Last time I wrote about my biologics treatment for Crohn’s disease, I had gotten my very first infusion of Stelara at Mount Sinai’s IBD Clinic in New York City. A few weeks ago, I was able to administer my own Stelara injection, right from the comfort of my own dormitory in college! As an undergraduate, it was of the utmost importance that I could stay on top of my schoolwork without having to commute for medical treatment in the middle of the semester.
Honestly, this was my first time doing an injection that wasn’t prepackaged, such as the Humira pen. Instead, I had to poke the needle into my own skin -- a hard ask for someone who isn’t a huge fan of needles. Nonetheless, I was grateful to have a Mount Sinai nurse call me via a telehealth appointment to walk me through the whole ordeal.
This is what the injection looks like! It’s not too large -- it actually fit right in my mini-fridge from the dormitory. Be sure to dispose of any needles and treatments properly if you’re doing injections on your own.
Notably, it was a hassle to arrange the delivery of my treatment with the various insurance companies. Although I’m fortunate enough to have student insurance through my university, it’s still very difficult (and opaque) to organize Stelara deliveries for IBD patients. This points to larger structural flaws in the healthcare system that often prevent patients from receiving affordable care that they absolutely need, but alas: this is a conversation for another time.
I chose to administer my injection into my stomach! Other patients opt to have their injections in their thighs or upper legs. I found this to be the comfiest option for me!
Admittedly, there was a bit of blood after I pushed the needle into my skin. However, I was able to clean this up, and my nurse said that it was not something to be concerned about! One tip I have for any IBD patients on Stelara is to prepare all your materials ahead of time -- that way, you won’t be walking around looking for band-aids or antiseptic wipes during your injection! Another benefit of doing the at-home Stelara injection was that I didn’t feel as groggy or as tired, as I did from the first infusion that I had received.
All in all, although I definitely was not thrilled about having to inject myself with my biologics medication, this experience reminded me that having such access to healthcare to begin with is such a blessing. I hope that IBD patients feel less lonely in their struggles to adjust to new treatments -- know that you’re not alone and that we’re all in this together! I wish you the best of luck on your treatments; sending you all my love from New Jersey!