My Butt Hurts
Squeals-a-lot!
Brief history - diagnosed 2002. Only 2 flares since then, but this latest one has been been pretty bad, and lasted about a year. I've lost 44 pounds, and finally had to get to a 96 pound skeleton (5'8" female) before my gastroenterologist would put me on something stronger. I started prednisone 3 weeks ago, and managed to gain 11 pounds so far, and I feel a lot better.
Caution - poop details ahead.
Here are my pre-Humira symptoms.
Mainly just diarrhea. I go 3 times in the morning before I leave for work, then I'm good for most of the day - maybe once at work. After dinner maybe I go 2 or 3 times before bed, and then 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night. This is less than before starting the prednisone. (7 times now, compared to 10 or 12. Goody.) It's a good schedule for working 9 - 4pm, but still not a great life.
I started the Humira on Friday, 2/15.
Watched the how-to online video twice at www.myhumira.com , iced up the first 2 injection sites really well, and had my husband do the pen shots in my upper thighs. They stung a teeny bit, but not too bad. Just like a regular shot at the doctor. The next 2 in the mid thighs stung a lot more. I didn't ice them as well - next time I will.
The good news - no nausea, no headache, no swelling, no itchy red patches - nothing.
So now I wait.
They say it can take from 3 days to 12 weeks to see results.
I swear that I pooped less on day 4. Once or twice in the morning, and once or twice before bed. Last night was bad in the middle of the night though. 12:30, 12:40, and 12:50. Today, day 5, I thought I was about to have a regular normal man pooop! A lot less splashing, and much slower - but still skinny. It's taking longer to poop today.
Tonight, I had a terrible bellyache. nothing like I've had before, so I didn't think it was poop related. I usually don't have cramps or pain in my gut. Turns out it was poop related. I don't think I like this new symptom. I've used the bathroom since then, but I still have a dull pain in the same spot.
That's all I know so far.
My real questions are - what happens long term? Humira hasn't been studied over a year in a person, I believe - so what's next?
Also - with the cancer risk - am I crazy?? I'd rather die of diarrhea than cancer, wouldn't you?? Who needs cancer AND Crohn's?? Jeez......
Caution - poop details ahead.
Here are my pre-Humira symptoms.
Mainly just diarrhea. I go 3 times in the morning before I leave for work, then I'm good for most of the day - maybe once at work. After dinner maybe I go 2 or 3 times before bed, and then 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night. This is less than before starting the prednisone. (7 times now, compared to 10 or 12. Goody.) It's a good schedule for working 9 - 4pm, but still not a great life.
I started the Humira on Friday, 2/15.
Watched the how-to online video twice at www.myhumira.com , iced up the first 2 injection sites really well, and had my husband do the pen shots in my upper thighs. They stung a teeny bit, but not too bad. Just like a regular shot at the doctor. The next 2 in the mid thighs stung a lot more. I didn't ice them as well - next time I will.
The good news - no nausea, no headache, no swelling, no itchy red patches - nothing.
So now I wait.
They say it can take from 3 days to 12 weeks to see results.
I swear that I pooped less on day 4. Once or twice in the morning, and once or twice before bed. Last night was bad in the middle of the night though. 12:30, 12:40, and 12:50. Today, day 5, I thought I was about to have a regular normal man pooop! A lot less splashing, and much slower - but still skinny. It's taking longer to poop today.
Tonight, I had a terrible bellyache. nothing like I've had before, so I didn't think it was poop related. I usually don't have cramps or pain in my gut. Turns out it was poop related. I don't think I like this new symptom. I've used the bathroom since then, but I still have a dull pain in the same spot.
That's all I know so far.
My real questions are - what happens long term? Humira hasn't been studied over a year in a person, I believe - so what's next?
Also - with the cancer risk - am I crazy?? I'd rather die of diarrhea than cancer, wouldn't you?? Who needs cancer AND Crohn's?? Jeez......