Am I in denial??

[McStew]

Hi all,
I'm still very new to this forum, and have found it incredibly helpful for me this past week, when I've been experiencing another flare up. I'd appreciate any suggestions/thoughts/advice/hints/wisdom....anything at this point.

I first was diagnosed with UC 3 years ago. I've now been told it's Crohn's colitis, which I don't really know what that means....I am on my 4th flare up. I was hopsitalised last year because of a very nasty flare up and a "c-diff" infection.

Since the first flare up, I have been on pentasa all these years, and on steroids 4 times. Since my hospitalisation last year, I was put on Imuran. A few months after going on it, my white blood cell count went incredibly low, which meant I needed to stay at a low dose of the Imuran (50mg) for the past 9 mos.

My consultant rang me yesterday with three options. Two of them were to stay on the Imuran, (one of the options to keep at the same dose, another to increase to 75 mg with risk of infection). Or the third option: to start on Himura. My consultant said that he thinks Himura is the best option for me.

I'm absolutely terrified to go on Himura. I feel like it's kind of the top of the line meds for this disease, and I just don't feel like I have this disease that seriously. I don't know if I'm in denial, or if my (very tender) gut says to keep with the Imuran or what, but I just don't think I need to go on such a strong medication (even though I know Imuran is strong). I was under a tremendous amount of stress, which I think contributed to this flareup, so how am I to know that Himura will be the best option?

I just don't know what to do.....

 

[Mellow1]

Hi McStew...I too am new to this forum, but I can tell you how I felt about going on Humira. I thought I had just a mild case of Crohn's, but my GI says it's moderate to severe. I would go into a flare every few months or so, but it would only last a day or two so I always blamed it on something I ate. I was officially diagnosed a month ago and put on prednisone and two weeks later started Humira while my pred tapers. I thought it was kind of strange to jump into it so fast without trying other things, but I feel good so far. To me, it doesn't feel like 'such a strong medication' as it doesn't mess with my head like prednisone does. Time will tell how it effects me physically.

Just my point of view, but I wouldn't be terrified of it.

 

[bruscar]

hey mc stew,

After all is said and done it is your body and your decision.

certainly i trusted my consultants to give me the best advice available. there was no such thing as humira when i was getting very bad, so cant talk through that with ya.

i wish you the very best of health

bruscar

 

[Grumbletum]

Have you been over to the Humira forum McStew? You might get some insights with a surf over there. Have you had any more thoughts? Seems like a bit of a baptism of fire drugswise.

 

[McStew]

Thank you for your input. I think for now, I willl stay on the 50mg of Imuran and hope for the best. I agree Mellow1 about the prednisone-it has majorly been messing with me. I will begin to taper at the end of this week. Grumbletum, I think I definitely need to investigate the Humira forum a bit more - still so much to learn. And Bruscar - you're so right, it is my body...regardless if I'm not a consultant, I know myself more than anyone else does.
I think what I've learned this week, more than anything is that I need to be patient (and not stress!).