6mp yes or no ??? help xxx

[Amy (worrywart)]

hey all
i'm new to this so please bare with me :thumleft:
my story goes a bit like this, i was diagnosed with this awful disease (crohns) way back in nov 99 !!! so at this stage you'd think i'd be a pro !!! since then i've had 3 beautiful kids and a blissful 10 years in remission apart from the odd flare :shifty-t:
then last year out of the blue bang i was hit with perianal crohns disease and had 3 operations all including the dreaded setons ,not nice...
since then thankfully all seems to be settling just had an MRI which shows 2 small fistulas but no cavitys or absesses thank god ...
so now my team are looking to start me on stronger meds and have mentioned 6mp as my starter,I'm currently on pentasa and probiotics,
the thought just scares the life out of me everytime i search the web i see horriable scarey stuff that literally sends me into a panic but i also found this forum so hear i am xx
anyways i'm thankful for all replys
hugs from ireland
Amy :rosette2:

 

[muppet]

6MP is scary, but it's still a bit safer than the biologicals like Remicade or Humira. Just make sure your doctor is checking your blood for abnormalities while you're on it. My daughter used it for years with great success (though it's not working as well now). I went on it and rapidly developed pancreatitis and was hospitalized (but I'm fine now.)

It's definitely a drug to be cautious with but it's not too bad. You may notice that you get more/worse colds while you're on it. Definitely talk to your doc about your concerns, though.

 

[Amy (worrywart)]

thanks so much for your quick reply x
just devasted to have to hit the scary drugs after doing so well,for a while i actually forgot i had this darn thing !!!
I guess its always there in the back burner waiting to pounce xx
they've mentioned Humira but honestly dont think i'm ready to take that step yet literally only getting over pneumonia for the second time and facing this now,cant complain anyway havent got time my 3 kids keep me on my toes

 

[Amy (worrywart)]

oh ps hope your daughter gets well again and thanfully you recovered xxx

 

[Lydia]

Try the 6MP or Imuran first. It could help you. It kicked off a really long remission the first time I used it, including healing fistulas. It takes time to work, but if you are willing to wait 6-12 weeks, then it may be for you.

If you are really worried you could ask to start a low dose and slowly work your way up to a theraputic dose over a couple weeks to see how your body handles it.

 

[jesseiam2]

I understand completely about that fear. I went 13 years with remission and recently started having issues. I start 6MP and Humira in September, my GI said the success rate is way higher when put together. Scares me a bit, but I am gonna press through. Good luck with yours!

 

[art_nj]

I was on 6 MP and Lialda for a year. My doc started me out with 25 mg per day and I went regularly for blood tests. I didn't have any side effects and it did work really well in the beginning. After several months though my symptoms started coming back, so my doc bumped up the dosage and I was ok for a while. But again, the symptoms came back and again he bumped up the dosage. Eventually I got to a point where he wouldn't let me go higher on the dosage and it wasn't working for me anymore. For a year though I felt pretty good! Hopefully, you'll have good results!

 

[Baw's mom]

I understand your concerns. My daughter was diagnosed in May, 2011. She is now on Remicade infusions and started 6- MP last week. her GI wants her on this regimen for a year. She has strictures, fistulars and an absess. Share your concerns with your GI doctor and talk about alternative treatments. It is ultimately you decision (not an easy one). And...you are not alone in your worry! Best of luck to you hope all goes well.

 

[Jennifer]

I've been on 6mp for well over 12 years. I had a 12 year remission while on it (and Asacol combined but was taken off of Asacol a year ago). I was on 50mg of 6mp all that time except for 75mg before my resection 10 years ago and now I'm currently on 75mg to get current flare under control. I've never had any side effects from it and I have blood work done monthly to make sure it isn't doing any harm on my other organs. So far so good. All the drugs out there have terrible sounding side effects but that doesn't mean you'll experience all or any of them. If it doesn't work then there are other meds to try. Hopefully it works for you though and you wont have any problems with it. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Amy (worrywart)]

Just logged back on this morning xx
thanks so much for all your replys ,if 1 good thing came out of googling on the web it was this forum ,
cant tell you how comforting it is to find people with an understanding of the decisions you have to make,I honestly think i may send my husband mad hehe
think i'll defo give the 6mp a try on a low dose to start with as i tend to suffer panic attacks even with a pain killer ;-(
thanks again so much
loves and hugs to you all xxxxxx