That's it?!

[DiannaKw]

So, the big day came... and went. Rebif - day one (of many). The whole thing was rather anticlimactic, to tell you the truth. And that's a good thing, too! Just a big, fat, non event. As it should be, forever and always : )

The nurse came over, I signed a release, she asked a few questions, and we talked for a bit. She began instructing me how to use the fancy little computer of an auto-injector I have (most of what she was explaining/demonstrating, I already knew considering I had spent the week "playing" with it, and the day reading the manual, but I humored her : P)

She then took a demo model and a little tile of mock skin out of her bag for me to practice on a few times. Not a moment later I was ready to go. I popped an Advil, picked a spot (my stomach), pressed a button, heard some faint mechanical "whirring" and felt the tiniest pinch for a few seconds.

"That's it?!"

"That's it"

She stuck around for about 45 minutes afterward to make sure I didn't start going into convulsions or something, drank some coffee, had a chat with me and my mom and went home to tend to a sick dog. ZERO injection site reaction. NONE. If I hadn't written it down/programed it into the RebiSmart, I'd have forgotten where I injected by now. Like it never even happened.

For anyone who is concerned about the immediate side effects (flu like symptoms) don't fret. The company and most doctors recommend titration that the nurse will program into the device for you. The amount of drug injected per injection over the course of one month gradually increases from 8.8mcg to the full dose of 44mcg *automatically* (that's about ONE cartridge), obviously so that your body becomes accustomed to the drug almost imperceptibly. (That's the theory, anyway)

I did get a headache a little later, took some more Advil, and fell asleep.

So, yea. One down, a bazillion to go. I can only hope the rest go this smoothly!

[Mike_Shuswap]

I used to get large red spots at the injection sites on my belly, but no where else that I noticed.

These spots would appear the day after my injection, and go away in a day or two.

I haven't had the red spots for quite a while now, so I guess my skin is used to the Rebif.

I'd say if they go away within a few days it's normal, if not give your Rebif contact person a call for advice.

Mike

[DiannaKw]

So, you know how I said "no injection site reaction"? Yeah, scratch that. I retract.

I was walking out of the shower today when I noticed the two nickle sized red blotches where I injected. Of course, they're no big deal really, I was expecting worse and still feel I got off easy. It's just that it's so bizarre how they sort of popped up DAYS after the initial injection... is that normal?

[Mike_Shuswap]

Oh, I should point out, I've only used the Rebismart and have never shot free hand or with other auto injectors, so I guess I really can't say what's easiest, I just know it's easy for me.

[Mike_Shuswap]

Good for you! The Rebismart seems to make injecting much easier than other methods.

The only problem I have it is when I'm more shakey than usual. I f you shake too much the machine will extract the needle, beep on and off, and the light will flash red. Then you have to reshoot to get the full dose.

I've had to re shoot 4 times my worst time, and that was just a thigh shot. I do the thigh and belly shots on my own, and my wife does the rear shots. I no longer use the back of the arms, too painful for some reason.

Anywho, congrats to you.

Mike

[sllowe]

Yay! Glad it was a non-event. I was taught manual injection w/my nurse. But, was the same - stomach, advil, back to school night and called it a wrap!
Definitely as it should be - your on your way lady!
((((Hugs))))
shell

[JaneK1975]

Congrats! Anti-climactic, isn't it?? That's how I felt after my first Copaxone shot. I'm happy for you :D

[Lulu54]

everyone here in the US on REbif are still waiting for this autoinjector to be approved for use in the states. I'm happy to read your description here.  

Congrats on getting this first one done.  It feels good, doesn't it?

best, Lu