4 feet small bowel and humira

[jof64]

hi to everyone
im new to this site .i have had cd for 28 years ,10 operations and counting suffer from sore joints and fatigue and also few operations in the last 2 years for kidney and bladder stones .
i have only 4 feet small bowel left and have a illeostomy. been on methetrexate for two years and now its stopped working so the doc wants to put me on humira
is there anyone out there with very little bowel left like me who is on humira and did it make a difference .
i have been on metacaptapurine once and i had to come of it due to not being able to stand up because of severe dizziness.the methetrexate made me tired and nausia and i had to take procloperazine to help it .
this humira ,what i have read,is a risky drug to take .will it make any difference to me as i have only 4 feet small bowel left ?
the support nurse at the hospital was not very forthcoming on the success of the patients in her care ,and i felt she was taken aback that i asked so many questions and didnt just say ok go with it ,rather i said i wanted time to think about it as this is a very serious decission to make and its my life on the line if it goes wrong.
this is the first time in 28 years i have questioned the treatment being offered .so can anyone like me help with my decission .

SHOULD I OR SHOULDNT I ?THAT IS THE QUESTION:confused2:

thanks to all who read this

 

[jof64]

please could anyone out there reply as i have to let doctor know my decision by tuesday and i need experiences from others to help me make the right move:confused2:

 

[Miss Underestimated]

Sorry you couldn't get an answer. I have more than 4 ft of small bowel, but I'm on Humira. Honestly, what have you got to lose? There is a slight risk of cancer - but there is more risk of cancer from the CD.

There are some tests they can give you to see if the Humira will work for you. I don't know if your medical system will let you have those tests, but they might save you some times and the trouble. I know I decided to pay for the tests myself if they weren't covered, but they were.

 

[Scaryman]

I'd like to add that Humira is one of the cleanest drugs out there. But with it being a TNF blocker there are risks of infections since your immune system is going to be suppressed. But since you were on MTX your some what used to that. I'd try it. Let us know if it helps.

Note: I've been on MTX/Humira combo for 18 weeks and its starting not to work for me. it kind of sucks because there is no other drugs out there for me. I just had a ct-scan done and it revealed problems with my terminal ileum. Colonoscopy scheduled for next week to check on the other 2 strictures in the the transversal and proximal colon. If everything looks ok then I'm looking at surgery.

As with Crohns every thing with it, the disease and drugs is individualized and non linear. Which in my opinion is the toughest part of the disease. Its like a problem that wont go away, no matter what.

 

[sanni]

I have just over 5 feet of small intestine and an ileostomy. I was put on Humira 5 years ago after my operation nr 8. I never had good results from any medication and my crohns always renewd and I have had 7 operations within 15 years to cut out strictures and so resulting in short gut. I was very resistful to start Humira. I had been on Remicade before and with bad results. Also as a youg woman who did not know if she wanted to have a family some day biological medication seemd scary and final. However I was getting nothing from Azamun anymore (if even ever really had) and Humira was the only option I had not tried yeat. So I gave in to my doctors and started it. I have been in remission ever since. I have problems caused by my short gut but I have not had crohns ralated stomach problems ever since then. I also got my ostomy then at the same time so can never say for sure what is keeping me feeling better, but would definately give some credit to humira. Never felt this good in my life.

Definately give it a try. Hope it works for you.