Well, another Biologic makes the list of medications to try.
I am supposed to be starting Cimzia - another Biologic - for my Ankylosing Spondylitis.
I was technically supposed to start last week, then Monday, but I will be starting it today. Last week, right after the first Cortisone injection, was absolutely not a good idea. On Monday, I woke up feeling horrendous, with a scratchy throat and feeling feverish (although I did not have a fever), and you cannot do a biologic injection while ill. Then the next few days included the second cortisone injection and then Rj was out of town for two days.
Today I feel pretty decent overall (after having an AMAZING sleep on our new bed), and the hubby is home all weekend - in case the reaction happens immediately and I need instant medical intervention.
Of course I am apprehensive of taking this medication. I have already shown a severe intolerance to 5 other Biologics, so I am not holding out much hope. On top of that, the only Biologic that ever really made a massive difference in the symptoms of disease was Remicade, and that was before the AS, and was treating my Crohn's Disease.
But what are my choices?
CBD oil does nothing for the pain. The disease is progressive and degenerative. Pain relievers allow me to function relatively normally, but the future of that medication also looks bleak because of a social mess... so I may have to be removed off of those medications to appease a situation that has nothing to do with me. So even though a medication is working and has not shown to cause any additional problems within my system, I may have to be removed off of that medication. (I am pretty frustrated about this part).
So - I am trying another Biologic - with a 90% chance that I will have a severe swelling episode in my throat that can obstruct my airway.
We are hoping that - if I react - it will be similar to Cosentyx in the way that it makes my HAE hypersensitive, so as long as I avoid a second trigger, I can evade a full-blown throat swell. That way, I will know that I cannot take it, without having to go to emergency with stridor breathing and panicked about the potential for intubation.
So Cimzia starts today. So I am going to spend the day relaxing and staying calm so that I don't make anything worse.... while simultaneously being entirely prepared to rush to the ER.
Yaaayyy illness!
