I found this site while looking for information about the side effects of Remicade. I'm retired in my late 50's and lived with Crohn's for most of my life. The big flare 15 years ago left me on the bag. I've tried various treatments and found that they are often worse than the Crohn's itself. They start out like miracle cures as the Cipro and Azathioprine did only to create side effects later that are worse than the disease.
I am going to get my first Remicade infusion in a couple of days and I am quite nervous. My Crohn's is back into remission as it often does in winter. I have a small fistula that is of little bother, but have a larger one that is painless but produces blood on a daily bases on the wall of my rectum. It used to be painful, but in the past year it no longer hurts but continues to bleed. It comes on like a bowel movement and the first blood and mucous is dark and does not smell good, then two hours later I get the urge to excrete again and the blood is brighter red with mucous, then for the rest of the day I am good. The MRI shows a long thin pocket formed by a hole in the side of the colon wall on the rectum. The Dr. feels that it can be controlled better and may heal up with Remicade.
I am a bit nervous as I am on an even keel other than the bloody discharge, sleeping well and eating a good balanced diet. I am trying to weigh the risks. Should I go on treatment or stay the course without? I managed to stay away from being hospitalized since the big one 15 years ago. My old Dr retired last year, and I have only seen the new Dr. on three visits and he seems determined that Remicade is the way to go.
Any thoughts or advice welcome.
I am going to get my first Remicade infusion in a couple of days and I am quite nervous. My Crohn's is back into remission as it often does in winter. I have a small fistula that is of little bother, but have a larger one that is painless but produces blood on a daily bases on the wall of my rectum. It used to be painful, but in the past year it no longer hurts but continues to bleed. It comes on like a bowel movement and the first blood and mucous is dark and does not smell good, then two hours later I get the urge to excrete again and the blood is brighter red with mucous, then for the rest of the day I am good. The MRI shows a long thin pocket formed by a hole in the side of the colon wall on the rectum. The Dr. feels that it can be controlled better and may heal up with Remicade.
I am a bit nervous as I am on an even keel other than the bloody discharge, sleeping well and eating a good balanced diet. I am trying to weigh the risks. Should I go on treatment or stay the course without? I managed to stay away from being hospitalized since the big one 15 years ago. My old Dr retired last year, and I have only seen the new Dr. on three visits and he seems determined that Remicade is the way to go.
Any thoughts or advice welcome.
