I had two or three my entire life, but am now averaging 2 or 3 a year since being on all of the Crohn's meds (Remicade included). I just chalk it up to a compromised immune system, but I've never...
Background info: Undergrad- -Sophomore year: Diagnosed in the spring with severe ulcerative colitis; 2 hospital stays totaling 11 days, 3 blood transfusions, usual cocktail of oral medications, and...
Yes. An infectious disease specialist explained this to me the last time I was in the hospital: Apparently, as your colon becomes inflamed, the walls of the colon weaken. The various bacteria, both...
Let me preface this by saying everyone here has the right to say anything and everything he/she wants. However... We all know how terrible, life-changing, and depressing UC/Crohn's can be. We must...
I would be sans colon or dead were it not for Remicade. And that's a fact....
First off: I have had three GIs since being diagnosed. One of them told me that I "must have developed arthritis not related to my UC and that a referral to a rheumatologist" was needed. The other...
"How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers aren't enough." Isn't that the truth. GIs and their staffs are truly saints. Think about all of the crap we put them thru!...
For patients who have severe symptoms and for whom medications don't work very well, Crohn's would be worse to have since there's no surgical "cure", meaning you could be really really sick...
Are we allowed to take OTC gas medications? I know that Immodium is discouraged unless absolutely necessary, but I wasn't sure if there were options for...well, Cajun food, honestly....
I "passed" my MCAT despite taking it in the middle of a major flare and only being able to think about "passing" more than the test while I was taking it! Woohoo! OK. I'm breathing again....
One of my doctors (not a GI; "Infectious Disease", I think) said that our temperatures go up during flares because small amounts of the naturally-occurring bacteria in our intestines begin to escape...
Here's the website I've used for dietary recommendations: http://www.building-muscle101.com/ It's not targeted at UC patients nor is the guy a medical professional, but it worked for him and it...
Soft drinks were not allowed in my house when I was young and I almost never ate fast food. DXed with UC when I was 20. No one in my family has IBD, but my dad does have the typical "old man issues"...
How's your blood count (hematocrit and hemoglobin)? If it's low enough, your doc might let you get a transfusion or an IV iron supplement. Those always make me feel TONS better. And you won't be the...
One of my buddies at college was giving me crap (no pun intended) about hogging the bathroom. I asked him if he would rather me "crap blood all over your door". He hasn't complained since. The key is...
"I've had it - time for me to throw in the towel. After finding out that 6mp is not working right for me nor will it ever, I'm not sure if I really want to start Remicade now. Isn't like just putting...
I had/have the same issue. I believe you can receive either 5 mg or 10 mg q kilo. My GI also let me get infusions as frequently as 5 weeks; it wasn't until I was needing them about every other week...
I consider a flare-up to be anything other than remission (which most people consider to be "normal" bowel function). Sometimes a flare might be loose bowels for a week or two, but it can be...
I don't know how sick you are, so I can't really suggest anything, but Remicade started working for me within three or four days. I have no idea if that's typical. I also will echo the Imuran...
What's this about Asacol spots?...
Thanks for all of the responses! Mark&Megan: THANK YOU for that link. Those comments really helped me relax some about these results. NMcP: I tinkered with my diet all of last year. Nothing really...
The main reason I'm so scared of Crohn's is that the 5-ASAs did NOTHING for me, the 6MPs (Imuran) haven't done anything, and now the Remicade is apparently failing. With colitis, that leaves pretty...
No experience with the Entocort, but as far as the lots-of-BMs-but-not-much-comes-out: my GI has told me that flare-ups often inflame the anal sphincter, too, thus making it harder to pass. He...
So, my normal GI is back in town and doesn't sound like he wants me to try Tysabri. The more I think about it, the more I agree with him. However... ...I got terrible news from one of the tests they...
My personal definitions... Remission: Complete control of UC symptoms (to where you only know you have the disease because of medications) while on medications that are safe to take indefinitely....
In layman's terms, Pred is an immunosuppressant in most cases. Thus, being on Pred while exposed to all of the bacteria associated with surgery increases your risk for infections, slow healing, etc....
In case you remember, I went in to get some blood last Monday. Well... -Ended up admitting me to the hospital -Was running temperatures as high as 104.8. Still don't know why. -Remicade officially...
Last spring, Remicade was the only thing that prevented surgery. Now, I only go about 2 weeks post-infusion without bleeding (but still have diarrhea), then flare for the remaining three weeks before...
My doc always puts me on Flagyl to combat C. diff, a particularly stubborn type of intestinal infection. Usually a two-week course, followed by another two-week course a few months later ;)....
Headed back home to be in the hospital tonight. Dr heard the symptoms (102 temp, usual GI symptoms, nausea/headache, aching, mouth sores) over the phone and thinks it's my CDiff coming back, but I...
"Due to some digestive issues, my physicians want me to keep to a very strict diet." That's the gist of what I usually say....
-Probably really tired with a possibility of cold-like symptoms. -They'll have you take Tylenol (to keep down your temperature) and Benedryl/some other antihistamine. They'll put you on saline IV for...
I'm sorry, but this thread title really has me laughing. I had some mesalamine enemas by Rowasa that were NOT easy to hold, if that helps any....
My GI explained that surgery, although technically a cure, is not necessarily a perfect option. Besides the usual surgical risks, J-pouch requires your small intestine to do something it's not...
I started flaring in mid-January, was DXed in mid-March, and was in remission by early July. Good luck!...
Not until you're hired. NEVER until you're hired. And if they do anything about it once you're hired, then find a lawyer....
They finally put me in the hospital when I could no longer hold down food. I had been in a bad flare for about two months, but it took the non-stop vomiting for them to finally send me to the ER....
Congrats on getting off of the Prednisone! I am NOT qualified to advise you on the insurance issues, but I sympathize with you on the weight problems. I went from being 30 lbs underweight (meaning: I...
I still get the mucousy, light-colored stool every couple of days. Does this happen whether or not I am in remission? Am I just constantly "toeing" the line between remission and flare? Thanks, guys....
For me personally, joint pain was a dead-giveaway that the UC was getting worse (this was during a 5-month flare). I haven't had it except during that time period. I have no idea (obviously) if it...
-I believe that the Tylenol is to deal with any elevated body temperature that the infusion might cause during the actual treatment; similar to giving Benadryl in case of an allergic reaction. I...
I don't know what the particular dosage is, but my GI just bumped me up to every 6 weeks instead of the typical 8 due to my having issues about 7-10 days out from infusions. best of luck!...
My doctor has never said anything about avoiding any type of food, even greens and popcorn (contrary to many recommended diets). However, I can't complain because I haven't had any problems. I tend...
Ditto Christie. Mine gets so bad during flares that I have trouble eating....
**SEVERE** joint pain Mouth sores Nausea/dry heaving when very, very sick...
I vividly remember those nights. Sitting on the toilet continuously, half-asleep, freezing cold, and that "constipation/diarrhea" you mentioned (I think it's from swelling, maybe?). Are you doing...
I want a season or two of The Office on DVD. I LOVE THAT SHOW!!!...
In regards to Remicade, I'm under the impression that it's a "last resort" both because it is SOOO expensive (I drive out of state in order to get it at a cheaper rate; I think it's something like...
Thanks all. I'll try to catch my doc this Friday and ask him about trying a 7-week rotation (I didn't know such things existed). I hope all of you guys are doing alright; I've been bad about not...
I've found that starting about 7-10 days prior to my infusions of Remicade, I start experiencing loose bowels and slight bleeding; it stops within 1-2 days after the infusion, though. Anyone else...