Tag Archives: side effects

Dry Brush and Stamped Nail Art for First Actemra Infusion

25 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by in Nail Art, Rheumatoid Arthritis

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During my February monthly rheumatology appointment, my doctor tried to convince me to change medications. The Orencia hit its usual plateau and the inflammation slowly crept back in. I don’t really remember that doctor’s appointment. I don’t even know if I understood a word he said. I was so exhausted, foggy and painful nothing made sense. Life didn’t make sense. Well, if my biologic medication was no longer working it was a no-brainer to switch, right? Unfortunately, Saachi was still recovering from her emergency splenectomy (spleen and tumor removal) and would start chemo in the following weeks. With the cancer running rampant within her bloodstream I could not take the chance of getting any worse and not being able to care for my dog.

As the Orencia faded and the Actemra built up in my system there would be a period where I would feel worse of; mostly because my other medications were not doing enough on their own. I had to take care of Saachi. Reluctantly, my doctor agreed it was my call and we could wait.

I had a follow-up a couple of weeks after Saachi passed away and my doctor was still not pleased. I had more inflammation in my joints than in recent months. Something had to change. I had a little more wiggle room to try out new medication as my father was back in town so he could help me. I reluctantly decided to switch to IV form of Actemra.

Actemra is like any other TNF inhibitor. It suppresses the immune system at a specific spot. I was afraid my sinus infections would return. They were so debilitating. I could not care for my pets because my allergy to their dander set off these headaches. Since each biologic medications hits different points of the immune system there was an unlikely chance my sinus infections would return.

 

I tolerated the infusion well. It took about an hour since the technician wanted to make sure I did not have a reaction.

Even though I did not have any reactions during the IV I became very nauseous afterwards. The persistent nausea lasted about 24 hours but I still it intermittently. I did not notice a difference in my RA symptoms. I still felt painful and swollen.

 

Anyways, on to the nail art. I created a dry brush manicure topped with stamping. The infusion liquid is clear which is no fun for nail art so I landed on blue! I then stamped some molecules and bubbles.

 

Dry Brush and Stamped Nail Art | The Rite of AgingI started with Essie Mademoiselle as my base.

I dry brushed with a mix of Orly Sec n Dry, China Glaze UV Meant to Be, Milani Power Periwinkle and Sally Hansen Blue My Mind.

I stamped with Milani Black Swift, MoYou London plate 3 from the Scholar Collection, Essie No Place Like Chrome and Pueen Cosmetics plate PUEEN36.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

September Infusion

08 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Be ready to laugh! I sat for my last IV infusion in September! If you’ve been following my blog you know why this is hilarious. With the reimbursement nightmare spanning nine months I stopped the infusion until I got my money back. Last week’s blog post was about the extreme fatigue I experienced while off the medication so my doctor was thrilled when I re-started the infusion.

Maybe…

First, I didn’t feel any better. I expected to. But, I didn’t. The first time I sat for the infusion I felt so good the next day, I went on a four hour hike. Honestly, I expected miracles. They never came. Okay, I shouldn’t be so harsh, I did feel less tired but that was it.

The worst bit was the return of two infections. One was a sinus infection I’ve battled since who knows when. I had corrective sinus surgeries, in college, because of infections and debilitating headaches. In high school, they got so bad I took too many sick days (the longest was a week). Apprently, there was no point in getting those invasive surgeries because I still battle these infections (remember when I ended up in hospital because of them?) I was fine until I started the Orencia, which unfortunately suppresses the part of the immune response that also fights sinus infections. Just my luck!

I am also dealing with a recurrent yeast infection. I started getting them in April. At the time I actually  didn’t know they were infections and thought the symptoms were side-effects of prolonged Ambien use (the only medication change in a few months). Turns out yeast infections are side effects of prednisone use and because I have to increase every so often I am more prone to them.

 

I was really bummed because during the two months I was off the Orencia I did not have any sinus headaches! I slept with all my pets through the night without any problems and I rid myself of yeast symptoms, as well! Hooray!

Until the infusion…

Like clockwork, both infections came back full force. My headaches rivaled those I had back in high school and the yeast infection? Well, those are just annoying.

Thankfully, I had my monthly rheumatologist’s appointment the following week so I sat down with my doctor and we discussed my options. I needed to stay on biologic and, unfortunately, Orencia did the best job of suppressing my RA symptoms. He agreed the side effects were too much so we compromised and decided to make the switch back to subcutaneous injections. They are weekly, self-injections so the dose is lower. Hopefully, I will maintain my condition and the other symptoms.

I never felt as great on the sub-q injections as I did on the IV infusion but honestly, I am willing to feel a little bit more ill so I can feel a little less sick.

 

Seriously, this situation is funny given how much hassle I went through just to stop the medication. Again. How many times have I switched medication in the last three years? I’ve lost track.

However, sub-q injections have their perks. I no longer have to schedule off from work, I do not have to have to drive to my doctor’s office and sit with an IV in my arm, I do not have to sleep all day.

 

I’ll take it.

 

Hi, my names Monica and I have RA. H

The Infusion, Part Two

22 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Apologies on the hiatus, I flared up from playing with my dog and I felt too tired and uninspired to write let alone paint my nails.

Speaking of which, I am sitting late for my infusion this month…again!

 

I love Orencia. While I do not feel 100% at any given point of time, I feel close most days. However, I am very sensitive to medications and being pumped full of 500mg of immuno-suppresant takes it out of me.

I am more or less down for a day or two.

 

Last month, when I got home, my dogs came running to see me – tails wagging, eyes bright, jumping up and down…

Within 5 seconds, their ears went flat against their heads, tails went in between their legs, and their head and shoulders went low.

I was nervous. I did not feel too bad. A little tired but that was all.

 

Saachi and Affie crawled into bed with me and slept on top of me. The cats joined us five minutes later and added themselves to the pile.

We looked like a family of ferrets.

 

Animals are extremely intuitive. They catch on to emotions and feelings we may not know about ourselves.

But even during a bad flare my pets never act this way.

 

Honestly, I was afraid to go to sleep.

Were they acting like this because I had a reaction I did not even know about? Was it safe to close my eyes?

I held out as long as I could but eventually I was too tired to care. I wanted to sleep.

Needless to say, I did wake up…five hours later…

And none of my pets had moved.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.