couple of months.

I had to stop the enbrel in February when I became pregnant and the symptoms of arthritis returned within a week. I was expected to go back on enbrel once I had my baby but unfortunately I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have been told I cannot go back on enbrel for 10 years after I've been given the all clear and I am heart broken as nothing else has worked for me. I have been assured that the breast cancer is not related to enbrel - there is an increased risk of developing certain types of skin cancer but not any other cancers!

I highly recommend the medication - you are at a higher risk of infection so need to insure you are up-to-date with all of your vaccines and, if you get an infection, make sure you go to doctors / a&e to get anti-biotics asap. Having said that, I found I had fewer infections then most people as I was more careful to avoid spending time with anyone who was ill.

I hope it works well for you, I am rather jeleous lol

Lou xxx
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Date: 29.10.2010
From: connor

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hello Lou,

Thanks for the advice, very much appreciated of course.

I'll be seeing my Rheumatologist in a few weeks. She seems to think I have a good case for going onto Enbrel so we'll see what happens, touch wood.....

Again, many thanks & regards to all.
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Date: 15.02.2011
From: George Ashford

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hi Connor,

I work for a market research company that specialises in the medical device field. We are looking for RA sufferers that inject Enbrel and either live in the London area or are willing and able to travel to London to take part in an interview. The interview will relate to a new device to help RA sufferers administer their drugs. We will pay £200 to cover expenses and the interview would last approx 90 minutes.

Would you be interested? Please do get in touch if you would like to know more - george.ashford@creativemedicalresearch.com

Best regards,
George
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Date: 15.02.2011
From: Jon Wright

Subject: Re: Enbrel

Hi, I have PA - started Enbrel about 2 months back. It has worked to a certain degree, I feel the swelling in my foot and the pain has eased, as has the fatigue. However, today I have hit a brick wall with a flare up in my joints, skin and am feeling extremely tired. This is the first major flare up I have had so it's rather new to me. However, I am optomistic about my future on Enbrel as it deff has had a positive affect (no side effects to date either). I hope you have the same luck as me on it (I would consider myself as lucky). I will post again shortly to report on if my flare up subsides (which I really hope will) and how my treatment on Enbrel is progressing. Please try to keep posting on this ENbrel subject as I am intersted in hearing from others about the medication and benefits.
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