Just had 1st infusion last Friday.  Been feeling "fluish" last several days but have heard that is normal.  Praying that I get good results like I've heard from others!  Good Luck!!

Thank you Bonnie for asking this question. I had my 2nd Remicade infusion a week ago and I don't see much difference. I'm still in constant pain and it's different every day. Sometimes it's my arm or my knees or my hips but it's always something. I hope I just need to continue with it a bit longer for it to work, I'm trying to stay positive. But what do I do if it doesn't?  No matter how you look AS sucks!!!!

I was taking remicade about 11 years ago. But had to discontinue as it affected me. My face felt flush, heart felt like flushing of some sort.After about 3 months, apparently was having an allergic reaction. The doc knew I was having some back stiffness and was hoping that the bones would stop growing to the point of spine discs adhering to each other and limiting movement. I still have have back stiffness limiting certain bending actions...like standing up straight. Everynow and then pain does occur where I dont think I can take it. But then it just goes away. Its been about 30 years of experience pain but has been bearable thus far.
Stay active, keep your circulation system motivated with strong will power thoughts.

I have used Remicade since October 2010 and it has made a huge difference. After 3 1/2 of years of trying to figure out what was going on until my doctor found out that I had AS, I see impovement each time with each treatment. I now get my infusions every eight weeks. The worst part of the treatments is that I feel tired for about a week. To minimize allergic reactions to Remicade, I am also given Benadryl (in IV form) before I am given the Remicade. Remicade has been a good treatment for me. I am now back to swimming and I hope to be back to working out on the elliptical trainer in the coming months, I will talk to my doctor  about it on my next visit.

I started on Remicade about three years ago with a dosage of 500cc every eight weeks and after about a year and half went to 500cc every six weeks for about a year and the 500cc every four weeks. After that it did not work as before. Now I am on Simponi which is not as good but manageable. I don???t know what is next. I get very tired for a week after the injection.

I am now up to 500 cc/4 wks. They are talking about upping the dose some more. I started Remicaid about a year ago after trying Hunmira. It has gviven me a bit a life back. I no longer am able to work now. It seems to me that three - faour days after I to feel tired etc. I thought is was because of the long two hour drive to get the infussion. Right now I also get shots in my lower back for pain.  I have AS, RA and Inclusion Body Myosytis. There are a few other, but the three are a real battle for me. I take a Celebrex and 500 cc of Lortab in the morning to get me going. The Lortab helps, but the pain is there, just more tolerable. I will not complain because I so well remember likfe before Remicade. I used to think that it would be like a miricale that after Hunira or the Remicaide, I would feel close to my old self again. Not! But I so well remember the days with out it and I am so thinkful for it.

Hi Bonnie,
I've been on Remicade for a few months now, just had my 4th infusion last week.  I was on NSAIDs before,  but was given a Crohn's diagnosis, so they became a no-no,  Remicade was one of the few drugs that would fight off both conditions.
I know this is a scary time for you, as I was recently in your position, frantically searching online and finding all this stuff that scares you,  but so far so good.  I have no regrets.
Unfortunately, if you keep reading online, you WILL get scared,  but you must realize that the warnings are there because everyone likes suing everyone in this world, and they're just tying to cover their ass.
I just noticed the comment where you said you've been on it for awhile now.  I'm glad to hear you're doing well!

10+ years now - 500cc's every 8 weeks  - - - Gave me my life back!!!

Yes, I've been on it for about 3 years now.  About 2 1/2 years ago I had started using a walker at times and was in extreme pain.  Now, I rarely use my cane and my pain level is much lower.  I attribute it to a combination of the Remicade and also that I am no longer working and can rest during the day as needed.  I get 1000 every 5 weeks.  A day or two after an infusion I usually feel bad (tired and a little more achy) and this can last a week to 10 days.  But overall it has helped a lot.  I have also developed psoriasis within the past year.  There is some question as to whether I already had psoriasis as I had a couple of rashes that may or may not have been psoriasis (didn't get a couple checked and one rash I was told was eczema).

I get Remicade IV every 5 weeks.  It has helped, but I've still had flares.  It scares me to think of how bad my flares would be without the Remicade, though; I never want to go back to feeling like that!  The only side effect I've had is that it took forever for me to heal after a foot reconstruction surgery.  I hope you have good luck with Remicade.  :)

I have used Remicade since October, 2010.  Have had good luck with it.