Crohns Advice Needed!

Crohn's Disease Forum

Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:

Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Messages
13
I was diagnosed when I was 14. I went through a multiple of tests and finally after multiple Drs they diagnosed me with Crohn's Disease. I was put on Asacol 2400mg daily, entocort (cant remember the dosage) and was told to take a multi vitamin, fish oil, and calcium. A couple weeks later I was put on high dose of prednisone 40mg and also imuram 150mg daily. Eventually I started feeling better and thought the medicine was working. I had minor flares here and there and was put on prednisone to get them under control. When I was 17 I was hospitalized for 2 weeks due to a major flare, and ureter blockage and kidney inflammation. I was put on high dose IV prednisone, imuran, asacol, morphine for pain and all my vitamins. My Dr wanted to do another colonoscopy to see what was going on and from what he saw he decided the imuran was no longer working so he suggested remicade for when I get out of the hospital. I eventually started remicade 2 weeks later and was just starting to taper down from the steroids. At first it seemed like the remicade was working wonders and everything was going well until I started to get flare ups in-between infusions. So my Dr increased the dose to 10mg/kilo that seemed like it was working well. I then turned 19 and my pediatric gastroenterologist decided it was time for me to move to an adult Dr (yay) lol I have had lots of problems trying to find a Dr that can help me. Until the past two weeks were I started to flare up again In between infusions. We decided to move the remicade up to every 6 weeks and schedule another colonoscopy which I had this past Monday. The colonoscopy went horrible I woke up in excruciating pain and actually pulled me Iv out of my hand and was crying it hurt so bad. They ended up putting the iv back in and gave me torodal and fentanyl for pain. My Dr that day told me that he can no longer see me due to my disease was way to advanced for him so he recommended me to a Dr at the university of Michigan. My Dr found that the crohns has spread to my large intestine (and said i have crohns colitis) and decided that the remicade wasn't working and that hopefully this new dr can figure something out. He put me back on a high dose of prednisone. My Michigan appt isn't till April 19th and so I also found Another dr for a second consultation to see what he thinks. His office squeezed me in today and he said that the asacol isn't working, and remicade isnt working. We talked about surgery but he said my disease has to be all I'm one spot for surgery to even happen. We are getting a ct done to figure out where everything is localized and to see if I have a fistula. He also is starting me on cimzia. I am finding out tomorrow if my insurance will cover it and hopefully start it tomorrow or Monday sometime. I'm very frustrated because everything seems to stop working and the prednisones side affects are terrible on my body. I have had a major problem with my weight, mood swings, hot flashes and severe joint pain on top of insomnia. Does anyone have any suggestions, I'm ready to try anything to get this under control, my life is affected by it tremendously and I want to start to take back control over it and live it like a normal 19yr old! Please help!
 
Last edited:
Sounds like you've been through hell man, really sorry to hear it, I'm no doctor so my advice is only advice, but marijuana has helped me a lot, (my crohn's is considered mild) but I don't know what else to suggest, stay strong and hopefully this new GI will be able to assist you, other than that, keep researching treatments, LDN for example, or other alternative treatments, I know it's hard to be your own advocate when you feel so **** but you really have to because unfortunately my experiences with doctors is that when they finish work at the end of the day our problems arent really on their mind. Just remember all things must pass and you will get better, it won't happen over night but itl happen eventually.
 
I should also mention, most docs completely disregard diet, but let me tell you with 100% certainty diet is huge in this disease, if you Havnt already, I'd suggest you look into paleo or SCD diet, cut out all processed sugars and junk food
 
Matt, I'm so sorry to hear what you're dealing with!

How are things going for you now? Has your doctor made any further treatment suggestions / decisions? How are you feeling?

:hug: :hug: :hug:
 
Things are going much better now. I saw my dr in the middle of march and he admitted me to the hospital right away. I was origninally supposed to be in for 3 days but it ended up turning into a two week stay and having surgery. They removed the strictured part of the intestine, but still have the active disease in my large intestine and parts of small. As for a new treatment regimen I am now started on Cimzia just finished the loading dose, I'm still on prednisone and tapering I will be off mid July, my dr also started me back on imuran along with the cimzia, and had me stop taking Asacol. The surgery was exactly what I needed, I actually just got the okay today from my surgeon and GI Drs that I can go on a vacation this weekend to Vancouver then going on a cruise to Alaska! I'm so excited to get away! We weren't sure if I was going to be able to go. Thanks again for everyone's continued support and help through this difficult time. :)))
 
I'm so glad you're doing better! It's great that you were able to get things under control! I hope you have lots of fun on vacation - you definitely deserve it! :)
 
Back
Top