How long did it take YOU to get into remission?

[dskath]

hi i'm dani - new here and newly diagnosed as of april of this year.
i'm having some trouble getting into remission. I know this is different for everyone, but how long did it take you to get into remission once diagnosed and medicated (or not)?

also, any other thoughts/suggestions/wisdom? so greatly appreciated.
much thanks!

 

[FrozenGirl]

I am just over a year and am hopefully closing in on remission in the very near future. It really depends on how you respond to meds of course. Welcome to the forum! I see you are in the young adult group, I am too. Feel free to msg me if you ever want to talk.

 

[shamrock15]

Don't want to scare you, but mine was about 22 years. Until I got onto remicade and azathioprine, I didn't see it. Mind you, I am very healthy now. With what is out there now for crohn's, you shouldn't have to go through what many of us older crohnies did. Best wishes!

 

[FrozenGirl]

Wow shamrock15 ! Were you on ASA's for a long time prior to aza and remi?

 

[DJW]

Mine took years but the meds today were not around. Then I had 20 years. Unfortunately its back and I'vebeen battling for a couple of years . Just started Remicade and I've noticed a bit of improvement.

 

[my little penguin]

DS took a little over a year
Basically a few weeks after starting remicade ( took a year to get to remicade).

So if you have the right med -quickly
If not ....
Some docs do step up ( trying each class of drugs)
Others do top down ( starting at biologics ).

Good luck

 

[alex_chris]

True long term remission needed 13 years, but in those 13 years there were months and even years when things were ok, not great, but generally ok. In retrospect I would still not call it remission, although I did back then.

 

[shamrock15]

The ASA meds did absolutely nothing for me. Back in the days when I regularly had solid movements, I could see the pills passed, just like corn! Expensive meds when they don't absorb.

For the first while, pred did some good for me, then lost its effectiveness. I did get a bit of relief from symptoms, but not remission, from mercaptopurine (purenithol?). At the time, my GI said I had one of the most aggressive cases he had seen. For me, remicade was the key. Wish that it had been an option for me before all the surgeries.

It did teach me that I had to really take advantage of the good days when they were there, and that I was capable of working through a whole lot more than I would have thought possible. Not the way that I want to learn things though.

 

[shamrock15]

@DJW - remicade took care of about 80% of the issues for me. Azathioprine took care of the rest. Hopefully remicade alone will do it for you, but if it doesn't quite do it, make sure your GI knows and have him/her consider the possibility of the second med for it. It really can make the difference.

 

[DJW]

Hi shamrock, I'm also on imuran.

I'm glad to hear you'vehad success .

 

[BlackButterflies]

It has been over a year for me as well, feel like I am getting closer...

 

[hawkeye]

Following the initial diagnosis (almost 24 years ago) I'd say maybe 2 to 3 years through a combination of prednisone, 5-ASA and Imuran plus an initial hospital stay for bowel rest via an elemental diet.

Once in remission it lasted for a solid 13-15 years with only one minor flare until things had to ramp up with surgery.

 

[hawkeye]

For the first while, pred did some good for me, then lost its effectiveness. I did get a bit of relief from symptoms, but not remission, from mercaptopurine (purenithol?). At the time, my GI said I had one of the most aggressive cases he had seen. For me, remicade was the key. Wish that it had been an option for me before all the surgeries.

It did teach me that I had to really take advantage of the good days when they were there, and that I was capable of working through a whole lot more than I would have thought possible. Not the way that I want to learn things though.

I have had to deal with the "immunity" factor to the pred as well.

The "taking advantage of the good days" is great advice.