Humira Chat ~ Part 2 (formerly Humira Ladies/Experiences)

[jo_11]

Tama:  I'm taking 1,000iu a day of vitamin D (from Higher Nature); it says not to exceed that dose, so assume it's the max. 

[FertilityFriends]

[Tama]

Thanks Jo mine are from Natures Best and are 400iu but it says not to exceed recommended dose - if you are all taking more than 400iu I'm sure I will be okay too    Guess I better take 3 tabs a day rather than one    xx

[Tama]

Just had a quick look at the immune FAQ and it says;
 
Dr Braverman's clinic in the US appear to be currently recommending 50-100mcg of vitamin D3 per day to to reduce elevated TNFa ratios for ladies whose vitamin D level is low on blood test.  (25mcg = 1000 iu of Vitamin D3).  According to the US National Institute of Health, healthy adults can take up to 100mcg (4000 iu) of vitamin D supplements per day, but should not take more than that.
 
I also take Tumeric as this can help lower TNF levels 

[Snoflake]

Hi girls,
 
I did alot of research about doses of Vitamin D and you can take up to 10,000iu per day safely - anything over this can cause problems so I thought a dosage of 2000iu would be ok.  I checked with my Doc too and he said it's absolutely fine.  I also did alot of research about Vit D reducing Cytokines and the general suggested dosage was 50mg which equates to 2000iu.
 
The reason I am taking Humira again is because on my last round of it - 4 injections - I really only got to take 3 so my Doc is hoping this time around I may respond differently.  He also mentioned a 'Humira flare' where the body increases it's cytokines levels but then reduces them after about bout of Humira so keeping fingers crossed.  Unfortunately I can't get LIT over here so am hoping the high dose intralipids will do the trick for me.  It's been a long road to date with 3 miscarriages along the way - the first was at 10.5 weeks with no immune treatment, the second was at 9.5 weeks with just basic immune treatment and my last was Boxing Day at 5.5 weeks with full immune support.

[Tama]

Thanks Snoflake great to know about the levels of vit D    I really hope this tx is the one that works out for you hun       xx

[May-be]

Hi everyone!
I read the last few pages of this thread and got a few good tips about Vit D3 and EPA/DHA! Thanks!
I wonder if anybody heard about Wobenzyme N? Apparently it stabilizes immune system, although i'm not sure if it would help in our case.
I took 1st lot of Humira in September and the TNF level went down from 36% to 31,2%. Dr T (ARGC) was satisfied with the level so i wasn't asked to take the 2nd course. Unfortunately i couldn't start tx since then (E2 too high, then problem with my uterus).
2 weeks ago i knew i couldn't start tx till at least mid March, so decided to do mini immunes again after 4 months from my last injection of Humira.  The doctor in ARGC was saying not to worry as Humira works for about 6 months, but it doesn't stop exactly after 6 months.
I asked for the test anyway as i didn't want to do it in March and be told then that i need Humira and have to wait another 5/6 weeks for tx.
Just got result this week and my TNF went up to 39% 4 months after Humira!?!?!
So, I'm starting second lot of H tomorrow and hope to be ready for mid March.
Happy to read as well that other docs recommending to test 10days or 2 weeks after the 2nd injection. I might have to do it a bit earlier than ARGC recommends as otherwise the mini immunes test wouldn't be ready before my new cycle and hopefully tx.

Fingers crossed for everyone!
Gx

[jo_11]

Gosia:  Hi; sounds like you've been through the mill a bit to get nearer to your goal... fingers crossed for the next round of humira.  I 'think' ARGC don't test for 3 weeks as that's when they believe the full effects of the injections set in... mind you, if my next cycle depended on it, I'd test earlier too 

[morrigan]

Gosia how frustrating for - I wish they new why some of us have high tnfa levels ! Good luck with your next lot. Good for you for retesting- just shows we need to be in charge of our tx.

[Lilirose]

Hi girls

Just wondering whether any of you are going to ARGC or Lister? I've just completed my third IVF and it was negative, I have taken Humira late last year, ended up goign from 42.3 to 39.4 or something like that, took another round and didn't bother getting it retested as was told I would be resistant to it so had intralipids anyway. Am becoming more and more convinced our problem is implantation caused by teh cytokines, and just wondered where ye would advise me to attend next - am looking at Lister or ARGC, have heard ARGC are specialists in immune issues??

Good luck to all of you on Humira, not a nice injection but if it works...!

thanks girls

Lilirose

[jo_11]

Lilirose:  I'm currently at the Lister but am going for a consultation at ARGC in March.  The immunes guy at the Lister is Dr Thum (other consultants aren't particularly big fans of immune tx but Dr Thum is brilliant), although they won't prescribe humira... after assessing my immune test results, Lister were going to prescribe me steroids plus IVIg for my cytokines.  Lister don't mind if you do immune tx with them, or elsewhere (e.g. Dr Gorgy), although they won't prescribe humira (but you've reached your max dose anyway).  ARGC are advocates of immune tx, although the cycle regime there is mega militant.  I think it's time we had some militant tx though (e.g. daily/twice daily bloods), although part of me is wondering whether to have another cycle at the Lister as we're candidates for IMSI.  Not sure whether our issue is one of eggs, sperm, cytokines, other immunes, or a mix of the whole lot!  Good luck in your decision.