the big bet...
Hiya H,
sorry for your Dx.
Infliximab, also-known-as Remicade, is in the biologic drug family.
Considered the gold standard of high-tech IBD treatment,
particularly when used in combo therapy with an Immunomodulator drug.
There are two schools of thought about drugs vs surgery for IBD.
Some say cut first most say cut last.
There are two schools of thought about biologic application.
top up vs top down strategy
Some say go big with drugs first, others say start small climb the ladder over time.
Myself, my own opinion comes hard-earned.
My kid brother has wicked Crohn's, and swears Remicade saved his life.
For me, Remi tried to take my life, but that is another tale... (Lupus)
My dear real life friend made 50yrs in August and died of CD a few weeks later.
[R-I-P Lynn Alison Noble Crohn's warrior first class]
Jun15, 1966 - Aug 3, 2016
I am currently betting my life, the only one I have to spend...
I am all-in with Humi in combo therapy with Methotrexate.
I have yet to achieve remission but remain ever hopeful.
Where it gets tricky, is...
I have done sooo much reading in that spectrum,
I see pros & cons with any, all & every approach.
I could make a good debate both for and/or against.
But boil it down, to the essence
I risk lymphoma, etc to bet big on combo therapy as my best chance
to minimize internal damage and my best hope to achieve remission.
Do your homework, the water is plenty deep.
I wish you good luck, for some, the stakes are your life!
peace
w
ps
your-mileage-may-vary
: D