How do you know?

[SherryLynn]

Hi,
Ive been scanning the fourms and havent found the answer to this. Maybe someone could help me understand.

How do you know if your in remission? Is it how you feel? Is there a test?

Thanks,

Sherry

 

[Jennifer]

They usually go by blood work and symptoms. Your blood work will show if you have active inflammation and you should have minor to no symptoms at all.

 

[SherryLynn]

Here is a link to my blood tests while I was in the hospital. Does somthing here say that I had inflamation?

Im asking because: Ive been on meds almost 2 weeks now. On tuesday I go for bloodwork and am wondering what they will be looking / testing for and was wondering also if it had anything to do with how Im feeling. I feel much better then most on this forum which reminds me to be grateful and humble. But then again I still have some symptoms, like belly pain after I cheat with cherrys in my yogart, or stinky gas. So Im wanting to be educated a bit before I get these tests, it makes me feel a little more in control of my out of control world that ive found I live in.

Meds im on are prednesdone and aza

 

[SherryLynn]

oops i forgot to put in the link

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/96/sherryshospitalreports0.jpg/

 

[Jennifer]

CRP measures for inflammation. You can see the blood tests/codes in the forum wiki here: http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Blood-test-codes-and-results-explained

With Prednisone you're not quite getting a good reading as far as remission goes. It brings down the active inflammation so your tests may be good while you're on the Pred but may got back up once you're off it. It may take some more time as you've only been on meds for 2 weeks and Prednisone makes people feel better rather quickly but many have a hard time feeling good once they're off it.

Ask your GI to test for inflammation and when your go to the lab you can ask them what they're testing for (its no problem, they will tell you).

 

[EthanPSU]

I thought remission was just when you were like a normal person.....Going once or twice a day, solid, being able to keep foods in. Just living life like you should be...

Iv'e had crohn's for 7 years and no remission yet...

 

[Jennifer]

You have to take into account "clinical remission" EthanPSU. Clinical remission means that you have some symptoms (possibly even very mild inflammation) but are not in an out of control flare. There's a number system is goes by as well, the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI). http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=34133

 

[Rebecca85]

I would say I have been in remission for 18 months or so, meaning inflammation markers normal, and no daily symptoms provided I didn't eat any trigger foods. Eating trigger foods would give me an uncomfortable day but then my guts would soon settle down.

 

[SherryLynn]

do u see any "crp" tests in my screen shot? I feel totally dumb in this area.

 

[SherryLynn]

wow 100mg of Aza? Im on 40 and have read someone saying 60. Didnt know you could go that high. Im expecting my dr to raise mine. I just dont know how much.

 

[Jennifer]

No I did not see it in your screen shot SherryLynn. Normal is around 4 or less just so you know for when you do get it checked.

They judge the dose by weight so its quite possible you could handle a higher dose as long as your body can handle it (I imagine its similar to 6MP where they make sure your body is handling a higher dose through blood work).