Aa
Rebif
I got my welcome package and rebif today. Now they want me to wait for a nurse to come out and teach me how to poke myself? Is it really that hard, I have watched the dvd and read all my info?? Should I wait until atleast Monday to start?? It stated that Monday, Wednesday and Friday's were good days to take it?? That way I would not have to take a shot on the weekends...
One more question, I have not been on a steroid? I'm still have severe sensory loss from my waist down? My next doctor appointment is Aug. 2nd..
One more question, I have not been on a steroid? I'm still have severe sensory loss from my waist down? My next doctor appointment is Aug. 2nd..
I didn't like my nurse. She did know all about the drug. Claims she has worked with MS patients for three years. She had no clue.
Hey Nicki!
Ya know, most of us would have used the "nurse didn't call yet" line to avoid injection.....I'm very proud of you! And, hubby!
-shell
Ya know, most of us would have used the "nurse didn't call yet" line to avoid injection.....I'm very proud of you! And, hubby!
-shell
I still have not heard from my nurse. My sweet husband gave me my first injection of rebif last night. He was so good! I have not redness or side efects yet! Just praying that it stays that way! I had more symptoms starting Sunday night. I called my doctor and he started an iv drip once a day for three days at our local hospital. So thankful that I do not have to be admitted for this. It look just over an hour to receive my drip yesterday..
So thankful that I have met this great group of wonderful angels!!
So thankful that I have met this great group of wonderful angels!!
Nicki
Just wanted to wish you good luck with your training & injection. I hope that you have a very nice nurse and that she comes today (or soon) so that you can get this program started!
Waiting can be so stressfull like the watched pot but if she/he makes the process easier or less painful than it will be worth the wait.
Keep us posted on how it goes - thinking of you today
Hugs,
Erin :)
HI Nicki,
You get your call yet? Shouldn't be long now.
Definitely wait. Those nurses are fab and will give you sme great techniques.
Its not difficult, but it's nice to learn from those who have lots of patients and they teach you so much more than injection. My nurse was up for answering a lot of questions, even technical med related ones. And, she shared some useful tips that her patients use.
-shell
You get your call yet? Shouldn't be long now.
Definitely wait. Those nurses are fab and will give you sme great techniques.
Its not difficult, but it's nice to learn from those who have lots of patients and they teach you so much more than injection. My nurse was up for answering a lot of questions, even technical med related ones. And, she shared some useful tips that her patients use.
-shell
These things often fall through the cracks.
Good idea to call the Rebif number first thing tomorrow to make sure you're on the schedule.
Good idea to call the Rebif number first thing tomorrow to make sure you're on the schedule.
I'm going to wait until Monday night.. No nurse has called yet to set up appointment...
Lots of folks have reported being miserable on solumedrol or oral steroids -- but the only problem I had (other than the IV replacements) was being unable to sleep -- not sure whether that was because they woke me up every 2-3 hours (blood sugar, vitals, etc), anxiety from the devastating MS diagnosis, or a side effect of the meds. I asked for & got a low dose of Xanax, which helped.
As soon as I got home, I slept fine!
As soon as I got home, I slept fine!
I spent 5 days in the hospital, getting solumedrol IV 4 times per day. It seemed like overkill to me, to pay for a long hospital stay, but it happened as a result of my ER visit & subsequent MS diagnosis in the ER.
They did check my blood sugar every 4 hours while on the solumed -- I have no history of diabetes, but the med can cause big spikes in sugar. I also had to have the IV changed 3 times during the 5 days -- I don't have great veins.
But I was happy to be over the sensory loss so quickly.
They did check my blood sugar every 4 hours while on the solumed -- I have no history of diabetes, but the med can cause big spikes in sugar. I also had to have the IV changed 3 times during the 5 days -- I don't have great veins.
But I was happy to be over the sensory loss so quickly.
I will call my doctor MONDAY about the solumedrol! Did you take the iv at your home or hospital??? I'm so ready to have my feelings back!!
It's likely too late, but you really should wait for the Rebif nurse. He/she has lots of good info, tips, etc.
I've been on Rebif 10 months. The "training" session lasted as long as I wanted it to -- until all my questions were answered, and so the nurse could watch me do the first injection. And he gave me his phone number to call if I had any questions or problems -- very comforting.
Trust me, the DVD doesn't tell you everything. The diagrams of the shot "sites" are not really to scale, etc. The nurse can let you know the best & worst places to inject -- for example, I'm thin, so I skip my arms, and use the upper outsides of my thighs -- I also use Emla numbing cream on thighdays. And when choosing a shot spot, find a nice fatty place -- makes all the difference. Also, choose a place at least an inch away from a spot that's red from the last shot.
And DO use heat (like a heating pad) before & after, and warm the syringe (not too hot, though). I Take 2 Advil & a benadryl before each shot.
And: DON'T forget to pull the cap off before pushing the plunger -- most of us have wasted at least on $$$$ shot that way -- ugh!!
As long as you do 3 shots each week, separated by at least 48 hours (but not more then 72), whatever days work for you are fine. And each week, you have that 72-hr interval, which you can use to juggle your days for that week, if you need to -- like M-W-F one week, then M-W-Sat the next, etc..
There's more to know -- the Rebif nurse will tell you.
I started Rebif 2 months after 5 days of IV solumedrol -- and my sensory symptoms were gone after the 3rd day of solumedrol.
Good luck -- Rebif has worked fine for me -- no side effects.
Let us know how it goes for you.
I've been on Rebif 10 months. The "training" session lasted as long as I wanted it to -- until all my questions were answered, and so the nurse could watch me do the first injection. And he gave me his phone number to call if I had any questions or problems -- very comforting.
Trust me, the DVD doesn't tell you everything. The diagrams of the shot "sites" are not really to scale, etc. The nurse can let you know the best & worst places to inject -- for example, I'm thin, so I skip my arms, and use the upper outsides of my thighs -- I also use Emla numbing cream on thighdays. And when choosing a shot spot, find a nice fatty place -- makes all the difference. Also, choose a place at least an inch away from a spot that's red from the last shot.
And DO use heat (like a heating pad) before & after, and warm the syringe (not too hot, though). I Take 2 Advil & a benadryl before each shot.
And: DON'T forget to pull the cap off before pushing the plunger -- most of us have wasted at least on $$$$ shot that way -- ugh!!
As long as you do 3 shots each week, separated by at least 48 hours (but not more then 72), whatever days work for you are fine. And each week, you have that 72-hr interval, which you can use to juggle your days for that week, if you need to -- like M-W-F one week, then M-W-Sat the next, etc..
There's more to know -- the Rebif nurse will tell you.
I started Rebif 2 months after 5 days of IV solumedrol -- and my sensory symptoms were gone after the 3rd day of solumedrol.
Good luck -- Rebif has worked fine for me -- no side effects.
Let us know how it goes for you.
Have you done injections before? If so and you feel comfortable after having watched the DVD then go for it.
I was supposed to wait for the nurse to teach me when I switched from Copaxone to Avonex because they are different but I had been on injections with large needles in the muscle before so after watching the DVD and reading the literature I just started. Then when the home nurse called to set up an appointment I told her that I had started but let her come ( at my convenience for a change, lol ) and check on how I was doing with my new therapy.
If you like the idea of Mon., Wed. & Fri then wait until Monday and call to check on when they will be coming and if it's not soon you can tell them that you are ready to start that night and go from there.
Good luck with your new program
Hugs,
Erin :)
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