I have a question to ask about remission

Darlin' Charlee, when it comes to family, sometimes they get it fast or slow. I've had the Crohns for about a year or so and my mom STILL thinks I'd get completely cured if I only had a priest come by and do an "anointing of the ill". I wanna slap her sometimes when she brings it up since she's still got COPD, and a heart infection. Basically I love her but I can't stand her religious rantings. Be glad your mom is TRYING to understand. My mom stresses the hell out of me and she'll drive me nuts if I don't answer her calls.

I agree with Grandpato2 to a point.

Personally, I think depression is part of the adaptation process, feeling some doom and gloom about a life long diagnosis is not just normal, it's a reasonable response to an unreasonable situation. Adapting to pain and suffering is not easy.

That being said, finding a good therapist (Good meaning, you feel a connection pretty much the first time you walk in the door; if you feel any level of discomfort, find another one. A therapist is like a close friend, either they are or they are not) to talk to, while you work it out ain't such a bad idea either. Keep in mind that anti depressants can mess with the gut, which is not to say don't go there if you feel you need to, but keep in mind too, that the low moods pass, that malnutrition and pain mess with our moods, and everyone adapting to a chronic illness goes through these stages.

The loss of our health is huge and I think grieving is part of the process.

I would suggest a Mindfulness and pain or Mindfullness and depression group, it really doesn't matter, Mindfullness being the key tool here, is very very helpful.

When I was on sterioids, sleeping on 3 hours a day, I found the roids actually helped me meditate and the mediation allows me to clear out all kinds of mental crap and deal with each moment as it comes.

Something for all who are new to CD and steriods, I'm not sure this can be said enough, the steroids will mess with your mood. If your find yourself in a hopeless feeling for too long, it might be them roids, and time for a med switch, certainly before you add anti depressants to the mix. Steroids are too much for some in terms of their emotional side effects and since there are other CD drugs to try, better to move on than add on.

Keep in mind this is just my thinking and to always talk to your doctor.

I just want to reinterate what was said above, DO NOT TAKE NSAIDS, they will cause you nothing but problems. I even get really sick from Toradol (that is a NSAID too, see link below). I stick to either prescription pain meds from my doc (usually they have Tylenol in them and that is allowed) or something like Tylenol arthritis. Good luck!

http://www.rxlist.com/toradol-drug.htm  

Nanners,

I appreciate your valid concerns, keep in mind though this drug needs an Rx, I would and do avoid NSAIDS of the over the counter kind.

Still I think it important to point out that, some of us can tolerate Toradol, I do very well and have been on it up to a year (it was the only painkiller that worked for me when I lived through an auto-immune rejection to abdominal mesh, opiates did not touch that torturous pain.) and it did not cause a flare or even the damage that the warnings are concerned about. I have to take a PPI with it, but that's it.

I have greater difficulties with opiates-- for me codeine causes instant havok with my guts, I do not tolerate them well, plus I'd rather have the ones I can use in my back pocket should I have to go through surgery again and for procedures.

While it is highly likely that Toradol will not agree with most, some of us metabolize it well, I'm not the only one I know with CD who uses it. I am careful to have related blood work when I do and take PPI's to protect my gut, but honestly I do not know where I'd be without this drug.

I think it's best for each of us to talk to our doctor about all drugs, to find what works best for our individual systems.

When it comes down to it we do what is best for us under medical supervision. It depends on what is causing you the most pain and what you are willing with gamble with, and I think that is best done with your doctor and you working together.

That being said Do Not Gamble with your health, if you do not have to.  Especially when you have alternatives that might work better, because toradol is not a long term pain med.

After my bowel resection, I was in remission for four years. I felt so good (in fact, better than I had in years) that I slacked off on taking my meds like I should (down to once a day instead of two). That was a no-no. Last spring I suffered from debilitating Crohn's-related arthritis in my jaw, pinky, both knees and ankles. My gut felt fine, but I literally had to crawl up the steps to get to my bedroom for a couple of weeks. My GI doc wanted to put me on Remicade or Imuran, but I refused. Went to an acupuncturist who did a CDSA stool test and found I was totally lacking in lactobacillus. She put me on a vegetarian lacto probiotic, treated me with acupuncture, gave me a Chinese herb called Isatis Cooling and a vegetarian glucosamine. My pain started to abate. Within 4-6 months my symptoms and pain cleared. I have been doing great since and am back to what I'd consider a remission. I do try and watch what I eat in the sense that I won't eat salads three days in a row, etc. But I can pretty much eat and do whatever I want. In my case, the resection was a Godsend. I have not had to add to my prescriptive regimen (I only take Penatasa now). I also take fish oil daily and Resveratrol. I wish you well and hope your remission is as symptom and pain-free as possible. Blessings.

Gosh Rita, I'm really sorry that the NSAIDS started you off again. That was the first thing my GI told me - no aspirin and no medications with aspirin in them. Hearing your story I see now why he was adamant about it. Best of luck getting back on track!