HELP - Newly Diagnosed with Crohns

[Equestrian Girl]

It is Feb. 2012 and after being mis-diagnosed for close to 2 years, and after having my 4th Colonoscopy - I have been "officially" diagnosed with Crohns.

For the 2 years prior.......I was being told I had severe IBS........and that it was basically "all in my head"........or I was too stressed.......or I worry too much.

So much for that info........they were all WRONG !!!

Since getting my diagnosis of Crohns..........I was just recently started on Prednisone and Mesavant........and after 2 weeks of continual pain and agony - I have now been started on 50 mg. of Imuran once a day.

After only a couple of days......I am feeling somewhat nauseated. Did this happen to anyone else ??

If anyone else who has been diagnosed with Crohns.........has any advice or suggestions that you (or anyone else) would like to pass along to me - that would be greatly appreciated.

Right now, I am trying to gather as much information as I can in reference in what meds worked for others........and what challenges and/or successes others may have had since they were diagnosed with Crohns.

Many thanks,

Equestrian Girl, Ontario - Canada

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hello fellow Canadian :welcome: Your story is much like mine, took a long time and all in my head. At least they gave you IBS... Imuran is not tolerated by everyone, me it went straight to my liver. Prednisone is usually a miracle drug that helps, but never made me nauseated. Maybe need to lower the Imuran. Seeing as you are in Canada, they have a natural gravol that is ginger, I like the lozenges but there is a pill and no nausea. At night you could take a gravol and will also help you sleep.

Many here have nausea if for no reason crohns is the creator. Stick to a low residue diet and no dairy, or wheat, and then go from there. Btw Pred is better in shorter taper because long term the side effects are not good. Have your Gp get your blood work done for b12, vitamin d and iron.

Sorry you are stuck with this disease but a healthy attitude will help YOU in the long run, it scary at times but we are here for you. Where is your pain?

:hang: welcome aboard.

 

[Artificial]

Hello

When I started Imuran I had nausea for a few weeks but it did get better! x

 

[Rebecca85]

Yes, Imuran is known for causing nausea. It might help if you take it with a large meal, and before bed so you sleep through the worst of it.

 

[scottmyster]

Welcome to the forum, But i am sorry you have been struck with this disease. Nausea is very familar with this disease especially with some medications But, i never got nausea on predisone, Like pen said Gravol will help and a low residue diet will also help as will help too. so good luck with it. keep us up to date. best wishes

 

[Entchen]

Hi, and welcome. So sorry you have Crohn's -- and nausea! Love my ginger for nausea; I keep it in my purse at all times. One thing that might help if Imuran is the source of your nausea is splitting your dose -- half in the morning and half at night.

Take good care!

 

[Equestrian Girl]

Thanks so much for all your comments !!!

Thanks very much to everyone for your comments. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I will start tomorrow and I'll split the 50mg. of Imuran I'm taking.........and take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night. I am also going to get Gravol with Ginger and start using that.

I'll give it a few days and get back to everyone and let you know how things are working.

I really need to start feeling better soon........so I can get back to my regular routine. That has been the VERY hardest part of all of this............not being able to work, see my friends, work with my horse....and teach others.

Best Wishes to everyone else with Crohns - going through similar issues.

Equestrian Girl - Ontario, Canada:canada_flag:

 

[holski]

Hello and welcome! I just joined today.
I am also on imuran and have been on it for 9 years now. I noticed that at 1st, i tried to just drink alot of water, and eat blan foods. I hope you can work with your horse soon!

 

[Equestrian Girl]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my note on the Crohn's Forum.

I am most interested in anyone who has been on Imuran.

I have been on Imuran now for close to 3 weeks......and have not really noticed too much other than I am getting headaches which I never had before.

My intestines are still on fire and I have horrible fatigue and I still have a number of B/M's each day. I have been told that Imuran can take 2 to 3 months to work.....(I am only on the 50 mg. dose).......and I see my G.I. again on March 9th. I'm not sure if I need a stronger dose - or if what I am going through is "normal". Did this happen to anyone else when you started on Imuran ?? Any information you feel like sharing - would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much..........from Equestrian Girl in Ontario, Canada. :canada_flag:

 

[f_else]

Hey Equestrian Girl,
I was on Imuran (50mg) for about 6 months (I went off it because of some side-effect issues) but I found it did improve my symptoms a lot. I started to notice improvement around the 3-4 weeks mark and it continued to improve for about two months or so after and then it sort of plateaued. Everyone is different on Imuran, you might need a stronger dose, or you might find that you just take a little longer to be affected by the drug. I think what you are going through at the moment is pretty standard though for starting imuran. As long as you don't have any sudden extreme reactions they usually like to keep you on it for at least a couple of months to see how effective it is for you. As for the nausea, I found that taking my dose right before I went to bed seemed to help a lot. Not, sure what might be causing the headaches, it could be the imuran, or it could be a result from the disease itself. Just be sure to be drinking lots of water, because if you are having a number of BM's a day you might be dehydrated and this can cause headaches. I was hospitalised once and was found to be extremely dehydrated (along with other things) because all the water I was drinking was passing straight through me.

I wish you the best of luck with this course of treatment,
Fab