How Bad Can it Be?

[samanthab]

Im due to start taking Humira and azithiroprine next month and to be honest what i've read about side effects is a little terrifying . I certainly don't think my crohns is as bad as it could be or has been but they want to start me on this as well as to see if it closes up my perinal fistula that I have had for years. I find that really hard to live with most months as it is always active with a sinus oozing out on to my clothes even when no infection is apparantly there!.

I suppose they are trying to kill to birds with one stone here .

So my question is how effective is Humira at closing fistulas ? Does anyone have any success stories ??

And also how bad is Humira with side effects , i've read on their site what it can cause but how common is it really?

I have suffered from Eczema which was moderate to severe as a child ( cleared by the age of 4) and had a few random flare up of dermititis since then , my last bad flare was just before I was really really ill and in bed from my crohns for months and then diagnosed finally . I think these skin flare up and my crohns are related and i'm just worried that i'm going to be one of those more susceptable to skin problems because i've had them in the past .

Also this follical imflammation worries me . I guess I really have no choice to try it or risk having a operation sooner rather than later .

My crohns is classed as severe but I seem to live with it well . I know that won't last and i'm on borrowed time , I have only ever been on Pentasa previously which I did not really take the full course (terrible with taking pills , very forgetful!)

:ybatty:

 

[theOcean]

Hello! After a bad flare I was also put on Imuran and Humira, and haven't experienced any of the side-effects. I was also placed on Humira mainly because of fistula treatment. Biologics are currently the best medication we have to treat them, and my fistula was really helped by Humira and I'll be getting my seton finally removed in a week to see if it will heal and close, which I think it will.

Humira is actually the biologic that you're less likely to get side-effects from because it's a human antibody rather than mouse antibody, like Remicade. Remicade caused me to have issues with Eczema because it turned out I was allergic to it (and already was prone to eczema) but I've been fine on Humira.

My Crohn's is also classed as very severe, and now I am comfortably in remission. Pentasa is not very effective at treating severe Crohn's, and in my case was completely ineffective so my GI just took me off of it entirely.

 

[theOcean]

Also, my surgeon said that the oozing is not necessarily from bacteria. She says it basically forms a sinus tract (like your nose, awful as that might sound) so it will often just ooze a harmless mucous, which isn't something you need to worry about. Since starting Humira, my fistula doesn't drain anymore. Are you using anything to catch your drainage?

 

[samanthab]

No , nothing really stays stuck in that area that i've tried so far (Mepore strips) I just have to change a few times a day . It's really affecting me meeting anyone and having a normal relationship :-(

I will just have to give it a go , this cancer thing does really worry me though

Thanks for your reply

 

[theOcean]

I actually use pads and pantyliners in my underwear, and that's always worked fine for me! Maybe that could work for you as well?

And if it comforts you at all, females are less likely to develop lymphoma. Remicade has the same risk, and I've had a male friend on it for eleven years who's also never had any problems! You'll also get regular blood monitoring to make sure everything is okay.

 

[Axelfl3333]

The one of a few consolations for people on powerful meds,you,ll be getting regular check ups and bloods to make sure that nothing is going astray,the warning leaflets with your meds are a cover your back exercise and try to avoid dr google there will be many people on these meds for years with no side effects good news is no news I,m afraid.good luck to you all

 

[MikeinBklyn]

Humira closed my fistula in 2 days. I get blood test every 3 month. I've been on Humira for 4 years.

Good Luck

 

[afidz]

I have never had a fistula, but Humira was my miracle and saving grace. In 2009, Crohn's almost won the battle. I was very sick. I went on Humira and went into remission with in a month. I didn't have any side effects, it was awesome.
Try not to dwell on the side effects. It is helpful to at least be aware of them but don't let the possibility of a side effect deter you from taking it. A lot of the more serious side effects are very rare but they are required to list them by the FDA. Yes, there is a small chance that Humira can cause cancer. But leaving Crohn's untreated is more likely to cause cancer. My suggestion is to be aware of your body, be aware of changes and be aware of possible side effects and take not of when you need to call your doctor about a side effect.