A flare or I need a change in medication?

[ronroush7]

For the last three days I have been going to the bathroom a lot. I am wondering if I am having a flare or need to have my Humira weekly instead of biweekly? I felt better yesterday after taking a nap and some probiotic but I am starting again. My wife wants me to call whoever is at on call at my doctor's office. I feel funny about it. They already want me to have blood work and a stool sample and call the specialist all of which I haven't done yet.

 

[Clash]

You really need to get the blood work and a stool sample done. That way they can tell where your inflammation markers are at (if blood work is a good indicator for you.) Is the stool sample for a fecal calprotectin test or to check for infection blood etc? If that's normal might make sure that you don't have something like C diff.

They may also need to check your humira levels right before next injection and/or antibody levels.

If you are in a lot of pain or the diarrhea is causing you to become dehydrated a call to the on call GI wouldn't hurt.

 

[ronroush7]

He wants labs done Monday.

 

[ronroush7]

@Clash. It is fecal calprotectin for the stool sample.

 

[ronroush7]

My next Humira injection is supposed to be Wednesday.

 

[JackG]

Ron, I can relate. I've been going three or four times before going to work in the morning and then a couple times after. But this is not new territory for me. My wife says I get irregular and start feeling sickly before changes in the weather, or before and during stressful situations. We bid on a new house and we're not ready to show ours, so I can tell you that's stressful.

And to be honest? I'm lousy at eating right for Crohn's because I've been so lucky for so long. I slug down some Pepto and I'm stable for work. As I mentioned elsewhere sometimes I can take Metamucil for a limited time and it really makes me feel a lot better, with an improved sense of well being. But I can't take it too long.

I guess I'm saying, all of us have been through the wars with this tiger. Haven't you felt really great for a while, and then terrible for a while? It's up and down all the time with me, physically.

 

[ronroush7]

Ron, I can relate. I've been going three or four times before going to work in the morning and then a couple times after. But this is not new territory for me. My wife says I get irregular and start feeling sickly before changes in the weather, or before and during stressful situations. We bid on a new house and we're not ready to show ours, so I can tell you that's stressful.
And to be honest? I'm lousy at eating right for Crohn's because I've been so lucky for so long. I slug down some Pepto and I'm stable for work. As I mentioned elsewhere sometimes I can take Metamucil for a limited time and it really makes me feel a lot better, with an improved sense of well being. But I can't take it too long.

My father has Alzheimer's and finances are tight.

 

[JackG]

Boy, I'll bet that's pretty stressful. They say stress contributes.

 

[ronroush7]

Yes

 

[Clash]

I'm glad your getting labs done Monday. It can take some time for Humira to really start working, months even. I'll tag my little penguin she has the info on that.

I'd push for getting the humira trough levels tested just to make sure it's not that your body is metabolizing the humira to quickly. Of course, the answer to of it is is too shorten the schedule and your doctor may want to do that anyway.

I really hope things calm quickly!

 

[ronroush7]

Thanks