Starting Stelara
from Mike B.

Hi Ed and all,  

I posted at PsorChat in September that I saw my derm and he agreed that the methotrexate doesn't seem to be doing much for me. 

He's changed his mind about starting me on Humira, and instead wants me to try Stelara, which he feels would do me more good. So naturally I dropped in here to do a search ... I've got their "Questions Answered" booklet, but pretty much ALL manufacturers' literature tends to be at least a little biased, so I was looking more for users' experiences.

There were only four "hits," and it didn't look like any were relatively recent — allowing for Stelara itself being fairly new. But apparently there's been at least one change since then — in Canada, at least, it's now approved for self-injection, rather than requiring a medical professional to do the deed as was apparently previously the case.

And Janssen-Ortho (never heard of them before, but presumably the Cdn. manufacturer) has what looks like an excellent "Spectrum" support program, covering everything from assisting with getting reimbursement if you don't have appropriate drug coverage, to sending out their own RN's to do the injections if you'd rather not self-inject.  My eye-hand coordination is the pits since my head injury, so I'll probably choose that option — probably depending on where you live (they're based in Toronto), it can be done at home, at a local "pre-assigned" clinic, or at your doctor's office.

So I'm currently in the checking-for-TB stage of applying ... got chest x-rays this afternoon, and popped into my local Public Health office to set up skin tests. Turns out they only do that by appointment, and only on Wednesday mornings, so that's a week away still. Plus they asked me, and I'll have to find out by phone tomorrow since I haven't a clue, whether he wants the one-step test or the two-stage version.

Oh, and he's finally setting me up for biopsy of my feet. He'd apparently forgotten that we never did get around to that. So hopefully we can get steered towards an effective treatment ... topical antibiotics haven't helped at all, so I'd guess we can eliminate surface infection as THE problem, but even he said he was baffled when I saw him last spring. Everyone seems to agree that [my foot problem is] somehow tied into my P, though.

Just wanted to update you on the no-self-injection thing, and got a little carried away ... what else is new?  lol

Best, -Mike B.

*****

Ed’s Response: As you sent this on September 1, Mike, by now I expect you’re well on your way with the Stelara. I’m anxious to learn of your experience with this new acclaimed biologic.  I’ve got to admit, one shot a quarter sounds pretty good to me!

So send us a new update with two subjects: Stelara and your feet. -Ed

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