UC/Remicade/MS

I have a question for all of you who use Remicade.  I have had about 6 treatments of Remicade and about a month ago my hands and feet started to feel numb (pins and needles). 

Yes, it is unfortunate - one autoimmune condition can increase the probability of having another one. As if we needed more than one thing to be wrong with us!

I know it's hard, but try not to stress until you know what's wrong. Then put that energy into researching what you have.

Let us know what the doc says! Hang in there :)

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Pan-colitis and GERD diagnosed May 2003

 

Asacol 12 per day,  Azathioprine 75mg, Rowasa and Canasa as needed

Aciphex, Effexor XR, BCP, Rhinocort nasal spray

Culturelle, Biotin, Folic Acid, Forvia, Calcium, and B12

 

Osteopenia (hip and spine) from prednisone use.  Started Azathioprine because I was steroid dependent.

 

Co-Mod for the UC forum

Keep HealingWell running smoothly:  www.healingwell.com/donate

Thanks Dakotagirl, I'll try and take your advice. It's not easy though.

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Annagrace

Hi! Just wanted to know we just discussed this on the crohns board.  Read here:
http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=937546

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25 Year old married female.  Diagnosed w/ CD 2 years ago, IBS for over 10 years before that, which was probably the CD.

i believe remicade has, in rare cases, been associated with demyelinating disease, such as MS.

Also, MS and IBD are unfortunately correlated (having one means you have a higher chance of another). MS is likely a pathogen+genetic weakness, as with IBD. Could there be a common trigger?

As for whether you should worry-- the first symptom of MS onset is usually optic neuritis, not pins and needles. You could have a simple vitamin B deficiency.

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Dx:

Left-sided UC, Jun 2005. Flex-sig only... clear for first 20cms, then inflamed through next 30cms.

Therapies:

Pharmaceutical: Pentasa 3G/day, hydrocort 1x every 7 days
Probiotics: Acidophilus Pearls, Primadophilus Bifidus
Naturals: Caprylic Acid, Methylated B-12, Vit ACDE, Zinc (w/copper), Selenium, Turmeric, Bromelain, Luteolin
Killer Foods: Soda, Fried Food (especially french fries!), Beer, Red Wine, Pepperoncinis

im over on the crohn's board and i have a lot of neurological symptoms that my neuro believes that the remecaide may be contributing to. the best thing you can do is to see a neuro and have them keep a close eye on you. you can develop a mock MS syndryome where you have the symptoms but not the actual disease. im discussing with my GI tomorrow whether or not we should continue on the remecaid. we shall see, but dont worry until you find out, it could be other things like vitamin deficiencies as posted above. fitzy did post a link to my thread theres some good info there if youd like to read it.

 

good luck to you :)

 

bunny

Thanks everyone for the info. What a mess. Bunny, I hope things work out for you. I read your post and it sounds like you're going through some rough times. Sometimes I'm ready to throw in the towel and just have my colon removed. At least I wouldn't have to take those terrible medications that seem to do awful things to the body.

Take care,
Gracie

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Annagrace

thanks for the well wishes annagrace. yeah it kinds sucks all these things that we have to go thru. but were hoping the cade helps me out more now that we doubled the dose so my neuro is just gonna keep a good watch on me. i hope things get better for you too!