Hello Everyone. I'm a 40 year old female who was diagnosed with Crohn's Colitis 3 years ago (I know I was "old" when I was diagnosed). From age 20 to 40 however, I suffered on and off not knowing what was wrong and being misdiagnosed several times. Finally, in the summer of 08 when I turned 40 I had a very bad flare (severe intestinal pain, constipation/diarrhea, swollen painful ankles, headaches, fatique, fissure, rectal bleeding). My GI did a colonoscopy and discovered multiple ulcers scattered throughout my colon and large intestine as well as an extremely inflammed illeocecal valve. I had a small bowel series done, and the results showed no crohn's in the small intestine. I was put on Lialda and 6MP, which I took for a year. After a year, the meds were no longer helping anymore. At that point he told me to consider Remicade. I told him flat out "no" and I took myself off all medications. I did alright for almost 2 years and of course, I had flares inbetween that time, mostly between the months of November to March. This past March I wasn't feeling well and I had another colonoscopy done. The results were; ulceration, thickening, granularity and friability in the cecum, illocecal valve, distal transverse colon and splenic flexure (whatever that is). I buried my head in the sand and hoped the pain would just go away...but it didn't. In June I started flaring really badly and it hasn't stopped since then (in fact it just keeps getting worse. Now I have severe nausea too). I went to the doctor last week and he told me that I need to go on Remicade...period. I am so terrified to go on Remicade. I'm not a "medication" type person and I truly fear being on such a strong medication for the rest of my life. Are there any other viable options that I should discuss with my GI before jumping to Remicade? If you could share you experience or thoughts with me about Remicade I would GREATLY appeciate it!
Thank you in advance for your advice.
Thank you in advance for your advice.