A question for the more knowledgeable than I ....
I went to get my labs drawn today, my GI doc said he wanted to monitor how my liver was processing my Imuran / 6pm - 50 mg which I went on about 2/3 weeks ago. I had been on this drug a few years ago at 100mg and I had to go off it due to elevated liver enzymes.
I asked the lab technichian what she was drawing for as there seemed to be quite a few vials. She said also a Prometheus test. I had just had one about 8 months ago when this new GI doc (I had just moved into town and saw him to establish care, my "Crohn's" had been in remission for years) ordered a Prometheus test to confirm Crohn's. It came back conclusive. I had a Prometheus test quite a few years ago which I think was inconclusive. Then I had an acute flare this fall/winter and landed in the hospital. Not only was the usual small bowel affected but I also had pain on my left side. I've always been tended on my left side now that I think of it. As my bowels shut down four days prior to my hospitalization and was vomiting bile, my GP ordered an X ray which he held up and it showed an inflamed black mass ... I'm assuming this was my large intestine, right? As the small intestine would have showed up as a smaller object, right?
Where I'm going with this is two fold:
1. I found out recently that my grandmother had colitis. Could he be checking for colitis too with the Prometheus test? Would my distended, affected large intestine have caused him to suspect Colitis too? I know the difference between UC and Crohn's Colitis, btw.
2. Could the blood work for Prometheus be to test the effectiveness of the Imuran somehow and I just don't understand how it works?
Thanks!
Diagnosed with Crohn's 2004 via pill camera Imuran (6MP) kicked into remission (along with modified diet) so went off in 2006.
2009/2010 acute flare and hospitalization - put back on Imuran. Currently taking 55 mg prednisone.
Current problem - protruding thrombosis hemorrhoid.